15 January 2009: The UN has regionally launched its World Economic Situation and Prospects 2009 Report, a joint product of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the UN Conference on Trade and Development, and the five UN regional commissions.

The Report includes a call for a development policy framework that addresses climate change, among other development goals. It also highlights the costs of contending with climate change, and states that the global economic downturn will likely lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, given decreased oil and energy consumption. However, the authors urge that this trend should not be a deterrent to long-term investments in energy efficiency and clean energy sources. [The Report]