NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and 

Renewable Energy, operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

International Assistance for Low-Emissions 

Development Planning 

Coordinated Low Emissions Assistance Network (CLEAN) 

Inventory of Activities and Tools—Preliminary Trends

NREL/TP-6A00-49972

May 2011

Sadie Cox (NREL), Ron Benioff (NREL)
NOTICE

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iii

Acknowledgements

CLEAN partners, presented in the appendix, contributed inputs on their relevant activities to the 

CLEAN inventory used to assess initial trends in low-emissions planning provided in this report

More specific CLEAN inputs and review were provided by Jane Ebinger of the World Bank’s 

Energy Sector Management Assistance Program, Antonia Gawel and Tom Kerr of the 

International Energy Agency, Christa Clapp of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and 

Development, Vlasis Oikonomou of the Joint Implementation Network, and Stefan Bakker of the 

Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands. 
iv

Table of Contents

List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................. v

List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................... v

List of Text Boxes ....................................................................................................................................... v

List of Acronyms........................................................................................................................................ vi

1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 1

2 Overview of Inventory .......................................................................................................................... 2

3 Limitations of Inventory Data.............................................................................................................. 7

4 Results of Inventory Analysis ............................................................................................................. 8

4.1 Internationally Supported Low-Emissions Development Planning Activities— 

Narrative Descriptions .........................................................................................................8

4.2 Internationally Supported Low-Emissions Development Planning Activities— 

Geographic Representation ................................................................................................11

4.3 Low-Emissions Planning Tools .........................................................................................20

5 Conclusions and Next Steps for CLEAN.......................................................................................... 24

Appendix. Coordinated Low Emissions Assistance Network (CLEAN).............................................. 26
v 

List of Figures

Figure 1. Common stages of a low-emissions planning process .................................................... 5

Figure 2. Regional support activities in South America ............................................................... 13

Figure 3. Regional support activities in Central America ............................................................. 13

Figure 4. Regional support activities in Africa and Middle East .................................................. 15

Figure 5. Regional Support Activities in Eastern Europe reflected in current CLEAN

inventory ..................................................................................................................... 16

Figure 6. Regional support activities in Southern Asia ................................................................ 18

Figure 7. Regional support activities in Southeast Asia and Pacific ............................................ 18

Figure 8. Regional support activities in Central and Eastern Asia ............................................... 18

Figure 9. Examples of international support for low-emissions planning in the world reflected in 

current CLEAN inventory ........................................................................................... 19

Figure 10. Tools to support low-carbon planning in the CLEAN inventory ................................ 20

List of Tables

Table 1. Comparison of Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs), Nationally Appropriate 

Mitigation Actions (NAMAs), Roadmaps, and Low-Emissions Development 

Strategies (LEDS) ......................................................................................................... 3

Table A-1. Objectives, Foundational Activities, and Cooperative Activities of the Coordinated 

Low Emissions Assistance Network (CLEAN) .......................................................... 28

List of Text Boxes

Box 1. International support for low-emissions planning in Latin America and Caribbean 

reflected in current CLEAN inventory ....................................................................... 12

Box 2. International support for low-emissions planning in Sub-Saharan Africa reflected in 

current CLEAN inventory ........................................................................................... 14

Box 3. International support for low-emissions planning in Middle East and Northern Africa 

reflected in current CLEAN inventory ....................................................................... 14

Box 4. International support for low-emissions planning in Eastern Europe reflected in current 

CLEAN inventory ....................................................................................................... 16

Box 5. International support for low-emissions planning in Asia and the Pacific reflected in 

current CLEAN inventory ........................................................................................... 17
vi 

List of Acronyms

ADB Asian Development Bank

CCAP Center for Clean Air Policy

CDKN Climate and Development Knowledge Network 

CDM Clean Development Mechanism

CIF Climate Investment Funds 

CIFF Children’s Investment Fund Foundation 

CLEAN Coordinated Low Emissions Assistance Network

DOE U.S. Department of Energy 

ECLED Enhancing Capacity for Low Emissions Development 

ECN Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands 

EFFECT Energy Forecasting Framework and Emissions Consensus Tool 

EGTT Expert Group on Technology Transfer 

ERC Energy Research Centre (University of Cape Town) 

ESMAP Energy Sector Management Assistance Program

EU European Union 

GEF Global Environment Facility 

GHG greenhouse gas

GoSK Government of South Korea 

IEA International Energy Agency 

IISD International Institute for Sustainable Development

JIN Joint Implementation Network

LCDS low-carbon development strategy

LCG low-carbon growth

LCGP low-carbon growth plan

LDC least-developed country 

LEDS low-emissions development strategy

MAPS Mitigation Action Plans and Scenarios

MENA Middle East and North Africa

MRV monitoring, reporting, and verification 

NAMA nationally appropriate mitigation action

NREL U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory 

REEEP Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership 

SPP sustainable public procurement

TAMP Transport Activity Measurement Toolkit

TAP technical assistance program

TNA technology needs assessment

UNDP United Nations Development Programme 

UNEP United Nations Environment Programme 

UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 

UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organization 

USVI U.S. Virgin Islands
1 

1 Introduction

Current patterns of global economic development are increasing greenhouse gas emissions due to 

greater energy demand and changes in land-use. At the same time, all countries have 

opportunities to reduce increases in greenhouse gas emissions by pursuing sustainable land-use 

initiatives and economic growth pathways that promote use of clean energy.1

A growing number of international programs provide technical assistance to developing 

countries for low-emissions development plans and projects. Assistance includes support for 

low-carbon growth, low-emissions development, and green growth strategies, technology needs 

assessments (TNAs), nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs), and technology 

development and deployment roadmaps, as well as other similar activities to support deployment 

of low-carbon technologies and initiatives.

Several 

international donors and technical organizations are working to coordinate their approach to 

assisting developing countries with low-emissions development planning, capacity building, and 

implementation to advance these goals of economic development and sustainable growth in a 

less carbon intensive manner. 

2

 Though this is a positive trend, there is an 

opportunity for increased impact through enhanced harmonization3

Coordinating activities around international assistance can help to leverage the expertise and 

tools developed by organizations involved in similar efforts, achieve efficiency in resource use, 

and capture lessons learned across organizations. 

of technical support. 

This opportunity for coordination was the impetus for the creation of the Coordinated Low 

Emissions Assistance Network (CLEAN), a voluntary network of practitioners of low emissions 

planning activities created in November 2009. The network was developed to facilitate 

partnership, reduce duplication of efforts, and improve the quality of support provided by 

technical organizations to developing countries through sharing project information, tools, best 

practices and lessons, and by fostering harmonized assistance to countries. For example, CLEAN 

partners are collaborating on user guides for low-emissions planning methods and on improving 

analytical tools for evaluating economic, environmental, and social development impacts of lowemissions technologies and programs. More than 30 international organizations currently 

participate in CLEAN. The partners have developed a set of shared principles to help inform 

their collective low-emissions planning activities. See the appendix for more information on 

CLEAN, including current partners. 

 

1 International Energy Agency, World Energy Outlook 2010 Factsheet 2 These support activities are referred to collectively throughout the paper as low-emissions planning activities. 3 The term harmonization is used throughout the report, and it is important that readers have a clear understanding of 

what it means in the context of both CLEAN and low-emissions development planning assistance. Harmonization of 

technical assistance seeks to bring into congruence and reduce inconsistencies amongst methods, tools and activities. 

