Approaches to Low Carbon Development in Low, Middle and High Income Countries: A Conceptual Framework

Low carbon development is essential for mitigating the emissions leading to climate change and for enabling development in a carbon constrained world. Low carbon development can bring opportunities and benefits for both developed and developing countries, nevertheless low carbon development can only be implemented when an adequate enabling environment is in place that addresses the key political, economic, social and technological issues. In low income and lower middle income countries, issues of social justice and poverty reduction are the key to low carbon development, while for higher middle income and high income countries low carbon innovation and emission reductions are at the heart of implementing low carbon development