Good Governance for Long-Term Low-Emissions Development Strategies

Long-term planning for climate and development requires tailored governance and institutional arrangements. Most countries have some experience with climate-change planning over near- and medium-term horizons through efforts such as nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and low-emissions development strategies (LEDS). However, current pledges are insufficient to limit warming to well below 2°C and pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C, and decisions being made today can significantly affect whether this goal can realistically be met. This paper considers what type of governance and institutional arrangements can best support the development of long-term, low-emissions development strategies in order to bridge long-term climate implications to the decisions of today.

By exploring different experiences, this paper outlines several governance considerations critical to any national climate planning effort. It provides a checklist of key questions that national policymakers and planning officials may consider when developing their long-term strategies (LTSs), including questions around the initiation of the process, institutional arrangements, communication and review procedures, and international cooperation. The questions can be used to identify crucial gaps and challenges, as well as opportunities to strengthen governance and institutional arrangements for long-term climate and development planning.