Harmonization of technical support can include on-the-ground assistance in a particular country. For example, 

organizations within a country could develop different components of a low-emissions development strategy 

(LEDS), which could be combined into a comprehensive strategy. Harmonization can also include broader 

development of common frameworks and metrics for planning or sharing of expertise, tools, and other information 

resources to support planning and capacity building; CLEAN focuses most on these broader harmonization 

activities.
2 

CLEAN has developed an inventory of international technical support and tools for low-carbon 

planning activities in developing countries.4

2 Overview of Inventory

This report presents a preliminary analysis of the 

inventory to help identify trends in the assistance activities and tools available to support 

developing countries with low-emissions planning. The inventory is a work in progress, and the 

trends presented here reflect incomplete data. Refinement of this mapping exercise to better 

reflect ongoing activities is welcomed. It is hoped that this inventory will guide practitioners as 

they seek to develop and expand international collaborative efforts to support low-emissions 

development planning. 

The purpose of the CLEAN inventory is to provide a comprehensive picture of support by 

international technical organizations for low-emissions development planning. The inventory can 

be used as a planning tool to encourage collaboration in this space and to promote better 

understanding of the synergies between activities. It can also be used to analyze gaps in the 

planning process in individual countries or in relation to available tools to support the process. 

Understanding these gaps can inform collaboration on planning of future assistance programs 

and developing of new and innovative tools to support planning. 

The operating definition of low greenhouse gas (GHG) emission development planning 

established by CLEAN is the preparation and implementation of action plans by countries to 

achieve development goals while reducing growth in greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors 

of the economy. Assistance activities include support for green growth, low-emissions or lowcarbon growth plans, TNAs, NAMAs, and technology roadmaps. Table 1 compares some of the

types of international instruments used to support low-emissions planning. 

 

4 The Coordinated Low Emissions Assistance Network (CLEAN) inventory is located at http://openei.org/CLEAN. 
3 

Table 1. Comparison of Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs), Nationally Appropriate Mitigation 

Actions (NAMAs), Roadmaps, and Low-emissions development Strategies (LEDS) 

Program Background Key Questions Addressed 

by Host Country

Primary Products 

TNAs TNAs are an approved 

element of United Nations 

Framework Convention on 

Climate Change (UNFCCC) 

technology transfer 

framework under Article 4.5. 

The Global Environment 

Facility (GEF) has provided 

TNA support to more than 

90 countries and has 

initiated support for more indepth TNAs to about 30 

countries.

What are the priority 

mitigation and adaptation 

technologies to achieve 

climate and development 

goals?

What portfolio of domestic 

programs and projects and 

international cooperation will 

facilitate implementation of 

these technologies?

Description of priority 

adaptation and mitigation 

technologies

Action plan for domestic 

programs to advance 

technology deployment

Potential projects for 

international support to 

advance technology 

deployment

NAMAs NAMAs were adopted under 

the Bali Action Plan as a 

mechanism for developing 

countries to undertake 

voluntary projects to reduce 

GHG emissions with 

international support. 

The Copenhagen Accord 

notes that countries should 

describe NAMAs in their 

national communications 

and establishes registry of 

NAMA projects proposed for 

international support. 

The COP 16 draft decision 

notes that NAMAs should 

“include information on 

mitigation actions, the 

national greenhouse gas 

inventory report, including a 

description, analysis of the 

impacts and associated 

methodologies and 

assumptions, progress in 

implementation and 

information on domestic 

measurement, reporting and 

verification and support 

received...”5

Which projects and 

programs are the priorities 

for reducing GHG emissions 

and achieving development 

goals?

 

What domestic action can 

be undertaken to advance 

these mitigation measures?

What international 

technology, financing, and 

capacity building support are 

needed to implement these 

projects? 

Description of priority 

mitigation projects

Proposals for international 

support for mitigation 

projects that would be 

combined with domestic 

action

 

5 Draft decision -/CP.16.Outcome of the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on long-term Cooperative Action 

under the Convention. #64. Pg. 10. http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/cop_16/application/pdf/cop16_lca.pdf
4 

Program Background Key Questions Addressed 

by Host Country

Primary Products 

LEDS/ 

LCDs

As first noted in the 

Copenhagen Accord, the

COP 16 draft decision states

that “a low-carbon 

development strategy is 

indispensable to sustainable 

development”6 and 

encourages developing 

countries to prepare lowcarbon development 

strategies.

7

Pilot projects to assist

countries with LEDS 

development have been 

initiated by the United 

States, Netherlands,

European Commission, and 

others. 

The draft 

decision presents an 

awareness of the need to 

provide incentives to support 

development of LEDS, 

although details are not yet 

specified. 

What are the near and longterm development and lowemissions goals and 

benefits? 

Which technology and 

market pathway will best 

achieve these goals?

What portfolio of policies 

and measures will yield lowemissions growth?

How can these policies and 

measures be implemented 

and the plan monitored and 

refined?

What international support is 

needed? 

Development and lowemissions goals and 

benefits for the country and 

by sector

Pathway for low-emissions 

development

Action plan of low-emissions 

policies and measures

Process for plan 

implementation, monitoring, 

and refinement

Proposals for international 

support for low-emissions 

development

Roadmaps A technology roadmap is a 

specialized type of strategic 

plan that outlines activities 

an organization can 

undertake over specific time 

frames to achieve stated 

goals and outcomes. 

Technology-specific 

roadmaps are intended to 

support the development of 

specific types of 

technologies. The roadmaps 

serve to achieve consensus 

on low-carbon energy 

milestones, priorities for 

technology development, 

policy and regulatory 

frameworks, investment 

needs, and public 

engagement.8

What is the status of the 

technology in question?

 

What is the potential for the 

technology in question?

What goals and milestones 

should be established for 

the specific technology?

What are the gaps and

barriers to deployment of the 

technology? 

What action items can 

overcome these barriers? 

Which are highest priorities? 

What is the timeline?

How can these actions be 

effectively implemented and 

monitored?

Quantified goals for each 

technology or sector of 

interest

Timeframe of milestones for 

achieving interim targets

Identification of gaps and 

barriers to deployment of the 

technologies

Identification of action items 

to address the barriers 

Prioritized actions, timeline 

for implementation of the 

actions and tracking system 

to assess progress

 

6 Draft decision -/CP.16.Outcome of the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on long-term Cooperative Action 

under the Convention. #6. Pg. 2. http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/cop_16/application/pdf/cop16_lca.pdf 7 Draft decision -/CP.16.Outcome of the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on long-term Cooperative Action

under the Convention. #65. Pg. 10. http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/cop_16/application/pdf/cop16_lca.pdf 8 Text from Antonia Gawel of the IEA
5 

Though the effort to inventory low-emissions planning activities occurs within the context of 

CLEAN, the inventory necessarily includes relevant activities of both CLEAN partners and 

organizations outside the network. In addition, the inventory includes programs and tools that 

support both comprehensive low-emissions planning and specific stages of such planning.

Common stages of a low-emissions planning process are presented in Figure 1, including 

baseline analysis and projection, techno-economic and market assessment, scenario development 

and impact assessment, policy and program design, and implementation and finance. Figure 1 is 

followed by general descriptions of these stages, which are meant to provide a general overview 

of the activities associated with the stages and are not exhaustive. In addition, countries 

undertaking low-emissions planning processes will likely organize and time these elements 

differently based on their unique domestic requirements. 

