Distr.
GENERAL
FCCC/SBSTA/1997/10
30 September 1997
Original: ENGLISH
SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE
Seventh session
Bonn, 20-29 October 1997
Item 6 (a) of the provisional agenda
DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGIES
Progress report
Paragraph Page
INTRODUCTION 1 - 5 2
Mandate 1 2
Scope of the note 2 2
Possible action by the Subsidiary Body for Scientific
and Technological Advice 3 - 5 2
TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION NEEDS SURVEY 6 - 7 3
ADAPTATION TECHNOLOGY 8 - 26 3
Background 8 - 9 3
Discussion 10 - 22 4
Issues for consideration 23 - 26 7
CENTRES AND NETWORKS 27 - 55 7
Background 27- 28 7
Types of centres 29 8
Current activities 30 - 41 8
Options for possible centres and networks 42 - 54 13
Issues requiring clarification 55 18
GE.97-
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Mandate
- The Conference of the Parties (COP), the Subsidiary Body for
Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary
Body for Implementation (SBI) have requested the secretariat to
undertake a number of tasks regarding technology and technology
transfer. These include, for example, the preparation of reports
on adaptation technology, the development of a plan for technology
information centres and networks, and an expansion of the survey
of technology and technology information needs. A detailed summary
of requests, as of the fourth session of the SBSTA, may be found
in document FCCC/SB/1997/1. Further information may be found in
documents FCCC/SBSTA/1997/4, FCCC/SBSTA/1997/6, FCCC/SB/1997/3 and
FCCC/SB/1997/4.
B. Scope of the note
- This note provides a progress report on the three specific
tasks mentioned above. Background information is provided in
technical papers on adaptation technologies (FCCC/TP/1997/3) and
on options for technology information centres and networks
(FCCC/TP/1997/4).
C. Possible action by the SBSTA
- The SBSTA may wish to:
(a) Recall its request to the secretariat to expand the technology
needs survey to all non-Annex I Parties and urge these Parties to
co-operate with the secretariat in the conduct of the survey;
and
(b) Urge Annex I Parties to co-operate with the secretariat by
providing information about any surveys of the technology and
technology information needs of non-Annex I Parties they have
undertaken, including the methods utilized.
- The SBSTA may also wish to urge Parties to provide the
secretariat with information on planning and decision tools,
including software relevant for adaptation to climate change, on
topics such as health, water, coastal zone, natural ecosystems,
agriculture and urban areas, and to encourage their research and
development institutions to co-operate with the secretariat in the
formulation of focused papers on adaptation technologies.
- In addition, the SBSTA may wish to:
- Urge Parties to provide comments to the
secretariat on plans for international centres and networks for
enhancing the transfer of technology and technology
information; or
- Decide to encourage the implementation of one or more of the
options listed in section IV of this note, and to urge a Party or
Parties, or an international organization to prepare a detailed
implementation plan, including a budget, for consideration at the
next session.
II. TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION NEEDS SURVEY
- The secretariat reported the results of an initial survey on
technology and technology information needs at the fifth session
of the SBSTA (FCCC/SB/1997/1). Taking into consideration the
guidance provided by the SBSTA at its fifth session, the
secretariat will expand the initial survey of technology and
technology information needs of non-Annex I Parties to the
Convention. This will be done with the co-operation of the
University of Amsterdam (IVAM Environmental
Research).(1) A report will be
available for the eighth session of the SBSTA in June 1998.
- The secretariat has been informed that several Annex I Parties
can, or may, in the near future, undertake projects which will
build on the results of the initial survey. The aim of these
projects is to co-operate and assist a small number of developing
countries to undertake more detailed analyses of their specific
technology and technology information needs. These projects may
provide experience and lessons which could improve understanding
of the technology transfer process and be beneficial to other
Parties. For example, some aspects may lead to improvements in
future surveys of needs while others may lead to new approaches to
the transfer of technology.(2)
III. ADAPTATION TECHNOLOGY
A. Background
- In response to the requests of the COP and the SBSTA, the
secretariat engaged the
Free University in the Netherlands to undertake
the preparation of a technical paper on adaptation technologies
(FCCC/TP/1997/3). An initial draft of the paper was sent to experts
for review and comments. The experts were nominated by governments
and selected from the roster. In addition, the initial draft was sent
to participants in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) workshop on adaptation held in the Netherlands between 21-22
March, 1997. Comments provided by experts have been incorporated by
the authors, as appropriate, into document
FCCC/TP/1997/3.
- The secretariat notes that the IPCC will host a workshop in
1998 on adaptation, which will go beyond technological matters,
into all aspects of this subject (FCCC/SBSTA/1996/20).
B. Discussion
- Considering adaptation technologies within a broader
discussion of adaptation issues is a relatively new challenge for
governments and the private sector. Adaptation technology is, by
itself, a complicated and large endeavour with many different
aspects. However, many institutions are already engaged in making
autonomous adjustments, without explicitly recognizing the link to
climate change, or the need to consider climate change as a
criteria for decision. Given the scope and limited understanding
of the issue, this technical paper should be viewed as an initial
contribution, which may serve as a basis for a broad discussion.
