Preparatory Study for an Evaluation of Climate Change Mitigation Funding

Denmark’s development cooperation supports climate change mitigation in a number of countries. This study, conducted by the UNEP DTU Partnership and DIIS, provides an overview of Denmark’s support in recent years, and discusses this in relation to overall developments in global mitigation commitments and -financing.

The study presents key trends in Danish climate mitigation support during the period 2013-2018, and sets this into the context of (i) Danish strategies for climate and development; (ii) the Paris Agreement and the associated national commitments and plans of selected developing countries; and (iii) global developments in climate financing. 

The study was carried out prior to an evaluation of Denmark’s climate change mitigation support. It therefore also proposes a number of questions for the evaluation of Denmark’s support. For example, there has been a strategy to focus more on high-emission middle-income countries. Is this an effective strategy for a small country like Denmark, or is it in the long run equally effective - and fair – for Danish support to sustain and even increase support to Least Developed Countries?

Some of the questions posed in the report were subsequently addressed in the evaluation of Denmark’s assistance to climate change mitigation. They can also form the basis for broader debate about the future of Denmark’s support to mitigation.

This working paper has received financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. It reflects the views of the authors alone.