Figure 1. Common stages of a low-emissions planning process 

Baseline Analysis and Projection: This stage involves developing a business-as-usual scenario

incorporating data and projections for economy and development, energy demand and supply for 

the electricity and transport sectors, land use, GHG emissions, and future climate conditions. 

Greenhouse gas inventory data are a necessary input in developing such projections, and in some 

cases, this stage might require significant technical assistance and capacity building to develop 

an inventory. Different methodologies and assumptions are applied in developing baseline 

scenarios; this report does not discuss the different methods for this analysis but instead indicates

the number of analytical tools available to support this stage. 

Baseline Analysis and 

Projection

Techno-Economic 

Assessment

Market Assessment

Scenario Development

Impact Assessment

Policy and Program 

Design 

Implementation and 

Finance
6 

Techno-Economic Assessment: This stage involves determining energy and landscape (e.g., 

water, forest, and agriculture) resource availability to support low-emissions development within 

techno-economic constraints. 

Market Assessment: This stage involves evaluating general market conditions in the country, as

well as market viability of technologies and initiatives to support low-emissions development 

over a longer time horizon. 

Scenario Development and Impact Assessment: Based on techno-economic and market 

assessments, this stage involves developing scenarios with different projections for future 

economic and climate conditions based on the technology deployment and land-use pathways 

considered. Impacts of alternative scenarios are then assessed to determine a recommended mix 

of actions. Impacts beyond GHG emission reduction, often termed co-benefits, to be considered 

in this stage include economic, social, environmental, and security benefits. 

Policy and Program Design: This stage involves providing support for policy design through 

assessing the applicability and impact of different energy, efficiency, and land-use policies and 

programs. Policy best practices as well as lessons learned and examples of successful programs 

in similar countries are important in helping countries design effective policy mechanisms. 

Finance and Implementation: This stage involves moving plans to action. Important aspects of 

this stage are ensuring that the necessary institutional infrastructure is in place to support 

implementation of the plan and working to catalyze public and private sector investment and 

finance. This stage also involves preparing a plan for monitoring and reviewing low-emissions 

development actions.

For the inventory, the CLEAN partners provided information on their respective activities and 

tools using a common template within OpenEI,9

 an open-data wiki-based platform; the opendata10 wiki-based11

Figure 1

platform makes it easy for organizations to add, tag, and update programs 

and tools. Data about activities and tools were collected for non-CLEAN partner organizations 

from relevant websites and databases. Activities and tools were tagged in relation to geographic 

location, topic (see ), sector and subsector, and resource type (e.g., software tool, data

set, guide, best practices). 

 

9 The low-emissions planning activity inventory is currently located on the Open Energy Information or OpenEI 

website (http://openei.org/CLEAN), a linked open-data platform developed to connect the world’s energy data and 

bring together energy information to provide improved analyses, visualizations, and real-time access to data. OpenEI 

follows guidelines set by the White House’s Open Government Initiative (http://www.whitehouse.gov/open), which 

is focused on transparency, collaboration, and participation. Although OpenEI’s primary purpose is to store and 

connect energy data, it has been used in this case to more broadly inventory not only clean energy projects but also 

forest and agriculture activities that can support low-emissions development. The OpenEI platform 

(http://openei.org) is useful because it allows users to easily add or update current information and data; where 

“open data sets” are available, this information can be linked and automatically updated. 10 Open data are data that are freely available to all, without restrictions such as copyright or patents. 11 A wiki is website that can be edited by anyone given access to it.
7 

3 Limitations of Inventory Data

The CLEAN inventory has several data limitations. The most significant limitation relates to 

incomplete data input, reflecting the voluntary contributions of CLEAN partners. Efforts were 

made to collect data on relevant activities from both CLEAN and non-CLEAN institutions, but 

because of limited resources and in some cases because of limited availability of public 

information, the inventory does not present the full scope of activities supporting low-emissions 

planning. In addition, some errors might have been made in categorizing these activities along 

the definitions outlined above. 

Second, the activities presented in this report do not provide a balanced representation of 

international low-emissions planning programs in developing countries across sectors and 

country types. Current data in the inventory are heavily focused on crosscutting and energysector activities, as these data were the most easily accessible for the preliminary data input 

process. 

Third, because the inventory is on an open platform with multiple users, consistency of data 

input cannot be guaranteed. Activities that are comprehensive in scope might not map well to the 

categories offered in the inventory, and users might interpret categorizations differently. 

Fourth, the low-emissions planning space is rapidly evolving, and ensuring all data are current is 

difficult. Further, many activities in this space have not yet been publicly announced and thus 

cannot be included in the inventory. 

Fifth, the inventory does not consider domestic activities in developing countries undertaken 

independent of international partnerships. Many countries have already developed low-emissions 

plans, TNAs, and NAMAs, and future international assistance activities can complement these 

efforts. Though domestic activities will inform this type of planning, cataloguing all countries’ 

relevant domestic policies and programs, including those at sub-national levels, was beyond the 

scope of the initial exercise described in this report. 

Due to the above limitations, the findings in this report should be considered to represent only a 

preliminary analysis of a partial data set. CLEAN continues to expand and refine the inventory 

and welcomes feedback on how the inventory can be made more useful. 
8 

4 Results of Inventory Analysis

This section presents results of the inventory analysis to provide a picture of where

internationally supported comprehensive low-emissions planning activities are occurring.

12

4.1 Examples of Internationally Supported Low-Emissions Development

Planning Activities—Narrative Descriptions 

This 

section also provides information on tools available to support the low-emissions planning 

process; this information is intended to promote harmonizing of low-emissions planning support 

and sharing of tools and resources available. 

Several governments have produced low-emissions development strategies or similar plans. 

These governments represent first movers in the low-emissions development planning space, and 

they have a wealth of knowledge to provide to the international community on this topic. 

CLEAN recognizes these national efforts and works to learn from the experiences of these 

countries. However, CLEAN partners are practitioners involved in the low-emissions 

development planning space, not government entities. Therefore, the inventory analysis 

considers only activities to assist or support development of these plans not the actual strategies 

or plans that have been produced. 

A number of examples of support for low-emissions planning are presented here. The data points 

considered below are practitioner activities to assist with developing these plans and strategies. 

These activities are, in most cases, listed in relation to practitioner organizations providing the 

assistance not the government or donor partners. The examples of international support for

comprehensive low-emissions planning in developing countries that are listed below represent a 

partial list of some of the most prominent programs based on information in the CLEAN 

inventory. 

Climate Change Capacity Building Program: The European Commission and United Nations 

Development Programme (UNDP) are working with five countries on scoping activities to assess

capacity buildings needs for LEDS, NAMAs, and monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) 

in the public sector as well as capacity building needs in the private sector to implement actions. 

