1 November 2017: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) – UN Environment (UNEP) Poverty-Environment Initiative (PEI) have issued a publication titled, ‘Mainstreaming Environment and Climate for Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development: The Interactive Handbook to Strengthen Planning and Budgeting Processes.’
The handbook highlights the interrelationship between poverty reduction and the environment in light of poor people’s lives and livelihoods being continuously threatened by environmental degradation resulting from poor management of natural resources, biodiversity loss and the effects of climate change. It stresses the need for an integrated approach, recognized in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The handbook guides the work of the PEI, which is soon to be succeeded by a new global programme, ‘Poverty-Environment Action for Sustainable Development Goals.’
The publication draws on successful experiences from countries around the world in effectively mainstreaming poverty-environment issues into development agendas, reflects lessons learned, and updates on the PEI’s programmatic, integrated approach. It provides a model for action through a set of “widely valid and credible” approaches, particularly for implementing the 2030 Agenda.
The handbook recommends that governments incorporate the following objectives into their development planning: using natural resources sustainably; adapting to climate change; focusing on poverty reduction and equity, especially for marginalized groups such as women and indigenous peoples; and working towards inclusive green growth.
Based upon the UNDP-UN Environment PEI 2015 Handbook, the publication guides the work of the PEI, which now operates in 20 countries, and is soon to be succeeded by a new global programme, ‘Poverty-Environment Action for Sustainable Development Goals.’ [Mainstreaming Environment and Climate for Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development: The Interactive Handbook to Strengthen Planning and Budgeting Processes]