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This requires careful consideration and deliberate action by policymakers and a range of stakeholders. Laws, policies and institutional arrangements can, if unaddressed, serve as obstacles to investment. And a lack of consultation and consideration towards all stakeholders could delay implementation or lead to conflict, augmenting disparity where it exists. Yet, proven opportunities exist to overcome these challenges.By linking development planning to climate targets, countries and communities can ensure that progress against one advances progress against the other. Nowhere is this more important than at the local and sub-national levels. By working with partners both to identify development goals and to determine low-carbon solutions to achieve these goals, mutually beneficial solutions can be found. And by taking advantage of the research, experience, and lessons learned from organizations like the UN Environment Programme and the New Climate Economy on the green economy and finance, not to mention my own organization’s experience working on over 800 climate related projects in the field.For example, in Lebanon, solar lighting has been provided to refugee-hosting communities to provide light for children as they study and provide safety at night. This supports many SDGs, from access to education to women’s empowerment to energy access, while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions that would come from burning fossil fuels or charcoal. Nor are the benefits only social. The opportunities in shifting to a green economy include the potential to create or expand climate-smart technologies and approaches. This can spur innovation and job growth. While many countries struggle to attract foreign investment, UNDP’s experience has shown that a ‘de-risking’ approach – one that reduces the ‘red tape’ and bureaucracy around investment while putting in place incentives, has significant results. From Tunisia to South Africa to Uruguay we have seen countries use public resources to attract private funding for large, transformational energy projects. These have the ability to not only reduce emissions, but to transform the country’s economy rapidly and substantially. As it is, tens of trillions of dollars will need to be invested in traditional infrastructure over the next 15 years. Countries need to make the choice now to embrace a green economy, design a roadmap with the right policy and legal frameworks, and reap the social, environmental, and economic benefits that entails. NO TRADE-OFFSHistorically, the climate change debate has focused on a perceived trade-off between a healthy environment or a healthy economy. That trade-off is false. There is now undeniable evidence on the urgent necessity and the compelling business case for pursuing green and inclusive development pathways.The debate has moved on. Now we must focus our energy on the many opportunities for progress an inclusive green economy affords us and accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. ■ABOUT THE AUTHORAchim Steiner became UNDP Administrator on 19 June 2017 and will serve for a term of four years. The United Nations General Assembly confirmed his nomination on 19 April 2017, following his nomination by Secretary-General António Guterres.As UNDP Administrator, Mr Steiner also chairs the UN Development Group, which unites the 32 UN funds, programmes, specialized agencies and other bodies that work to support sustainable development.Over nearly three decades, Achim Steiner has been a global leader on sustainable development, climate resilience and international cooperation. Before joining UNDP he was Director of the Oxford Martin School and Professorial Fellow of Balliol College, University of Oxford, and prior to that he led the United Nations Environment Programme (2006-2016), helping governments invest in clean technologies and renewable energy. He was also Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi.Achim Steiner has lived and worked in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Latin America and the United States. He graduated in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (MA) from Worcester College, Oxford University and holds an MA from the University of London/School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).Pictured: Achim Steiner 059