During the three-year program from 2010 to 2013, the European Commission and UNDP seek to 

develop strong GHG inventory systems, develop NAMAs, and improve MRV.13 The Energy 

Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) is also supporting this program through developing a 

capacity-building program to complement the MRV recommendations and proposals.14

Climate Investment Fund (CIF) Activities: The World Bank and regional development banks 

are working with a number of practitioners to support countries in the development of programs 

and plans associated with CIF funding instruments. These include the Climate Technology Fund 

and the Strategic Climate Fund, which supports the Forest Investment Program, the Pilot 

 

12 This section does not consider stage-specific assistance activities presented in Figure 1, however, a future version 

of the paper will provide this further analysis. The activities presented are considered more comprehensive lowemissions planning assistance programs. 13 Climate Change Expert Group, National communications – lessons learned from capacity building initiatives 

(April 2010), Baptiste Legay, European Commission, DG Climate Action. 14 http://en.openei.org/wiki/MRV_capacity_building_for_developing_countries_(ECN)
9 

Program for Climate Resilience, and the Program for Scaling Up Renewable Energy in Low 

Income Countries.15

Developing Countries Project: Since 2005, the Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP) has worked 

with five developing countries to assess GHG mitigation opportunities that will have the greatest 

economic impact and other co-benefits. The center also seeks to assist countries in participating 

in the UNFCCC process.16

Enhancing Capacity for Low-emissions Development: The U.S. Agency for International 

Development and the U.S. Department of State are working with several other U.S. agencies and

national laboratories to support the creation of LEDS in developing countries. Assistance will 

build on current low-emissions planning efforts in the countries to enhance capacity to design, 

assess, and implement these strategies. The strategies will be country-led and action-oriented 

with a strong focus on each country’s development objectives.

 

17

Green Growth Strategy Support: The recently established Global Green Growth Institute, an 

initiative of the Government of South Korea and ClimateWorks Foundation, will be assisting 

developing countries with the development of “green growth strategies.” They will be working 

with a diverse mix of countries to demonstrate that climate-resilient, low-emissions development 

is possible across circumstances and sectors. Methodology development will focus on 

development, mitigation, and climate resilience. Phase 1 country support will begin in 2010, and 

Phase 2 will begin in 2011.

 

18

International Low-Carbon Energy (IEA) Technology Platform: The Technology Platform’s 

central aim is to accelerate and scale-up action for the development and deployment of clean 

energy technologies. A forum is being developed to bring together stakeholders working to 

catalyze partnerships and activities to enhance the development and implementation of lowcarbon energy technology strategies and technology roadmaps at regional and national levels. 

The forum will allow for sharing of experience on best-practice technology policy and will build 

capacity on technology policy planning methodologies to enable more efficient and effective 

policy development. The forum will also review progress on low-carbon technology deployment 

to help identify key gaps in low-carbon energy policy and international cooperation, and it will 

support efforts to address these through relevant international and regional fora.

 

19

Low-Carbon Growth Country Studies Program: Since 2007, the World Bank’s Energy Sector 

Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) program has worked with seven emerging 

economies to prepare these studies, which were country-led and tailored to different economic 

circumstances. The ESMAP developed a process framework that included these elements: 

support national goals, scope a low-carbon growth study, mobilize resources, build capacity, 

model low-carbon pathways, identify GHG mitigation options, and implement strategies. The 

program is using lessons from the program to develop a suite of “knowledge products,” 

 

15 http://www.climateinvestmentfunds.org/cif/ 16 http://www.ccap.org/index.php?component=programs&id=41 17 http://openei.org/LEDS 18 http://www.gggi.org/menu03/m3_2.php 19 http://www.iea.org/platform/ (Text from Antonia Gawel of the IEA)
10 

including best practice documents, guides, e-learning, and interactive training and modeling 

toolkits.20

Low-Carbon Growth Planning Support: ClimateWorks Foundation, the European Climate 

Foundation, Project Catalyst, and McKinsey & Company supported twelve countries with lowcarbon growth planning activities prior to the 2009 UN Climate Change Conference of Parties 

(COP 15). This assistance focused on sustainable development, GHG mitigation, and climate 

resiliency based on country priorities and a strategic vision. Example activities included 

assistance with development of marginal abatement cost curves and assessment of economic 

impacts.21

Low-Carbon Development Strategies Project: The World Watch Institute (WWI) is working 

with two regions on policy development to complement low-carbon development strategies. The 

WWI plans to extend this work to other countries, regions, and municipalities.

 

22

Mitigation Action Plans and Scenarios (MAPS): This program, operated by SouthSouthNorth, 

implemented by the Energy Research Centre (ERC) at the University of Cape Town and incountry institutions, and funded by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), will 

support four Phase 1 countries and Phase 2 countries with the development of mitigation action 

plans and scenarios from 2010 to 2013. This program focuses strongly on stakeholder 

engagement and on sharing of lessons and knowledge across developing countries.

 

23

NAMA Templates: Ecofys is working with Mexico on NAMA templates for the transport and 

building sectors. Ecofys has used this work to produce a report providing guidance and general 

conclusions about sectoral NAMA development presented in the Section 

 

4.3.

24

Operationalising NAMAs: The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) is 

working with two countries on NAMA development. Assistance is particularly focused on 

Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP), energy efficiency, fossil fuel subsidy reform, and 

agriculture. The institute is also exploring options for supporting least-developed countries 

(LDCs) with development of NAMAs.

 

25

Paving the Way for Low-Carbon Development Strategies (LCDS): The ECN is working with 

two countries to understand better the national circumstances relating to low-emissions 

development planning. This program seeks to support the development of country-tailored LCDS 

methodologies.26

Quantifying Emission Reduction Opportunities in Emerging Economies: Ecofys worked 

with five emerging economies to develop emission reduction scenarios and to assess current 

 

20 Low Carbon Growth Country Studies Program: Getting Started – Experience From Six Countries, ESMAP, 2009 21 Low Carbon Growth Initiatives presentation, ClimateWorks Foundation, Metz, CLEAN expert meeting (Oct. 

2010)

22 http://www.worldwatch.org/node/6427 23 http://www.ssnafrica.org/MAPS_General_Presentation.ppt 24 http://en.openei.org/wiki/Mexico-Ecofys_NAMA_Activities 25 Operationalising NAMAs, Peter Wooders, Climate Change, Energy and Trade, IISD, CLEAN expert meeting 

(Oct. 2010), http://openei.org/CLEAN 26 http://en.openei.org/wiki/Paving_the_Way_for_Low_Carbon_Development_Strategies_(ECN)
11 

national policies to support low-emissions development. Ultimately, this study was used to 

compare the “climate performance” of these countries.27

Roadmap Development Assistance: The International Energy Agency (IEA) has produced 

several technology roadmaps to provide information on technology development, policy, 

regulatory and legal needs, finance requirements, public participation, and international 

cooperation. The IEA is also now assisting individual countries with development of technology 

roadmaps and has produced a guide to support the development that is presented in Section

 

4.3.

28

Technology Needs Assessments and Technology Actions Plans: The United Nations 

Development Programme and the United Nations Environment Program-Risoe Centre are

supporting several countries to assess climate mitigation and adaptation technologies that are 

most suitable to their national circumstances. These TNAs will inform the development of 

technical assistance programs (TAPs) to support transfer of these technologies. The program 

began in 2009 in fifteen countries and will assist up to 45 countries during the three-year 

program period.29

4.2 Internationally Supported Low-Emissions Development Planning Activities—

Geographic Representation

This section presents a geographic breakdown of internationally supported low-emissions 

planning activities. The planning activities considered include international programs providing 

support for low-emissions or low-carbon planning, technology needs assessments (TNAs), 

nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs), and technology roadmaps. 