Content of the technical paper
- The technical paper provides an overview of adaptation issues
and identifies the role that technologies could play as part of a
broad approach. Other aspects of adaptation may include economic,
legal and institutional measures. The paper attempts to define
concepts and to address questions such as:
- What is adaptation?
- What should systems adapt to?
- How can technologies contribute to adaptation?
- What general technological opportunities exist in selected
sectors?
- What arguments can be made in favour of undertaking some
adaptation measures now?
- What criteria could be used for research and development and
other
investment decisions?
- What types of decision tools are available to assist in making
decisions ?
- The technical paper also identifies two types of decisions
related to technologies. The first relates to decisions about
infrastructure and planning by national, regional and local
governments. The second concerns decisions about research and
development priorities by corporations and government
laboratories.
Conclusions of the technical paper
- Technologies could be used now and could play an
increasingly important part in adaptation to climate
change. Many opportunities exist for the application of
both hard and soft technologies to complement economic, legal and
institutional adaptation options. In spite of the many
uncertainties that still surround climate change, technology can
already be employed in a cost-effective manner to enhance the
robustness and flexibility of human systems, and the adaptability
of natural systems.
- Many technologies that could be used to adapt to
climate change have been used successfully as a means of adapting
to contemporary climate variability and extremes.
Examples of existing adaptation technologies include air
conditioning, flood-defence systems, irrigation, monitoring,
forecasting and early warning systems for natural hazards.
However, it may well be that climate change will exact new and
higher standards of reliability and performance of adaptation
technologies, at significantly lower costs.
- Innovation and new technologies are required in order
to improve access by all countries at reduced costs. This
provides new challenges and opportunities to research
laboratories, industry and other groups involved in research and
development. Many such groups may not yet be aware of these
opportunities, simply because they have never considered their
activities as being relevant in the context of climate change.
- Adaptation to climate change can be autonomous. It can
take place without the intervention of a decision maker and should
be planned following informed and strategic actions.
Adaptation can also be reactive. It may be undertaken in response
to an observed change. It can be anticipatory, that is, in advance
of climate change. Planned adaptation can be both reactive and
anticipatory, while autonomous adaptation is only reactive. In
view of the suggested discernible human influence on global
climate and in accordance with Article 3.3 of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), anticipatory
planned adaptation deserves particular attention from the
international climate change community.
- Anticipatory planned adaptation is particularly
important to reduce vulnerability to climate change.
Anticipatory planned adaptation can have a number of objectives.
It may aim, for example, to increase the robustness of
infrastructure designs and long-term investments; increase the
flexibility of vulnerable managed systems; enhance the
adaptability of vulnerable natural systems; and reverse the trends
that increase vulnerability ("maladaptation").
- Anticipatory planned adaptation can be beneficial to a
number of important sectors and systems. Examples of
sectors that could benefit from anticipatory planned adaptation
are infrastructure, such as, port and harbour facilities,
flood-defence systems, water supply systems, sewage systems and
urban systems. Fragmented industries, such as those that are not
part of a larger network of governmental and industrial
organizations and human health programmes may also benefit.
- The arguments in favour of implementing some
adaptation measures now are as follows:
(a) The impacts of changing weather extremes may become apparent
well before the impacts associated with changing trends;
(b) Large projects, currently being planned and implemented, could
factor climate change into their designs and be cost effective. Many
of these projects will be in place for
50 to 100 years; and
(c) Vulnerability to climate change in the long-term is a function
of a society's experience in coping with current problems by means of
economic, technical, institutional and
socio-cultural measures. These capabilities can only be improved
upon with experience.
- Many technologies that can be used to adapt to climate
change also have other,
non-climate, benefits. These non-climate benefits
are termed secondary benefits. Sometimes the secondary benefits of
adaptation measures are sufficient to justify them in their own
right. Such adaptation measures can be considered "no-regret"
measures. Examples of these include technologies for increasing
efficiency of water use, improved land-use planning, ecosystem and
biodiversity protection, and monitoring, forecasting and
early-warning systems.
- Some decision tools to evaluate alternative adaptation
strategies, based on a number of criteria, are available. Others
are undergoing further research. The decision tools that
are most relevant for climate change adaptation are
cost-effectiveness analysis, multi-criteria analysis, risk-benefit
analysis and cost-benefit analysis. A few of these decision tools
have been incorporated into decision-support systems, which
provide an important technology to assist planners and decision
makers.
