Sustainable development policies and measures and international climate agreements

One of the most difficult challenges facing nations attempting to implement the Climate Convention is the integration of greenhouse gas (GHG) considerations into national developmentprogrammes. This paper explores this challenge at the international level. Namely, how might an approach based on sustainable development policies and measures (SD-PAMs) be formalised and defined within a future international climate agreement?

A possible approach, outlined by the authors in this publication, proceeds along several steps:

• the international community would likely need to agree on general guidelines for what constitutes an "SD-PAM" that is eligible to be pledged under the UNFCCC
• a process would be needed whereby Parties would actually pledge eligible SD-PAMs. Such a process could work in a variety of different ways, either as unilateral, mutual, or harmonised pledges
• once pledged, SD-PAMs could be recorded and tracked by the Convention Secretariat (or other body)
• a broader programme of assessing progress would likely be needed, including reporting and review procedures
• although the approach described is essentially qualitative, it could incorporate a quantitative dimension, and perhaps also be integrated into the nascent international carbon market.

The authors conclude that while the concept of pledging national policies and measures may be untried, many elements described above are adapted or borrowed from existing practice under the Convention. In the same manner, the Convention already employs a system for reporting and review of policy implementation. To be successful, an SD-PAMs system would need to build on and improve these systems.