Technology Needs Assessments

Definition

Technology needs assessments (TNAs):

• Are a set of country-driven activities that identify and determine the mitigation and adaptation technology priorities of developing country Parties.

• Involve different stakeholders in a consultative process to identify the barriers to technology transfer and measures to address these barriers through sectoral analyses.

• May address soft and hard technologies for both mitigation and adaptation, identify regulatory options and develop fiscal and financial incentives and capacity-building.

Purpose

The purpose of TNAs is to assist in identifying and analysing priority technology needs, which can be the basis for a portfolio of environmentally sustainable technology (EST) projects and programmes. This can facilitate the transfer of, and access to, ESTs and know-how in the implementation of Article 4.5 of the Convention.

Progress

Collaboration between the GEF, UNDP, UNEP, UNEP Risoe centre, CTI, EGTT and the secretariat has resulted in financial and technical support to assist non-Annex I Parties to conduct TNAs. The secretariat has published three synthesis reports on technology needs identified by non-Annex I Parties, which highlight priority technology needs identified in various sectors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and facilitate adaptation to the adverse impacts of climate change. They also draw attention to specific barriers to technology transfer and suggest measures to address them.

In the TNAs completed by Parties as part of the recent global TNA project, Parties also prepared technology action plans (TAPs) and project ideas. A TAP is an action plan consisting of a group of measures to address identified barriers to the development and transfer of a prioritized technology. In the context of their TNAs, Parties envisaged project ideas as concrete actions for the implementation of their prioritized technologies.

In addition, at COP 16, Parties established the Technology Mechanism of the Convention, consisting of a Technology Executive Committee (TEC) and a Climate Technology Centre and Network. Parties decided that the TEC shall further implement the Technology Transfer Framework, including work on TNAs.

Activities	Results/products
• The TEC held an in-session workshop on TNAs at its 7th meeting. • Collaboration between the EGTT, the GEF, UNDP, UNEP, CTI and the secretariat to provide financial and technical support to assist non-Annex I Parties to conduct TNAs. • Cooperation between the EGTT, CTI, UNDP, UNEP and the secretariat in organizing three regional workshops in conducting TNAs. • The EGTT assisted the secretariat in organizing a workshop on TNAs and technology information for the Caribbean region. • Collaboration to improve the quality of the TNA process and TNA reporting, including facilitation of the implementation of activities identified in TNAs.	• GEF has provided funding to more than 80 non-Annex I Parties to conduct TNAs. • 78 non-Annex I Parties have completed TNAs. • Three synthesis reports on technology needs identified by non-Annex I Parties. • Latest Party TNAs include TAPs and project ideas. • UNDP/GEF Handbook on conducting technology needs assessments for climate change. • Expert meetings and workshops on TNAs. • TEC Brief: Results and success factors of TNAs. • TEC Brief: Possible integration of the TNA process with the NAMA and NAP processes.

Activities

Results/products

• The TEC held an in-session workshop on TNAs at its 7th meeting.

•  Collaboration between the EGTT, the GEF, UNDP, UNEP, CTI and the secretariat to provide financial and technical support to assist non-Annex I Parties to conduct TNAs.

•  Cooperation between the EGTT, CTI, UNDP, UNEP and the secretariat in organizing three regional workshops in conducting TNAs.

• The EGTT assisted the secretariat in organizing a workshop on TNAs and technology information for the Caribbean region.

•  Collaboration to improve the quality of the TNA process and TNA reporting, including facilitation of the implementation of activities identified in TNAs.

• GEF has provided funding to more than 80 non-Annex I Parties to conduct TNAs.

• 78 non-Annex I Parties have completed TNAs.

• Three synthesis reports on technology needs identified by non-Annex I Parties.

• Latest Party TNAs include TAPs and project ideas.

• UNDP/GEF Handbook on conducting technology needs assessments for climate change.

• Expert meetings and workshops on TNAs.

• TEC Brief: Results and success factors of TNAs.

• TEC Brief: Possible integration of the TNA process with the NAMA and NAP processes.

Current Work

Phase II of the current global TNA project provides targeted financial and technical support to assist 25 non-Annex I Parties to conduct their TNAs and prepare TAPs and project ideas. This project is supported by the GEF through the Poznan strategic programme on technology transfer and implemented by UNEP in collaboration with the UNEP Risoe Centre.

Concluded in 2013, Phase I of the global TNA project, also supported by the GEF and implemented by UNEP and the UNEP Risoe Centre, provided targeted financial and technical support to 36 non-Annex I Parties to undertake TNAs and prepare TAPs and project ideas. More>>