The activities presented below represent only donor-supported practitioner efforts included in the 

CLEAN inventory; the many national efforts that developing countries are pursuing 

independently are not reflected in this analysis. 

Boxes 1–5 present internationally supported low-emissions planning activities by region and 

country. Practitioners providing support for these activities are noted in parenthesis. The maps 

(Figures 2–9) below the boxes graphically represent the regional support activities with darker 

green areas reflecting a greater numbers of activities.

 

27 http://en.openei.org/wiki/Ecofys_-_Quantifying_Emission_Reduction_Opportunities_in_Emerging_Economies 28 www.iea.org/roadmaps 29 http://en.openei.org/wiki/Technology_Needs_Assessments
12 

Box 1. Examples of international support for low-emissions planning in Latin America and Caribbean

reflected in current CLEAN inventory 

Information is partial and does not capture all activities. 

Argentina TNA and Technology Action Plan (TAP) support (UNEP-Risoe)

Brazil Low-Carbon Growth (LCG) Country Studies program (ESMAP), low-carbon growth plan 

(LCGP) support (ClimateWorks/Project Catalyst/McKinsey), Green Growth Strategy support 

Phase 1 (3GI/Korea-ClimateWorks), Forest Investment Program (World Bank), Mitigation 

Action Plans and Scenarios Phase 1 – MAPS (SouthSouthNorth/ERC), Quantifying 

Emission Reduction Opportunities in Emerging Economies (Ecofys), Developing Countries 

Project (CCAP)

Bolivia Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (World Bank)

Caribbean Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (World Bank), U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) Economic 

Development in Island Nations (DOE/NREL), Low-Carbon Energy Roadmaps for the 

Greater Antilles (WWI)

Central 

America 

(Regional)

Low-Carbon Energy for Central America: Building a Regional Model (WWI)

Chile Mitigation Action Plans and Scenarios Phase 1 – MAPS (SouthSouthNorth/ERC)

Colombia Clean Technology Fund (World Bank), Mitigation Action Plans and Scenarios Phase 1 – 

MAPS (SouthSouthNorth/ERC)

Costa Rica TNA and TAP support (UNEP-Risoe)

Guatemala TNA and TAP support (UNEP-Risoe)

Guyana LCGP support (ClimateWorks/Project Catalyst/McKinsey) 

Honduras Program for Scaling Up Renewable Energy in Low Income Countries (World Bank)

Mexico Low-Carbon Growth (LCG) Country Studies program (ESMAP), NAMA support (Ecofys), 

LCGP support (ClimateWorks/Project Catalyst/McKinsey), MRV/NAMA/LEDS Capacity 

Building Needs (EU, UNDP), Clean Technology Fund (World Bank), Forest Investment 

Program (World Bank), Quantifying Emission Reduction Opportunities in Emerging 

Economies (Ecofys), Developing Countries Project (CCAP)

Peru TNA and TAP support (UNEP-Risoe), MRV/NAMA/LEDS Capacity Building Needs (EU, 

UNDP), Forest Investment Program (World Bank), Mitigation Action Plans and Scenarios 

Phase 1 – MAPS (SouthSouthNorth/ERC)
13 

Figure 2. Regional support activities in South America

Darker green areas reflect greater numbers of activities.

Figure 3. Regional support activities in Central America

Darker green areas reflect greater numbers of activities.
14 

Box 2. Examples of international support for low-emissions planning in Sub-Saharan Africa reflected 

in current CLEAN inventory

Information is partial and does not capture all activities. 

Cote d’Ivoire TNA and TAP support (UNEP-Risoe)

Burkina Faso Forest Investment Program (World Bank)

Democratic 

Republic of the 

Congo

LCGP support (ClimateWorks/Project Catalyst/McKinsey), Forest Investment 

Program (World Bank)

Ghana Paving the Way for Low Carbon Development Strategies (ECN), Forest Investment 

Program (World Bank)

Ethiopia LCGP support (ClimateWorks/Project Catalyst/McKinsey), Green Growth Strategy 

support Phase 1 (3GI/Korea-ClimateWorks), Program for Scaling Up Renewable 

Energy in Low Income Countries (World Bank)

Kenya TNA and TAP support (UNEP-Risoe), LCGP support (ClimateWorks/Project 

Catalyst/McKinsey), Climate Change Capacity Building Program (EU, UNDP), 

Program for Scaling Up Renewable Energy in Low Income Countries (World Bank)

Mali TNA and TAP support (UNEP-Risoe), Program for Scaling Up Renewable Energy 

in Low Income Countries (World Bank)

Mozambique Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (World Bank)

Niger Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (World Bank)

Nigeria Low Carbon Development planning in the power sector (ESMAP)

Senegal TNA and TAP support (UNEP-Risoe)

South Africa Low Carbon Growth (LCG) Country Studies program (ESMAP), Clean Technology 

Fund (World Bank), Quantifying Emission Reduction Opportunities in Emerging 

Economies (Ecofys), Long Term Mitigation Scenarios support (ERC)

Zambia Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (World Bank)

Box 3. Examples of international support for low-emissions planning in Middle East and Northern 

Africa reflected in current CLEAN inventory

Information is partial and does not capture all activities. 

Egypt LCGP support (ClimateWorks/Project Catalyst/McKinsey), Clean Technology Fund 

(World Bank)

Morocco TNA and TAP support (UNEP-Risoe), Clean Technology Fund (World Bank), Low 

Carbon Development planning in the power sector (ESMAP)

Yemen Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (World Bank)

Middle East and

North Africa 

(MENA) Regional

Clean Technology Fund (World Bank)
15 

Figure 4. Regional support activities in Africa and Middle East 

Darker green areas reflect greater numbers of activities.
16 

Box 4. Examples of international support for low-emissions planning in Eastern Europe reflected in 

current CLEAN inventory

Information is partial and does not capture all activities. 

Georgia TNA and TAP support (UNEP-Risoe)

Poland LCG Country Studies program (ESMAP)

Turkey Clean Technology Fund (World Bank)

Ukraine Clean Technology Fund (World Bank)

Figure 5. Regional Support Activities in Eastern Europe reflected in 

current CLEAN inventory

Information is partial and does not capture all activities.
17 

Box 5. Examples of international support for low-emissions planning in Asia and the Pacific reflected 

in current CLEAN inventory

Information is partial and does not capture all activities. 

