Development is the overriding policy priority in developing countries, but how can these countries develop in a carbon-constrained future? A domestic developing country perspective which specifically draws on the expertise of both the mitigation and development communities is required, to respond to the challenge of combining robust development with emissions reduction at suitable scale and pace.

The Development and Mitigation Forum provides the space to explore and articulate this perspective, interrogating existing ‘mitigation-centric’ approaches and introducing the standpoints and priorities of development colleagues.   The three-day event will be loosely structured around a themed series of peer-reviewed mitigation papers. It will use innovative conferencing and discussion techniques to explore the issues and questions raised.

The Forum will enable developing world connections and networks, create the space for lively discussion and debate with key international thinkers and then publish its proceedings. It is convened by the Energy Research Centre of the University of Cape Town, the Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi, and supported by the Mitigation Action Plans and Scenarios Programme (MAPS). It is part of a series of collaborative events hosted by Southern research institutions to stimulate conversation around global and national climate governance of development and climate change, both in the context of local planning and in the lead up to negotiation of the 2015 UNFCCC agreement.

Keynote speakers

• Kuben Naidoo: Advisor to the Governor of the South Africa Reserve Bank.
• Anand Patwardhan: Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, lead author for the Fourth and Fifth IPCC Assessment Reports.
• Sergio Margulis: National Secretary of Sustainable Development, Secretariat of Strategic Affairs, The Presidency of Brazil.

Mitigation and development practitioners - academic, government, business and civil society are invited to participate. Limited financial support for attendance is available.

The Development and Mitigation Forum will be hosted in Cape Town from 27 – 29 January, 2014. For more information and to register, visit the forum website. Registration deadline: 1 December, 2013.