Technology

Technology

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.

UNFCCC webpages on technology include information and links to the:

Technology Mechanism. The Technology Mechanism has the objective of facilitating the implementation of enhanced action on technology development and transfer in order to support action on mitigation and adaptation to climate change. The Technology Mechanism consists of a:
- Technology Executive Committee, and a,
- Climate Technology Centre and Network.
Technology Transfer Framework. As part of the Marrakesh Accords, at COP 7, Parties agreed 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.
Poznan Strategic Programme on Technology Transfer. The COP, by decision 2/CP.14, welcomed the Poznan strategic programme on technology transfer as a step towards scaling up the level of investment in technology transfer in order to help developing countries address their needs for environmentally sound technologies.

Recent developments

Development and Transfer of Technology

SBSTA 38 commended the efforts of UNEP, as the host of the Climate Technology Centre (CTC), in making the necessary arrangements to promptly launch the work of the CTC. It also encouraged the Advisory Board of the CTCN to submit its report on the modalities and procedures of the CTCN to SB 39. Finally, SBSTA 38 encouraged Parties that have not yet nominated their national designated entities (NDEs) to urgently communicate their nominations through their national focal points to the secretariat.

Technology Executive Committee (TEC)

With regards to the TEC, at Doha the COP, by decision pdf-icon 13/CP.18, noted with appreciation the key messages of the Committee on enabling environments for, and barriers to, technology development and transfer and that further work on these issues is being undertaken by the Committee.

The COP also requested TEC to report on the outcomes of its consultations with other relevant institutional arrangements in its report on activities and performance in 2013, in order to inform the consideration and approval by COP 19 of the modalities of the Committee on linkages with other relevant institutional arrangements under and outside the Convention.

Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN)

With regards to the CTCN, at Doha the COP, by decision pdf-icon 14/CP.18, selected the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as the leader of a consortium of partner organizations, as host of the Climate Technology Centre.

The COP also adopted the memorandum of understanding between the COP and the UNEP as contained in annex I to this decision. Furthermore, the COP also established the Advisory Board of the Climate Technology Centre and Network and decided on the Board’s constitution as per annex II to this decision.

Poznan Strategic Programme on Technology Transfer

The SBI, at its thirty seventh session, noted the report of the GEF on the progress made in carrying out the Poznan strategic programme on technology transfer. The SBI acknowledged the support provided by the GEF to assist 36 non-Annex I Parties in conducting their technology needs assessments.

Updated 18 April 2013

NEGOTIATIONS

FOCUS

PROCESS

KEY STEPS