Dutch development policy: achieving climate justice

Abstract

Developed countries have agreed in the Copenhagen (2009) and Paris (2015) Agreements to mobilise 100 billion US dollar of climate finance for developing countries by 2020. This research focused on the project formulation of three climate-relevant activities in developing countries, all characterised by a different mode of governance. These activities are funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and thus fall under the international climate finance agreements. The activities were analysed with a climate justice lens: in what way the benefits (or burdens) of adaptational projects in developing countries are distributed, and how the procedure of such projects unfolds. It was also analysed whether modes of governance could have an influence on the formulation of climate justice. It was found that the approach to climate justice within the three cases was very diverse. The modes of governance proved to be very complex in all three cases and presented a hybrid mix of multiple forms of governance. It was concluded that the mode of governance appeared to have an influence on the recognition of aspects of climate justice. A number of policy recommendations were also identified.