This guide, Green growth: implications for development planning, by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) aims to support national planners and policy makers in the green growth planning process by focusing on the key role of economics and economic tools.

Green growth is a relatively new concept, with varying definitions and names, many of which are focused on linking economic growth and climate change (e.g. low emissions development, climate compatible development). While interpretations and terminology vary, the green growth agenda aims for a number of strategic outcomes alongside economic development. These could include responding to climate change (both emissions reduction and climate resilience), loss of natural capital, resource scarcity, and addressing social or development objectives such as poverty reduction.

Perhaps more so than conventional economic planning, green growth planning needs to be an iterative process, adapting to local developments over time and responding to the needs of national and local stakeholders. Planners rarely find the planning process straightforward and rely on economic principles and tools to inform the process. Conventional tools and methods, however, may not address environmental and social dimensions adequately or look beyond economic metrics. New tools and methods have emerged and existing ones have also evolved. However, feeding inputs into these tools and using them to obtain stakeholders’ buy-in remain key challenges.

CDKN aims to help decision makers in developing countries design and deliver climate compatible development. A challenge for CDKN’s core audience – national planners and policy makers in developing countries – is incorporating ‘green growth’ into a rigorous policy planning process.

Read the report: Green growth: implications for development planning.