Guiding climate compatible development: User-orientated analysis of planning tools and methodologies

Abstract

The focus on climate compatible development (CCD) as an aim for development in a changing climate reflects a growing recognition that mitigation, adaptation and development need to be tackled together, not as separate issues. However, given that CCD is an emergent area of work and study, the availability of guidance resources to assist in bringing the three issues together is limited.

This report identifies and analyses the currently available tools and methodologies for adaptation, mitigation and development, in an attempt to guide decision makers towards climate compatible development pathways.

Three main research questions are addressed in this report: 1. What tools and methodologies that address climate compatible development or its related aspects currently exist? 2. To what extent do these tools currently satisfy user needs in delivering climate compatible development? 3. Where are there gaps, and what is needed in order to plan climate compatible development?

Several findings have emerged from the analysis of the tools:

- Many tools have been implemented by users on a ‘do it yourself’ basis, even though the tool developers have built a guided process. - In several categories, the tools are very diverse. For example, in their integration across adaptation, mitigation and development, level of stakeholder involvement, costs, and extent of guidance material. - In a number of categories, the tools are similar in having a high frequency of use and low training requirements. - Most tools apply to the early steps of the policy cycle stages, namely problems identification, assessment of options and selection of policies. Fewer tools assist in the policy implementation and evaluation stages.