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International Development Research Center (IDRC) at COP 22

8-18 November 2016 | Marrakech, Morocco

Highlights for Wednesday, 16 November 2016

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IISD Reporting Services is providing coverage of selected IDRC events at COP 22, including written, digital and video coverage.

The following event was covered on Wednesday, 16 November 2016:

Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis
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Accelerating Implementation:
Transitioning to Low Carbon and Climate Resilient Development Pathways Presented by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC); the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS); The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI); and Business for Social Responsibility (BSR)



This side event highlighted the views of experts, policy makers and private sector representatives on solutions and challenges for a low carbon economy. Debates illustrated the urgency of climate action, considering that the Paris Agreement alone is insufficient to achieve established targets on mitigation and adaptation goals.

Moderating the event, Robert Hofstede, IDRC, provided opening remarks highlighting that climate solutions must be people-oriented and that mitigation and adaptation must advance “hand-in-hand.”

Abid Suleri, Sustainable Development Policy Institute, focused on the climate science recalling natural disasters in South Asia, such as droughts in India that, in 2015, caused approximately US$1.5 billion in damage and current require trillions of dollars to recover more than seven years of development loss.

Ajay Mathur, TERI, recalled that two thirds of the buildings that will exist in India by 2030 are not yet built, which represents opportunities for the private sector to tap into the low-carbon business.

Kennedy Mbeva, ACTS, emphasized the importance of innovation that goes beyond technology, such as those related to policy and institutions.

Edward Cameron, BSR, called for structural dialogues between different stakeholders and focused on the importance of enabling environments for scaling up climate investments and finance services related to a low carbon economy.

In the ensuing discussion, participants raised the following: private sector engagement in climate solutions and public incentives; use of technology to increase the resilience of communities; risk management for the private sector and investment opportunities. Panelists highlighted, inter alia, that policy innovation require broad support and peer-to-peer learning and that perceptions and narratives count when talking about innovations and technology transformation.


Panel (L-R): Edith Adera, IDRC; Abid Suleri, Sustainable Development Policy Institute;
Edward Cameron, BSR; Kennedy Mbeva, ACTS; and Ajay Mathur, TERI


Abid Suleri, Sustainable Development Policy Institute, noted that all nationally determined contributions (NDCs) alone are not enough to comply with the Paris Agreement and called for greater engagement of the private sector with the climate agenda.

Kennedy Mbeva, ACTS, states that public awareness can scale up solutions on climate.


Ajay Mathur, TERI, defends that more attention is needed to create innovative business models that make sense for the company, consumers and investors.

Participants listen to panelists


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