Promoting the effective development and transfer of environmentally sound technologies is critical in enabling developing countries to pursue their objectives for sustainable development in a climate-friendly manner. The Convention therefore urges developed country Parties and Annex II Parties to 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. Continue

Development and transfer of technologies

Promoting and enhancing national and international cooperative action on the development and transfer of environmentally sound technologies to developing country Parties to the UNFCCC are critical means to support action on mitigation and adaptation now, up to and beyond 2012, in order to achieve the ultimate objective of the Convention.

Technology Mechanism

The new Technology Mechanism established by the Cancun Agreements in December 2010 represents a step to move beyond the 'conventional' approach to technology transfer under the Convention in the past several years – based essentially on capacity building and technology needs assessments – to a more 'dynamic' arrangement geared towards fostering public-private partnerships; promoting innovation; catalyzing the use of technology road maps or action plans; mobilizing national, regional and international technology centres and network; and facilitating joint R&D activities. The Technology Mechanism consists of a Technology Executive Committee (TEC) and a Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN).

Technology Executive Committee

The TEC facilitates the effective implementation of the Technology Mechanism, as the policy component of the Technology Mechanism, consistent with its functions. The TEC shall also further implement the technology transfer framework, with special attention to support an important ongoing effort by developing country Parties to identify and prioritize their technology needs through the Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs) process supported under the Poznan strategic programme on technology transfer.

Climate Technology Centre and Network

The CTCN facilitates the effective implementation of the Technology Mechanism, consistent with its functions. The TEC and CTCN are accountable to and operate under the guidance of the COP.

The Technology Mechanism, once it becomes fully operational in 2012, will play a meaningful role in making a "real" difference as envisaged by the Cancun Agreements. Importantly, the Technology Mechanism must become an integrated and coherent entity which is both flexible in its design and operations and effective in carrying out its tasks to support the ultimate objective of the Convention. It would do this through accelerating international, regional and national technology development and transfer action that supports mitigation and adaptation on the ground at a scale that can make an impact on the global effort.

Technology information clearing house

The technology information clearing house (TT:CLEAR) aims to provide information in support of ongoing technology transfer activities under the Convention as well as to enhance the generation and flow of, access to, reliable technical, economic, environmental and regulatory information relating to the development and transfer of environmentally sound technologies.