Bangladesh TNA and TAP support (UNEP-Risoe), Pilot Program for Climate Resilience

(World Bank)

Cambodia TNA and TAP support (UNEP-Risoe), Pilot Program for Climate Resilience

(World Bank)

China Economics of Climate Change and Low Carbon Growth Strategies in Northeast 

Asia study (ADB and GoSK), LCG Country Studies program (ESMAP), China 2050 

Wind Technology Roadmap (IEA), Low Carbon Development Zones in China 

(Chatham House), LCGP support (ClimateWorks/Project Catalyst/McKinsey), 

Quantifying Emission Reduction Opportunities in Emerging Economies (Ecofys)

India LCG Country Studies program (ESMAP), LCGP support (ClimateWorks/Project 

Catalyst/McKinsey), Developing Countries Project (CCAP)

Indonesia Paving the Way for Low Carbon Development Strategies (ECN), LCGP support 

(ClimateWorks/Project Catalyst/McKinsey), LCG Country Studies program 

(ESMAP), UNEP-Risoe TNA support, Green Growth Strategy support Phase 1 - 

Kalimantan (3GI/Korea-ClimateWorks), Climate Change Capacity Building 

Program (EU, UNDP), Clean Technology Fund (World Bank), Forest Investment 

Program (World Bank), Developing Countries Project (CCAP), NAMA support 

(IISD)

Kazakhstan Clean Technology Fund (World Bank)

Lao PDR Forest Investment Program (World Bank)

Malaysia LCGP support (ClimateWorks/Project Catalyst/McKinsey)

Mongolia Asian Development Bank (ADB) Economics of Climate Change and Low Carbon 

Growth Strategies in Northeast Asia study (ADB and GoSK)

Nepal Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (World Bank), Program for Scaling Up 

Renewable Energy in Low Income Countries (World Bank)

Philippines Clean Technology Fund (World Bank)

Papua New Guinea LCGP support (ClimateWorks/Project Catalyst/McKinsey)

Pacific Islands Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (World Bank)

Maldives Program for Scaling Up Renewable Energy in Low Income Countries (World Bank)

Tajikistan Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (World Bank)

Thailand TNA and TAP support (UNEP-Risoe), Climate Change Capacity Building Program 

(EU, UNDP), Clean Technology Fund (World Bank)

Vietnam TNA and TAP support (UNEP-Risoe), Clean Technology Fund (World Bank), 

NAMA support (IISD)
18 

Figure 6. Regional support activities in Southern Asia

Figure 7. Regional support activities in Southeast Asia and Pacific 

Figure 8. Regional support activities in Central and Eastern Asia 

 
19 

Figure 9. Examples of international support for low-emissions planning in the world reflected in 

current CLEAN inventory

Information is partial and does not capture all activities.

As can be seen from the previous boxes, ongoing related low-emissions planning support 

activities are occurring in many developing countries. According to the CLEAN inventory, 

approximately ten practitioner organizations entered this space in the last two years. Many of 

these organizations already have plans for Phase 2 countries, which are not yet reflected in the 

inventory, as the information is not yet public. Therefore, it is important to understand how these 

support activities can be linked and can be mutually reinforcing. To explore this subject further, 

CLEAN is developing a report on links between TNAs, NAMAs, LEDS, and roadmaps.

Regionally, several countries have experience in working on low-carbon planning activities (as 

presented in Figure 9). Lessons could readily be shared among countries in peer-to-peer 

exchanges, especially at the regional level, where similar geographic and other circumstances 

might be present. CLEAN partners will be working to support sharing of lessons, good practices, 

and information between these countries through online forums and peer-to-peer exchange. 

Various international programs are also considering forums, including regional or global 

workshops, to support this type of information exchange between countries. 

South Asia–

India (3)

Southeast Asia–

Indonesia (11)

East Asia–China 

(6)

South America–

Brazil (7)

Latin America–

Mexico (9)

East Africa–

Kenya (5)

Southern Africa–

South Africa (4)

North Africa–

Morocco (4)
20 

The analysis of the inventory also finds that Sub-Saharan Africa is largely underrepresented in 

relation to low-emissions planning support activities while Latin America and Asia seem to have 

a far greater amount of assistance in this space. Regional leaders, in terms of assistance activities 

in Sub-Saharan Africa, such as South Africa, Ghana and Kenya, have an opportunity to share 

lessons; however, there may also be a need for practitioners to broaden their geographic scope of 

assistance activities. 

Future versions of this report will also seek to draw conclusions about stage- and sector-specific 

activities and gaps. We ask that practitioners involved with low-emissions planning add to the 

inventory in order to support future analyses that are more robust. 

4.3 Low-Emissions Planning Tools 

The CLEAN inventory includes not only low-emissions planning activities but also tools and 

resources that are available to support these activities; tools are included in the inventory to make 

them more accessible and easily shared among partners and countries working in the lowemissions development planning space. Tools in the CLEAN inventory include data sets, 

software programs and models, guides and methods, good practices and lessons learned, and 

resources and training materials. Figure 10 shows the number of tools to support comprehensive 

and stage-specific low-emissions planning (Figure 1) included in the CLEAN inventory. 

Figure 10. Tools to support low-carbon planning in the CLEAN inventory 

Impact assessment is the least represented stage-specific tool in the inventory and could be a 

topic that needs more attention. Assessing economic, social, health, and other co-benefits of lowemissions actions can 1) help build political and public support for low-emissions planning, 2) 

help establish metrics to measure future impacts, and 3) ensure harmonization of low-emissions 

0 50 100 150 200

Finance and 

Implementation 

Policy and Program 

Design 

Impact Assessment 

Scenario Development 

Market Assessment

Techno-Economic 

Assessment

Baselne Analysis and 

Projection

Comprehensive Planning

Number of Tools
21 

planning with economic development goals. CLEAN is working to create a development impact 

assessment framework presented in the Section 5 to address this identified need. 

It is apparent from Figure 10 that fewer tools in the inventory support comprehensive lowemissions planning. This observation may suggest a need to develop more tools that bring 

together the individual stages in a comprehensive analytical structure to better understand how 

they are linked in this type of planning process. However, it might also represent a general lower 

level of demand for these types of tools or the difficulty of developing comprehensive tools that 

can be applied across countries. 

Others might argue that the number of tools available for comprehensive planning is already a bit 

overwhelming in relation to the choice of tools and provides an opportunity to compare the 

available tools to determine applicability and usefulness in differing contexts. CLEAN partners 

will be comparing methods and tools for comprehensive planning under a project led by the 

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), which is presented in Section 5. 

Perhaps the most striking feature of Figure 10 is the large number of tools available to support 

individual stages on low-emissions planning. Choosing tools and assessing their applicability in 

country-specific circumstances could become quite confusing with so many available tools. 

CLEAN partners will be working to provide a decision guide for countries and practitioners to 

better understand which tools might be most appropriate in different contexts (e.g., in relation to 

purpose, data availability, training requirements, cost). In addition, the relative robustness, 

transparency, and quality of various tools have not been comprehensively assessed. 

Examples of low-emissions planning tools included in the inventory are presented below. 

Training

ESMAP E-Learning: ESMAP will be releasing an e-learning course to support the lowemissions planning process and scenario modeling in the power, transport, and household 

electricity sectors. These e-learning resources will complement new tools that have been 

developed by ESMAP and the World Bank, such as the Energy Forecasting Framework and 

Emissions Consensus Tool (EFFECT), the Transport Activity Measurement Toolkit (TAMP) and 

a marginal abatement cost curve tool (MACTool) that will also be made available in coming 

months. The e-learning materials will focus on providing practical guidance on low-emissions 

planning and modeling drawing on lessons from the Low Carbon Growth Country Studies 

Program.30 

Good Practices and Lessons Learned 

Project Catalyst Good Practice Documents: Project Catalyst, an initiative of the 

ClimateWorks Foundation, brings together policymakers, negotiators and thought leaders in an 

apolitical forum to discuss and produce analyses related to climate change issues in order to 

complement the UNFCCC process.31

 

30 Jane Ebinger, presentation, Low Carbon Development: Experience and Knowledge Products

One topic of particular interest for the initiative is lowcarbon growth planning. Drawing from the experiences and lessons of developing and developed 

31 http://www.project-catalyst.info/
22 

countries that have produced these types of strategies, Project Catalyst has provided initial

insight on good practices for this type of planning and successful inputs to the process.32

Low-Emissions Development Strategies (LEDS): Technical, Institutional and Policy 

Lessons: This document, prepared by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and 

Development (OECD) and IEA Secretariats, provides an overview of LEDS and their potential 

purpose. It further offers information on strategies that have been developed to date and LEDS 

related assistance activities, as well as lessons learned from these experiences at technical, 

institutional, and policy levels.

