In the Context of Sri Lanka, Low Carbon Development (LCD) opportunities and policy environment have been discussed.

1. Shifting to Low Carbon Development:
Nationally & Globally
Vositha Wijenayake
Policy & Advocacy Coordinator
Climate Action Network South Asia

2. Policy Alignment for
Better Climate Better Growth
 Scaling up of sustainable investment & finance
 Change in tax policies favouring carbon intensive options
 Political will at national and global level for low carbon
transitions
 Low carbon business models
 Promotion and implementation of low carbon technology
 International trade & domestic decision making: LDC and
trade barriers i.e. import tariff
 Incentivising transition to low carbon development

3. Low Carbon/ Low Emission
Development Strategies
 Has its roots in the UNFCCC
 Also termed low-emission development strategies or low-
carbon growth plans
 Describe forward-looking national economic development
plans or strategies that encompass low-emission and/or
climate-resilient economic growth (OECD, IEA 2010)
 An opportunity to formulate integrated, consistent
strategies on climate change mitigation and provide long-
sighted guidance

4. LEDS & UNFCCC Process
(1/2)
 Art. 4.1.b of the UNFCCC provides for the formulation of programmes on
climate change mitigation
 The initial proposal on LEDS introduced by the EU in 2008
 Highlighted how information on planned low-carbon pathways can help to
inform the international community about funding needs and priorities
and to help understand the level of global climate change action
 LEDS mentioned by the Parties in Copenhagen and Cancún.
 The Copenhagen Accord refers to “a low-emission development strategy”
(Draft Decision -/CP.15, Para. 2)
 2010: Cancun Agreements recognise low-carbon development strategy as
indispensable to sustainable development” (Decision 1/CP.16, Para. 6),
stipulates developed countries should draft LEDS while developing
countries are encouraged to do the same (Decision 1/CP.16, Para.s 45 and
65).

5. LEDS & UNFCCC Process
(2/2)
 No internationally agreed definition on LEDS
 Typically consists of:
- A compilation of emissions data and projections
- Economy-wide, broad long-term mitigation goals (in the range
of 15 to 30 years)
- A survey of cost-efficient mitigation options and their
prioritisation
- The stipulation of concrete short- and mid-term mitigation
actions

6. Low Carbon Development & COP 21
 The concept is included in the Draft Text of Paris
 3 specific mentions within options for: collective long term goal, long
term strategies for mitigation
 Relates to elements of finance, capacity building and technology
transfer
 Capacity building : in relation to implementation of mitigation
strategies, co-benefits strategies
 Technology transfer, issues regarding IP for low carbon development
related technology
 Related to the links made between sustainable development and
climate change actions

7. Financing Low Carbon
Development Strategies
 Links with Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions
 Financing works on a case-by-case basis and can incorporate sources of
bilateral, multilateral, private sector finance
 To ensure sustainability needs the involvement of both public and private
sector
 Could be funded nationally or internationally
 Private sector funding : crucial for the sustainability of development
strategies, and implementation
 Entities that operate between both public and private such as NAMA
facility
 Green Climate Fund: established to leverage private and public finance to
support mitigation strategies and adaptation practices in developing
countries through projects, programmes, policies and other activities

8. Thank you!