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Home / What Are LEDS?

What Are LEDS?

The LEDS process graphic

Low emission development strategies (LEDS) are country-led and country-specific strategic plans to promote economic growth while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (in absolute and/or relative terms) over the long term. LEDS carries the same meaning as low carbon development strategies, low emission climate resilient development strategies, and provide a framework to support broader green growth strategies. While LEDS focus on reducing GHG emissions, due diligence should be taken to ensure that LEDS do not cause unintended environmental pressures.

At the country level, LEDS are a key element for short, medium, and long-term national economic development plans, contributing to green growth, green economy, and climate resiliency. At the regional and global level, LEDS support the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals, prioritizing the four “pros” of pro-growth, pro-job, pro-poor, and pro-environment.

The LEDS process is defined by five stages, including: (1) organizing the process (e.g., identifying the institutional structure, selecting mechanisms for stakeholder involvement); (2) collecting data and assessing the current situation; (3) using analytical decision-making to identify and assess pathways; (4) prioritizing and planning a portfolio of actions; and (5) implementing and monitoring actions.

Watch this short video about LEDS and green growth

By design, LEDS may consider an extensive range of co-benefits. In practice, LEDS primarily focuses on GHGs—including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), hydroflurocarbons (HFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)—but LEDS may also include consideration of short-lived climate pollutants such as black carbon and other emissions. Other co-benefits may include reductions in ambient air pollutants, energy savings, more sustainable use of natural resources, sustainable urban development and transport systems, and more. While the focus of LEDS is on climate change emissions mitigation and not on adaptation measures per se, LEDS frameworks should work to ensure that climate resilience and adaptation are fully considered in near- and long-term planning.

Learn more about LEDS and Green Growth

  • Presentation: Introduction to LEDS for Policymakers in the Asia Region
  • Low Emission Development Strategies (LEDS) Gateway
  • LEDS Overview on the UN Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform
  • LEDS Summary by the International Partnership on Mitigation and MRV
  • UNDP’s Green, Low-Emission and Climate-Resilient Development Strategies web page
  • LEDS: Technical, Institutional and Policy Lessons (OCED report, 2010)

 

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The Asia LEDS Partnership Steering Committee includes:

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Chinese Taipei
Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USA
Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD), Pakistan
International Climate Development Institute (ICDI), Chinese Taipei
The International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), Bangladesh
Ministry of Planning and Investment,  Vietnam
Ministry of Environment, Department of Climate change and International Relations, Mongolia
Climate Change Commission, Philippines
Climate Change Secretariat, Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment, Sri Lanka
Programming Division, Planning Commission, Bangladesh
ICF International
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
United Nations Environment Programme
UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP)
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The Asia LEDS Partnership is a regional platform of the LEDS Global Partnership

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