Page - (000008) - in Evaluating Climate Change Action for Sustainable Development

Foreword Climate change is among themost difficult challenges facing theworld. Its global nature, intergenerational impact, and themassive risks and uncertainty associated with it combine tocreateanunparalleledneedforglobalcollectiveaction. It isalso significant in that addressing it will go a very longway toward addressing other environmental problems– air pollution,water risks, soil degradation, and the loss of forests, natural habitats, andbiodiversity.At the same time, theworldcontinues tograpplewitheradicatingpovertyand inequalitiesandspurringeconomicgrowth. Going full circle, it is primarily the poor who suffer from climate change and environmental degradation. Monitoring andevaluating the efforts to address these concerns are particularly important.Thestakesarehigh,andwehaveanincrediblyshortwindowtodothings right.And in a timewhenpublicfinancing is decreasing and investment decisions aremadewithoutconsideringoverallglobalenvironmentalanddevelopmentcosts, evaluation is essential for us to understand howwe can best make use of these limitedresources.Evaluatorsareinapositiontopresentevidenceabouthowwecan make a difference in promoting development that is both environmentally sound and equitable. Using relatively small resources, what can be done to help decision-makers achieve the revolution needed to address our challenges? Those who have the privilege tomanageprecious resourceshaveanobligation tohelpdecision-makers get to the rightplace.Usingevidence, evaluators canspeak truth topower. It isnot only about howmoney is beingusedandwhether it has adecent return. It is about measuring the results of our action, knowingwhy and how things areworking, or notworking. It is about learning. The bookEvaluatingClimateChangeAction for SustainableDevelopment is a collaborative venture. The chapters provide an interdisciplinary perspective and document emerging and innovative evaluation knowledge and practice of climate change and its links to sustainable development. Such knowledge based on solid ix