Section outline

  • LCD strategies require multi-level approaches, i.e. they are not only about policies of national governments. The LCD strategies ought to involve regional and local governments as these are in charge of spatial planning, urban development and design, transport, energy, water and sanitation infrastructures, which are decisive for carbon intensity as well as resilience.

    Multi-level approaches and arrangements, providing guidance and incentives to local and regional authorities to contribute to low carbon development are therefore not an add-on, but an essential element of national and international climate policy. Moreover, in many countries, chances for gender balanced decision-making are somewhat better at lower levels than at the national levels, and thus chances to respond to the needs of citizens are higher.