An investigation of the evidence of benefits from climate compatible development

Climate change is likely to have profound effects on developing countries both through the climate impacts experienced, but also through the policies, programmes and projects adopted to address climate change. Climate change mitigation (actions taken to reduce the extent of climate change), adaptation (actions taken to ameliorate the impacts), and on-going development are all critical to reduce current and future losses associated with climate change, and to harness gains. In the context of limited resources to invest in climate change, policies, programmes, or projects that deliver ‘triple wins’ (i.e. generating climate adaptation, mitigation and development benefits) – also known as climate compatible development – are increasingly discussed by bilateral and multilateral donors. Yet there remains an absence of empirical evidence of the benefits and costs of triple win policies. The purpose of this paper is therefore to assess evidence of ‘triple wins’ on the ground, and the feasibility of triple wins that do not generate negative impacts. We describe the theoretical linkages that exist between adaptation, mitigation and development, as well as the trade-offs and synergies that might exist between them. Using four developing country studies, we make a simple assessment of the extent of climate compatible development policy in practice through the lens of ‘no-regrets’, ‘low regrets’ and ‘with regrets’ decision making. The lack of evidence of either policy or practice of triple wins significantly limits the capacity of donors to identify, monitor or evaluate ‘triple wins at this point in time. We recommend a more strategic assessment of the distributional and financial implications of 'triple wins' policies

The Socio Bosque Program for Rainforest and Paramo Conservation, Ecuador

The Socio Bosque Program is a state-funded, nation-wide program which provides financial incentive to participating forest landowners in exchange conservation of native forests and other types of native vegetation. The program's objectives include both ecosystem conservation and poverty alleviation goals on lands that belong to local and indigenous communities and individual households

The formation of Laurentia : Evidence from shear wave splitting

The authors would like to thank A. Walker for invaluable help understanding the MSAT forward modelling code, as well as A. Boyce, L. Petrescu, and C. Ogden of the ICcratons group for numerous enlightening conversations about Canadian Precam- brian geology and beyond. M.V. Liddell is funded by an Imperial College President’s Scholarship. F.A. Darbyshire is supported by the Natural Sciences and Environment Research Council of Canada through their Discovery Grant and Canada Research Chair programmes.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Low-carbon technology for the rising middle class

This policy brief will discuss the role of local and international technology and innovation policies for low-carbon development of the rising middle class in developing countries. Although a large segment of the population of most developing countries remains severely deprived, most developing countries also have a significant and growing part of the population that could be a feasible target for low-carbon policies. In addition to how industrialised countries decide to reduce their emissions, a major determinant of the carbon intensity of the world economy and our collective ability to stay below 2°C global mean temperature rise, is how the rising middle class in developing countries will develop – along a low-carbon or a higher-carbon pathway. If this rising middle class could embark on a lower-carbon consumption pathway, for instance in their electricity use, their transportation demand and modes, their eating habits and other consumption patterns, this could structurally avoid a considerable amount of greenhouse gas emissions and yield other social, environmental and health benefits. As strong carbon policies incentivising such pathways are unlikely to happen soon in developing countries, technology policies can provide a solution, given they can be aimed at consumption patterns of the rising middle class specifically. This paper makes several case-based recommendations that can put those in developing countries that benefit from a more sustainable lifestyle on a low-carbon development path

The application of time evolution operators and Feynman diagrams to nonlinear optics

This paper develops a consistent formalism for describing nonlinear optical mixing and multiphoton processes of any arbitrary order. The theory uses the time-evolution operators of quantum mechanics, and the related Feynman diagrams

Endothelial sprouting, proliferation, or senescence: tipping the balance from physiology to pathology.

Therapeutic modulation of vascular cell proliferation and migration is essential for the effective inhibition of angiogenesis in cancer or its induction in cardiovascular disease. The general view is that an increase in vascular growth factor levels or mitogenic stimulation is beneficial for angiogenesis, since it leads to an increase in both endothelial proliferation and sprouting. However, several recent studies showed that an increase in mitogenic stimuli can also lead to the arrest of angiogenesis. This is due to the existence of intrinsic signaling feedback loops and cell cycle checkpoints that work in synchrony to maintain a balance between endothelial proliferation and sprouting. This balance is tightly and effectively regulated during tissue growth and is often deregulated or impaired in disease. Most therapeutic strategies used so far to promote vascular growth simply increase mitogenic stimuli, without taking into account its deleterious effects on this balance and on vascular cells. Here, we review the main findings on the mechanisms controlling physiological vascular sprouting, proliferation, and senescence and how those mechanisms are often deregulated in acquired or congenital cardiovascular disease leading to a diverse range of pathologies. We also discuss alternative approaches to increase the effectiveness of pro-angiogenic therapies in cardiovascular regenerative medicine.Severin Mühleder was funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) project J4358. Macarena Fernández-Chacón and Irene Garcia-Gonzalez were supported by PhD fellowships from Fundación La Caixa (CX_E-2015-01 and CX-SO-16-1, respectively). Rui Benedito was funded by the European Research Council (ERC-2014-StG—638028), the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), and by the Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad (MEIC: SAF2013-44329-P, SAF2017-89299-P, and RYC-2013-13209). The CNIC is supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MCNU) and the Pro CNIC Foundation, and is a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence (SEV-2015-0505).S

Climate-Smart Agriculture in Nepal: Champion technologies and their pathways for scaling up

This policy brief synthesises key findings and recommendations for decision-making under uncertainty in the agriculture sector in Nepal. This brief highlights the methodologies used for selection of champion climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices for different agro-ecological regions of Nepal and recommendations for scaling up the champion CSA technologies and practices in Nepal. Adaptation to climate change in the agricultural sector and allied sectors is a major current and future challenge for Nepal. The majority of the population is still dependent on highly climate-sensitive agriculture. In recent years, long drought spells during the monsoon season and increased temperatures and unseasonal heavy rains during winter have caused serious distress to agriculture-dependent communities in many locations. If the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of ending poverty, achieving food security and promoting sustainable agriculture are to be realised, climate change adaptation interventions need to be implemented in earnest

Weaving knowledge and action on climate change : impacts from CDKN’s knowledge accelerator, 2018-2021

This brochure showcases some of the main achievements of the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN). CDKN works to enhance the quality of life for the poorest and most vulnerable to climate change, and to support decision-makers to design and deliver climate-compatible development. In response to COVID-19, CDKN is collaborating with the International Centre for Climate Change and Development and the Global Resilience Partnership. CDKN initiatives have given community leaders and organisers across the world direct access to global discussions. It has also enhanced climate change information on Wikipedia as an outreach channel and knowledge source. Going forward, the Wiki4Climate brand and hashtag will be used.Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherland