A Greener Path: Integrating Climate and Development Strategies

By Christopher Burke

Climate change has become a defining issue in international development impacting global stability, economic progress and human well-being. It is linked to at least 13 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) making climate resilience and sustainability essential in aid strategies.

At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, nearly 200 countries pledged US$1.3 trillion in climate finance to developing countries by 2035 including a core goal of US$300 billion. This commitment, blending public and private funding sources, triples the previous US$100 billion target, focusing attention on environmental conservation.

The effects of climate change—extreme weather, disrupted food and water supplies, and displaced communities—are most severe in vulnerable regions of the Global South. Penny Davies, International Advisor at the Climate and Land Use Alliance points out that countries contributing the least to greenhouse gas emissions face the greatest consequences, which jeopardizes their ability to achieve the
SDGs without substantial support.

In 2023, Official Development Assistance (ODA) reached a record US$224 billion, largely driven by aid for Ukraine. Only five Development Assistance Committee (DAC) countries met the 0.7 percent gross national income commitment. Around 30 percent of ODA is now allocated to climate-related projects reflecting the urgency of supporting developing countries to adapt to and mitigate climate risks.

Mitigation vs. Adaptation

Climate finance mechanisms, such as the Green Climate Fund and Climate Investment Funds, have mobilized billions for mitigation (reducing emissions) and adaptation (building resilience).

Saliem Fakir, Executive Director at The African Climate Foundation notes a significant funding imbalance favoring mitigation over adaptation, leaving vulnerable populations underfunded.

This funding gap is not a budgeting issue, but reflects a deeper challenge within the development sector. Development assistance prioritizes solutions that deliver clear, measurable results that are easier to achieve with mitigation projects such as solar energy installations or emissions reductions.

Adaptation efforts – drought-resistant crops, climate-resilient infrastructure and disaster early warning systems — are harder to quantify and require sustained investment. Chris Magero, Principal Associate at EcoIntel in Kenya argues adaptation funds must trickle down to the national and local levels to support resilience and climate-smart production.

The incoming U.S. Government Administration is likely to reduce government spending on the clean energy transition initiatives associated with Donald Trump’s skepticism over links between fossil fuels and climate change. Despite anticipated cuts to U.S. overseas aid under the Republicans, support to vulnerable populations affected by environmental issues is not expected to be targeted in particular.

Integrated and Localized Approaches

Development actors increasingly integrate nature-based solutions into climate strategies. Robina Abuya, Climate Change Portfolio Manager with FCDO in Kenya, highlights the growing traction of projects that align climate action with poverty alleviation. Douwe Dijkstra, Country Director at Cordaid in Bangladesh,
emphasizes combining environmental conservation with poverty reduction programs to address interlinked challenges.

Localization is reshaping climate-related aid. Donors are shifting power and resources to local governments and community-led initiatives. Abel Whande, Country Director at CARE International in South Sudan, stresses the importance of designing climate solutions that meet specific community needs. USAID’s commitment to channel 25 percent of its aid directly to local actors by 2030 reflects this broader trend.

Adama Coulibaly, Global Programs Director at Oxfam International, agrees localization enables sustainable livelihoods and environmental resilience by harnessing indigenous knowledge, but warns linkages between conservation and poverty alleviation remain inconsistent.

Regional and Blended Finance Solutions

Regional institutions such as the African Development Bank (AfDB) play a growing role in climate-related development. Elasha Balgis-Osam, Climate Change Adaptation Expert at AfDB, explains the Bank’s efforts to “climate-proof” investments and foster low-carbon development across Africa. Regional
cooperation reduces intervention fragmentation and addresses shared climate risks.

Blended finance that combines public and private resources is bridging the US$4 trillion annual funding gap needed to achieve the SDGs. Institutions such as the World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC) mitigate private sector investment risks encouraging renewable energy and climate-resilient infrastructure development. However, these investments must avoid creating unsustainable
debt burdens.

Accountability and Results-Based Financing

There is growing pressure to demonstrate measurable outcomes from climate-related aid. Steven Ochola, Director of Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) at ACDI/VOCA in Myanmar, points to the use of data analytics, real-time monitoring and independent evaluations. Initiatives such as the Global Partnership for Results-Based Approaches tie funding to milestones, promoting transparency and
tangible results.

The Path Forward

Climate action must prioritize building resilient systems, empower local communities and foster sustainable economic growth. Development and environmental sustainability are inseparable—progress in one depends on the other.

Traditional aid models no longer suffice. Effective climate action transcends national borders, focuses on those most affected and integrates environmental sustainability as a cornerstone of human well-being. Placing climate change at the heart of development strategies is essential to achieving the SDGs and securing a sustainable future.

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