There are clear overlaps but also important differences between the objectives and activities classified under Official Development Assistance (ODA) and financial flows to help developing countries address climate change (i.e. climate finance). The extent to which ODA is diverted from traditional development activities towards mitigating and adapting to climate change in developing countries has important implications. Such implications include how countries are able to cope with a changing climate. Are there implicit tradeoffs between responding to climate change and addressing poverty? How can each type of flow (development assistance and climate finance) meet their stated purposes without compromising others?