Policymakers to Get Hotline to Climate Experts

This SciDev.Net article describes an initiative funded by the United Kingdom (UK)'s Department for International Development (DFID) and managed by an alliance led by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC): the Climate and Development Knowledge Network, which aims to help 60 developing countries access and share scientific information on the best way of tackling problems caused by climate change.

As stated on the DFID website: "The key services that the Climate Network will provide include:

• Knowledge services, to provide up-to-date quality research information packaged for policy-makers and practitioners in developing countries
  
• High priority research and short term policy-relevant analysis;
  
• Technical assistance and advisory services;
  
• Partnerships, to support developing country research capacity and the international climate knowledge system."
  

DFID's intention is to provide policymakers in developing countries with direct access to leading climate change experts. The network also aims to support capacity building for developing countries so that they can make their own plans for mitigating climate change, rather than relying on expertise from developed countries. One of its roles is to help policymakers translate knowledge into practical policies, including building capacity for a low-carbon economy and dealing with the consequences of climate change, the common denominator for most developing countries.

As indicated in the article: "The PwC-led alliance includes the Overseas Development Institute [ODI] - a UK-based think tank on development and humanitarian issues; Fundación Futuro Latinoamericano - a non-governmental organisation (NGO) for sustainable development based in Ecuador; LEAD International, a UK-based NGO that aims to inspire leadership in developing countries; South South North, which aims to reduce poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa; Intrac, an international NGO training and research centre in the UK; and Infosys, a business and IT consultancy."