1 September 2009: The UN has launched a report on “The World Economic and Social Survey 2009: Promoting Development, Saving the Planet,” which calls for integrated policy responses to development and climate challenges.

The Survey, published by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), sees little benefit in ad hoc incremental actions, highlighting that advanced countries will have to deliver resources and leadership on a much larger scale than has been the case to date. The report finds that market solutions, including the development of a carbon market, through “cap and trade” mechanisms or taxation schemes in developed countries, are not the solution for developing countries. “Perhaps the more sensible, forward-looking view,” the report states, “is to recognize that carbon markets will continue to expand but that the pace and scale will not be sufficient to help developing countries break the financial constraint on proceeding along a low-emissions development pathway.”
Rather, the Survey says the preferred option for developing countries should be a combination of large-scale investments and active policy interventions. The report sets out a range of possible multilateral measures in support of a global investment programme, including a global clean energy fund, a global feed-in tariff regime in support of renewable energy sources, a climate technology programme and a more balanced intellectual property regime for aiding the transfer of clean technologies. [The Survey]