Guides and Methods 

Handbook for Conducting Technology Needs Assessment for Climate Change: The United 

Nations Development Program (UNDP) worked with the UNFCCC Secretariat and the Expert of 

Technology Transfer (EGTT) to prepare this handbook, which provides information on how to 

prepare a TNAs in developing countries. It provides guidance on organizing the process, 

prioritizing adaptation and mitigation sectors and technologies, establishing frameworks to 

enable transfer of technology and capacity building, and moving from the planning process to 

implementation.33 UNEP-Risoe Centre is preparing complementary sector-specific TNA 

guidebooks, curriculum, and training resources, including the recently published Guidebook on 

Coastal Erosion and Flooding.34

Energy Technology Roadmaps: The IEA recently published this guide to development and 

implementation to provide guidance on this subject in relation to increasing demand for roadmap 

development assistance. The document provides background on roadmaps, stepwise guidance on 

the development process, and information on how to tailor a roadmap to different country 

circumstances.35 It has been used in Ireland to inform the development a national energy 

roadmap and is currently being applied to the wind sector in China, the first developing country 

to use the resource.36

LEDS Framework: This framework and related website, developed by the U.S. National 

Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) with support from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 

are intended to inform the development of country-driven, development-focused LEDS and to 

support the objectives of the U.S. Enhancing Capacity for Low Emissions Development 

(ECLED) program. The framework builds on a review of similar methodologies and 

international LEDS experiences. To enable its portability in different settings, the framework 

emphasizes the purpose, resources, and products of each component. Thus, each country can 

customize its framework by selectively choosing the components and resources needed to 

achieve a comprehensive, integrated, and stakeholder-based action plan for high-priority sectors. 

The detailed steps within this framework, which provide a sample step-by-step process, are 

intended as guidance rather than as a prescriptive method. The LEDS toolkit is a complementary 

 

 

32 Low Carbon Growth Plans – Advancing Good Practice (August 2009), http://www.project-catalyst.info/images/

3.%20Low%20carbon%20growth%20planning/Publications/Advancing%20good%20practice/090805%20Project%

20Catalyst%20-%20LCGP%20paper%20-%20normal%20view%20-%20Ver%202.0.pdf 33 http://ncsp.undp.org/sites/default/files/TNA%20Handbook%20English.pdf 34 http://tech-action.org/Guidebooks/TNAhandbook_CoastalErosionFlooding.pdf 35 http://www.iea.org/papers/roadmaps/guide.pdf 36 Information from Tom Kerr, International Energy Agency
23 

resource to provide tools to support each stage of the LEDS process. A decision guide is being 

developed to help users understand better which tools might be most useful and applicable in 

different country settings.37

Databases

ClimateTechWiki: This website is a joint initiative of UNDP, United Nations Environment 

Programme (UNEP), Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), UNEPRisoe, Joint Implementation Network (JIN), and ECN. It provides information on adaptation and 

mitigation technologies to support technology transfer and low-emissions planning. The portal is 

wiki-based and allows users to add technology case studies and to participate in forums related to 

these technologies. There is currently an emphasis on providing case studies to facilitate 

information sharing related to application of these technologies in different local 

circumstances.38

IEA Policies and Measures Databases portal: This portal provides access to databases 

compiling policies and measures related to renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate 

change in IEA countries and a number of emerging economies. The portal is complementary to 

the policy analysis work of the IEA and can be used by practitioners to assess the policy 

environments in various countries to support low-emissions planning.39 

 

37 http://openei.org/LEDS 38 http://climatetechwiki.org/ 39 http://www.iea.org/textbase/pm/index.html
24 

5 Conclusions and Next Steps for CLEAN

Coordinating and harmonizing activities can enhance the work of practitioners supporting lowemissions planning. The CLEAN inventory of activities and tools supports the goal of 

harmonization by serving as a resource that international organizations can use to align their 

proposed work, ensure that efforts are not duplicated, and share existing tools and resources. 

Though many internationally supported low-emissions planning activities are taking place, 

significant imbalances exist in relation to geographic reach. Once this inventory has been 

expanded and updated, a more thorough gap analysis could be performed to inform areas for 

collaboration to address gaps. 

The inventory also shows that there are significant opportunities to share existing tools and 

resources to support low-emissions planning. CLEAN will continue to share these tools among 

practitioners and with partner countries in order to avoid duplicating resources already available. 

CLEAN welcomes data40

Next Steps for CLEAN

 inputs from organizations working on low-emissions planning 

activities, as well as feedback on inventory design in order to better support the community’s 

needs.

• Continued improvements to the inventory: CLEAN partners will continue to 

provide bimonthly updates on their low-emissions planning activities, and the 

CLEAN Secretariat will continue to collect this information for non-CLEAN 

partners. CLEAN will also work to further incorporate stage-specific activities41

• User Guide on LEDS Tools and Methods: The Climate and Development 

Knowledge Network (CDKN) is leading the preparation of a guide for developing 

country analysts and officials on LEDS methods and analytic tools. This guide will 

provide a comparison of methods and tools and will help countries determine which 

approach and models are most appropriate given their circumstances. The network 

will establish a project team with other CLEAN partners who will work on a plan for 

this effort and preparation of the user guide. This might be supplemented later with 

training and outreach activities. 

 in 

the inventory to better understand how these efforts can complement low-emissions 

planning. 

• Enhanced Framework for Analysis and Communication of Development 

Benefits: NREL and UNEP are leading an effort with other interested CLEAN 

partners to develop an improved portfolio of technical resources and communication 

tools that countries can use to characterize development benefits and educate key 

stakeholders of such benefits. This might include preparation of prototype curves that 

show development benefits relative to tons of carbon to complement the current use 

of marginal cost abatement curves. 

 

40 Data inputs for low-emissions planning activities include topics covered, timeframe, geographic location, and a 

short summary of the activity. Activities can be added to the inventory at this website: http://openei.org/CLEAN. 41 See Figure 1 for a list of stages to be considered. 
25 

• Review of Linkages between Instruments: The JIN is preparing a paper that 

reviews the relationship between LEDS, NAMAs, TNAs, and roadmaps, and the JIN 

presented initial findings during a recent CLEAN webinar. The paper will build on an 

earlier draft that NREL developed, and the improved product will be shared with 

CLEAN partners for review.

• Coordinated Training: NREL, UNEP Risoe, and other CLEAN partners will work 

together to compile information on current LEDS related training activities and 

resources and to explore opportunities for enhanced linkage of these training 

activities. CLEAN partners will also focus future webinars on technical aspects of 

LEDS planning and use of relevant tools. 

• Database Integration: Several CLEAN partners (including JIN, REEEP, NREL,

UNIDO, and CDKN) will hold further discussions to define how current climate 

technology databases and work on improved data sets can be linked to better address 

user needs and fill key data gaps through use of interoperable database formats and 

open data standards. 

