22 September 2009: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has launched Charting a New Low-Carbon Route to Development, a primer on integrated climate change planning for regional governments.

The publication seeks to advance the integration of climate change into development work, arguing that the full engagement of sub-national authorities is important to move the climate change and development agendas forward. It suggests that taking the necessary action to tackle climate change will meet with stronger public consensus and be more effective if it helps address local development issues, such as the provision of basic services, greater energy and food security, and employment.
The publication addresses options that, when tailored to specific circumstances, could help balance the pursuit of both climate change mitigation and the investments needed to accelerate poverty reduction and development. It also considers how to meet the adaptation needs that many countries will face. [The publication]