In this report, the WBCSD puts forward six key elements to enhance investments and sales of low-carbon technologies in developing countries. These range from government signals to foster low-carbon solutions to engaging business more actively into the international and national climate change process.
The diffusion of low-carbon technologies to developing countries is necessary to achieving a 450 parts per million (ppm) atmospheric CO2 target and keeping an increase of global temperature below 2ºC.
As key providers of technology and innovation, companies can support these targets but the transition to a low-carbon growth will be facilitated if governments set up frameworks that are conducive to investment in the first place.
Specifically, the six elements to enhancing investments and sales of low-carbon technologies are:
Biodiversity and ecosystem services provide tangible benefits for society, such as food provisioning, water purification, genetic resources or climate regulation. These services provide critical life support functions and contribute to human health, well being and economic growth. Yet biodiversity is declining worldwide and, in some areas, this loss is accelerating. The need for policies that promote the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services is more important than ever.
Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) is a direct and flexible incentive-based mechanism under which the user or beneficiary of an ecosystem service makes a direct payment to an individual or community whose land use decisions have an impact on the ecosystem service provision. Interest in PES has been increasing rapidly over the past decade: PES are proliferating worldwide and there are already more than 300 programmes in place today at national, regional and local levels.
The report outlines how poverty levels and challenges of meeting the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) in Rwanda are closely linked to widespread environmental degradation, a challenge further complicated by the fact that the economy is not sufficiently financed to address them.
This report outlines four case studies that have been featured in several government policies, strategies and policy meetings. Top on the priority list of the activities is the formulation of supportive legislation for water use rights and fees, and tax exemptions on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
This report provides the first-ever public environmental expenditure in Rwanda. It was written under the theme: “Putting environment on budget.” The objective was to evaluate the appropriateness in the use of funds in the environment sector.
Universal access to safe, reliable energy is a necessary condition for providing the poor with safe water and sanitation, for maintaining adequate standards of living, and for achieiving the Millennium Development Goals. The Asian Development Bank recognizes the importance of electricity and water access for the poor and has committed to providing such access by establishing the Energy for All and Water for All initiatives.
While broad efforts aimed at regulatory reform and increasing energy and water access may be helpful, targeting interventions, measures, and approaches are often needed to ensure that the poor benefit from these efforts. This publication identifies specific infrastructure and utility service reform measures that can be taken to advance the interests of the poor.