This paper outlines some key reflections
from the Development and Mitigation Forum,
hosted by the MAPS Programme in Cape Town in
January 2014. The paper argues that the mitigation community needs to shift towards
putting development first in order to bridge
the gap between the two sectors. Furthermore,
by putting hunger and inequality at the heart
of low-carbon development, broader constituencies can be built to challenge powerful interests maintaining a high-carbon
growth pathway. The two communities could
work together to set ambitious goals, reach
out to the broader sections of society and
challenge behaviour or aspirations to achieve
the transformational change needed to lift
people out of poverty and avoid catastrophic
climate change. The paper comments on the mitigation discourse, the similarities and
differences with development, the need to
cut down on jargon and areas of future collaboration.