• CLEAN Webinar Series: CLEAN will hold webinars bringing together practitioners 

and in-country experts to discuss topics of most interest relating to low-emissions 

planning. For more information on the webinar series, visit http://openei.org/CLEAN. 
26 

Appendix. Coordinated Low Emissions Assistance Network 

(CLEAN)

An increasing number of organizations are helping developing countries to prepare and 

implement low greenhouse gas emission development strategies. This includes support for lowcarbon growth plans, technology needs assessments, national mitigation plans, and technology 

deployment roadmaps. In November 2009, the UN Environmental Program, in partnership with 

the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, created the Coordinated Low Emissions 

Assistance Network (CLEAN), a voluntary network of assistance organizations. CLEAN builds 

on past networks that successfully coordinated similar activities, such as helping countries to 

prepare climate change country studies and to sell carbon credits through offset markets. Table 

A-1 summarizes the CLEAN objectives, cooperative activities, and network activities on which 

CLEAN partners collaborate and interested partners team on in-depth cooperative initiatives 

where there is common interest. Network operations involve: 

• Partnering on specific projects, and planning and coordinating activities through a 

shared website, frequent teleconferences, and occasional meetings. CLEAN partners 

also hold side events at UNFCCC negotiation meetings and conducts technical 

workshops and seminars (virtual and in-person) on key low-emissions development

planning topics. 

• Conducting outreach to donors and government agencies in developing and 

developed countries to inform them of activities of the network and to promote 

exchange of information amongst these organizations. CLEAN also offers donors and 

government agencies a way to ensure that technical assistance activities are 

harmonized and a forum to engage a wide range of organizations from around the 

world that possess extensive experience and expertise in delivering on-the-ground 

assistance in developing countries. 

• Inviting other international organizations and centers in both the developed and 

developing world that provide assistance in low-carbon planning and implementation 

to join the network and participate in its activities.

CLEAN Partners

• Center for Environment and National Security at Scripps 

• Centro de Energias Renovables 

• Climate and Development Knowledge Network 

• ClimateWorks Foundation 

• Climate Technology Initiative 

• Coalition for Rainforest Nations

• Ecofys 
27 

• Energy Research Center of the Netherlands 

• Energy Sector Management Assistance Program–World Bank 

• Environment and Development Action in the Third World 

• German Aerospace Center

• German Technical Cooperation

• Global Village Energy Partnership

• Information for Development Program 

• International Atomic Energy Agency 

• International Energy Agency 

• International Institute for Sustainable Development

• International Renewable Energy Agency 

• Joint Implementation Network

• Kumasi Institute of Technology and Environment 

• Latin American Energy Organization

• Organization of American States

• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Environment Directorate 

• Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency 

• Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership 

• Energy Research Centre for Sustainable Development at the Chinese Academy of 

Social Sciences

• The Energy and Resources Institute 

• UK Climate and Development Knowledge Network 

• UK Institute of Development Studies 

• US Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 

• US National Renewable Energy Laboratory 

• UN Environment Programme 

• UNEP Risø Center on Energy, Climate & Sustainable Development 

• United Nations Foundation 

• UN Industrial Development Organization

• World Watch Institute
28 

Table A-1. Objectives, Foundational Activities, and Cooperative Activities of the Coordinated Low Emissions Assistance Network (CLEAN)

Objectives Foundational Activities Cooperative Activities

Foster collaboration among 

international technical organizations 

supporting preparation of lowemissions development plans and 

programs

Improve quality of the delivery of 

planning and implementation technical 

assistance

Build capacity to conduct and 

implement low-emissions development

plans 

Share information about projects, tools, 

and best practices and help inform the 

design of new initiatives 

Establish and apply shared principles 

for low-emissions development

technical assistance programs. 

Construct and maintain an inventory of 

country, regional, and global CLEAN 

partner activities through a website to 

promote awareness, coordination, and 

quality service. 

Share methods and tools through online forums, regional networks, 

meetings, and workshops that bring 

together developed and developing 

world officials and experts.

Link to other international groups to 

provide developing country officials 

access to technical organizations, the 

private sector, donors, and NGOs that 

can provide advice and implementation 

support.

Methods and Tools Development. Team in improving methods 

and tools to support low-carbon plans, including assessment 

of technical and economic potential and development benefits, 

policy analysis, and design and implementation. CLEAN 

partners are establishing a common low-emissions planning

tool-kit, teaming to improve methods and tools in use by 

CLEAN partners through peer reviews and joint work to fill key 

gaps, and conducting technical analysis of frameworks for 

strengthening support for low-emissions development plans.

Collaborative Training and Technical Assistance. Coordinate 

across partners training and technical assistance programs on 

low-carbon technology assessment and planning that will 

transfer knowledge and skills to developing countries. This 

includes engaging common regional developing country 

technical institutions, conducting joint training workshops and 

on-line forums, and tapping a roster of experts across CLEAN 

partners to provide technical assistance. 

Harmonized Country Technical Support. Enhance 

implementation of assistance to specific countries by 

integrating delivery of technical assistance to countries among 

CLEAN partners. This could also include cooperation among 

CLEAN partners (and other international organizations) in 

piloting new programs, methods, and tools with countries.

Expert Review of International Frameworks. CLEAN partners 

collaborate in conducting assessments and reviews of 

potential international initiatives to strengthen support for 

developing country low-emissions development plans and 

related technology cooperation programs. 

For more information, see the CLEAN website (http://openei.org/CLEAN) 
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6. AUTHOR(S)

S. Cox and R. Benioff

5d. PROJECT NUMBER

NREL/TP-6A00-49972

5e. TASK NUMBER

IGIN.0400

5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER

7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES)

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

1617 Cole Blvd.

Golden, CO 80401-3393

8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION

REPORT NUMBER

NREL/TP-6A00-49972

9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR'S ACRONYM(S)

NREL

11. SPONSORING/MONITORING

AGENCY REPORT NUMBER

12. DISTRIBUTION AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

National Technical Information Service

U.S. Department of Commerce

5285 Port Royal Road

Springfield, VA 22161

13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

14. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 Words)

The Coordinated Low Emissions Assistance Network (CLEAN) is a voluntary network of international practitioners 

supporting low-emission planning in developing countries. The network seeks to improve quality of support through 

sharing project information, tools, best practices and lessons, and by fostering harmonized assistance. CLEAN has 

developed an inventory to track and analyze international technical support and tools for low-carbon planning 

activities in developing countries. This paper presents a preliminary analysis of the inventory to help identify trends in 

assistance activities and tools available to support developing countries with low-emission planning.

15. SUBJECT TERMS

developing countries; developing country; development; technical assistance; technical support; resource and 

technology assessment; technology development and deployment; cooperative; planning; greenhouse gas; 

greenhouse gases; low-carbon; low-emission; strategies; technology needs assessments; TNA; nationally 

appropriate mitigation actions; NAMA; roadmap; methods; tools; training; practices; lessons; advice; Coordinated 

Low Emissions Assistance Network; CLEAN; inventory

16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION 

OF ABSTRACT

UL

18. NUMBER 

OF PAGES

19a. NAME OF RESPONSIBLE PERSON

a. REPORT

Unclassified

b. ABSTRACT

Unclassified

c. THIS PAGE

Unclassified 19b. TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include area code)

Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8/98)

Prescribed by ANSI Std. Z39.18
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NREL/TP-6A00-49972 • May 2011

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