ISSUES - DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGIES

Development and Transfer of Technologies

Recent developments

Outcomes of the thirtieth sessions of the SBSTA and SBI

The SBSTA and the SBI welcomed the reports of the EGTT on financing options, a long-term strategy, and the draft report of the EGTT on performance indicators. The SBSTA and the SBI noted that the EGTT reports on financing options and a long-term strategy contain a wealth of information and a range of important findings that could inform Parties in their deliberations on matters relating to technology development and transfer as part of the work of the AWG-LCA.

The SBSTA noted with appreciation the second synthesis report prepared by the secretariat on technology needs identified by non-Annex I Parties and recognized that the large number of TNAs submitted provide a basis for analysis of technology needs and that the synthesis report therefore offers a wide range of information on regional and sector-specific technology needs, barriers to technology transfer, capacity-building needs and opportunities for technology transfer.

The SBSTA welcomed the pdf-icon updated handbook Conducting Technology Needs Assessments for Climate Change, jointly prepared by the UNDP and the secretariat in cooperation with the EGTT and the Climate Technology Initiative. The SBSTA encouraged non-Annex I Parties to use this handbook when assessing their technology needs.

The SBSTA noted with appreciation the offer of the Government of Botswana to host the African regional workshop on preparing technology transfer projects for financing held from 2 to 4 September 2009 in Gaborone, Botswana.

The SBI noted the interim report of the GEF on the progress made in carrying out the Poznan strategic programme on technology transfer. The SBI requested the GEF to expedite this work, particularly in providing financial support for developing country Parties in conducting and updating their technology needs assessments and in acting on the results.

The SBI agreed to consider matters relating to the review and assessment of the effectiveness of the implementation of Article 4, paragraphs 1(c) and 5, of the Convention at its thirty-second session, in accordance with the terms of reference referred to in pdf-icon decision 2/CP.14, taking into account submissions from Parties and relevant organizations, the updated synthesis report and all relevant work of the EGTT, including the final report by the EGTT on performance indicators.

Background

Under the Convention, the developed country Parties and other developed Parties included in Annex II shall take all practicable steps to promote, facilitate and finance, as appropriate, the transfer of, or access to, environmentally sound technologies and know-how to other Parties, particularly to developing countries to enable them to implement the provisions of the Convention (Article 4.5). This commitment is echoed in similar provisions under the Kyoto Protocol (Article 10 c). Parties have taken decisions to promote the development and transfer of environmentally sound technologies at each session of the COP more >>

Framework for meaningful and effective actions to enhance the implementation of Article 4.5 of the Convention

As part of the Marrakesh Accords, at COP 7, Parties were able to reach an agreement to work together on a set of technology transfer activities, grouped under a framework for meaningful and effective actions to enhance the implementation of Article 4.5 of the Convention. This framework, contained in the annex to decision (PDF) 4/CP.7, has five main themes:

At COP 13, Parties adopted a pdf-icon set of actions for enhancing the implementation of the technology transfer framework and agreed that these activities would complement the actions in the technology transfer framework. These actions include the organization of meetings and workshops, the implementation of the results of technology needs identified in TNAs, the further development of the technology transfer information clearinghouse, including a network of technology information centres, actions by governments to create enabling environments that will improve the effectiveness of the transfer of environmentally sound technologies, capacity building activities and technical support for project developers in developing countries. Funding to implement the framework complemented by the set of actions is to be provided through the GEF.

Expert group on technology transfer

The Marrakesh Accords provide also for the establishment of an Expert Group on Technology Transfer (EGTT), nominated by the Parties. The COP at its thirteenth session agreed to reconstitute the EGTT for a further five years. The Expert Group comprises 19 experts, including three members from each of the developing country regions (Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean), one from the small island developing states, eight from Annex I Parties, and one from other non-Annex I Parties. The objectives of the Expert Group are to enhance the implementation of Article 4.5 of the Convention and to advance technology transfer activities under the Convention and to make recommendations to this end to the SBSTA and the SBI. more >>

Technology transfer information clearinghouse - TT:CLEAR

The secretariat upon the request by the COP and SBSTA has developed a technology information system (TT:CLEAR), including an inventory of environmentally friendly technologies and projects, as well as its technology web page. The main objective of TT:CLEAR is to improve the flow of, access to and quality of information relating to the development and transfer of environmentally sound technologies under the Article 4.5 of the Convention and to contribute to more efficient use of available resources by achieving synergy with other ongoing efforts. more >>