Climate Protection through Development Cooperation
Given the worsening climate crisis, an effective contribution of development cooperation (DC) to climate protection in the countries of the Global South is increasingly relevant. In order to provide decision makers within German DC as well as from other donor countries with relevant orientation knowledge, DEval is continuing its work in the field of climate adaptation by conducting a macro-quantitative study in the field of climate protection (mitigation).
The extent to which German mitigation-related development cooperation has contributed to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in developing countries is of great epistemological interest. In this context, there are close ties to the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (BMZ) core strategy for climate and energy, in particular as it relates to the core goal of complete net decarbonisation of all energy-related sectors by 2050.
Background
The global climate crisis is one of the greatest global challenges to preserving and developing natural and human-made systems. It hinders the achievement of the sustainable development goals and endangers the development policy successes of the past decades. Without fundamentally reducing greenhouse gas emissions in all sectors, limiting global warming will fail.
The short-term costs of the climate transition necessary for achieving climate goals are particularly difficult to fund in developing and emerging countries. In this area, international cooperation can enable sufficient public investment in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.
Objectives
The study is intended to provide information for the reflection process of the core focus strategy “Verantwortung für unseren Planeten – Klima und Energie” [Responsibility for our planet – climate and energy], which is planned for autumn 2024. It contributes to furthering accountability and transparency. On the one hand, this objective is achieved by evaluating the relevance of the distribution of mitigation-related development funding. On the other hand, the study retrospectively examines the effectiveness and the achievement of superior development policy impacts in the relevant area. The study aims to contribute to improving the relevance and the effectiveness of German DC in the area of climate protection. The publication of the study is planned for the first quarter of 2024.
Methods
The methods for answering the study’s questions are predominantly macro-quantitative. A portfolio and allocation analysis examines the portfolio structure and influential factors with the goal of providing evidence for structural changes of the portfolio and allocation design. A macro-quantitative effects analysis analyses impact indicators of German as well as international DC based on secondary observation data. To analyse the secondary observation data, use is made primarily of comparative statistical methods such as regression analyses with panel data. Additionally, in an evidence synthesis, qualitative processes are also used.
Contact
Dr Thomas Wencker
Phone: +49 (0)228 336907-951
E-mail: thomas.wencker@DEval.org
Dr Sven Harten
Phone: +49 (0)228 336907-950
E-mail: sven.harten@DEval.org