- Further activities to promote the development and
application of innovative technologies could include:
(a) Building awareness among planners and decision makers of the
need to adapt to climate change, the part that technology can play in
adaptation and the benefits of adaptation;
(b) Assessing the current and future availability, accessibility,
potential, costs, environmental impacts and implementation
requirements of technologies for climate change adaptation, as well
as opportunities for innovation;
(c) Co-operating with research laboratories and industry to
encourage research and development of adaptation
technology;
(d) Creating a demand for climate change adaptation technology,
for example, by setting standards that incorporate climate change
projections, or via the market by requirements of the insurance
industry;
(e) Establishing design and performance goals for adaptation
technology; and
(f) Ensuring institutional coherence with related issues, such as
those of national programmes for national disaster reduction or
relief.
C. Issues for consideration
- The SBSTA may wish to consider how it can promote the
development of decision tools related to adaptation technologies,
particularly those involving infrastructure and research and
development. These are complicated processes involving
individuals, the private sector and governments.
- The compilation of tools to assist in decision-making will be
partially addressed in the context of the work programme on
methodologies, specifically in the task to compile and synthesize
information on tools related to adaptation (FCCC/SB/1997/INF.2).
This compilation will mainly aim at identifying tools to assist in
the preparation of national plans. Some aspects may also be
helpful to decision-making at the regional level.
- The latter type of decision could be the focus of future
technical papers on specific sectors as identified in document
FCCC/SB/1997/3. Substantial participation by research and
development institutions would be needed in order to broaden the
understanding of how climate change could affect their future
activities. Such efforts could provide insights into what may be
needed in the long-term.
- The SBSTA may wish to consider whether the two activities,
identified in paragraph 23, are sufficient and/or whether other
practical steps should be considered to build understanding and
affect decision-making.
IV. CENTRES AND NETWORKS
A. Background
- In response to the COP and the SBSTA, the secretariat will
make available a technical paper on technology information centres
and networks (FCCC/TP/1997/4). It will describe current activities
of national centres and international organizations, identify
possible functions and users of information, and provide ideas
about how to enhance the transfer of information, including
options for international centres and networks. It will not
contain detailed information on the costs of specific options.
- The secretariat based this note on information obtained during
a meeting of experts
(see FCCC/SB/1997/4) and a literature search. The Climate
Technology Initiative (CTI) also provided the secretariat with
preliminary data from a survey of existing
centres.(3) The survey focused on 19
countries(4) and was conducted via
mail, fax and other electronic means. A report from the CTI may be
available for the seventh session of the SBSTA, but was not available
to the secretariat as of 7 September, 1997. The data provided in
this note should, therefore, be viewed as
preliminary.
B. Types of centres
- Currently, there are international, national, regional, and
local centres that gather and provide information about
technologies and know-how pertaining to environment, energy,
agriculture and other sectors. They are often hosted by, or form
part of, larger organizations that are supported by the private
sector and/or governments. Their functions and users differ
considerably. For the purposes of this paper, the following
definitions are suggested for
"climate change"
centres:(5)
(a) International Technology Information Centre(s): An
international entity whose primary function is to collect, catalogue,
and synthesize information on environmentally sound technology and
know-how to mitigate or adapt to climate change climate relevant
technologies and know-how from sources, and to disseminate
information to national technology information centres and other
users;
(b) National Technology Information Centre(s): A national
entity or a unit within another organization, for example, a national
technology centre, whose primary function is to collect, analyse and
disseminate information on environmentally sound technology and
know-how to mitigate or adapt to climate change to users within a
country;
(c) National Technology Centre: A governmental,
non-governmental or private sector entity whose functions may
include, the conduct of research, the development of technologies,
economic and financial analysis, analysis of policies related to
technologies, demonstrations, training, feasibility studies, the
collection and dissemination of information, outreach and networking;
and
(d) Network: A means of passing information, either
electronic or human.
C. Current
activities(6)
- There is currently no single international climate
change technology information centre capable of addressing all
sectors and providing a full range of services to all users. A
number of international centres operate in climate change relevant
sectors, performing different functions and supplying some
services. At the national level, numerous entities conduct
activities in climate relevant sectors with different levels of
service.
Activities supported by international organizations and
Annex II Parties
- Several international organizations, for example, the
United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP), the Food and Agricultural Organization
of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP)(7) and the International Energy
Agency (IEA) support information centres and systems (see Table 1
below). Annex II Parties provide support through organizations such
as, the Japan Information Centre for Science and Technology (JICST),
the German Aid Agency (GTZ), and the US National Renewable Energy
Laboratory (NREL) (see Table 2 below). These organizations are
involved in a number of activities including the development of web
accessible information systems on cleaner technologies in different
fields of application. In general, the systems are operated by a
small sub-unit of 5-10 staff, or as a programme within an
organization, specifically established with an information
dissemination mandate.
- These technology information systems may be divided
into those that provide more general information, such as FAO and
JICST, having been involved in information dissemination for the
longest time and those that provide information that is more
directly relevant to the climate change issue. For example, FAO
began operation in 1957 and AGRIS and CARIS were established in
1975. The development and operation of more specific climate
relevant information systems came about more recently. For
example, GREENTIE was introduced at the Earth Summit in 1992.
Directories and intelligent search
engines
- One important task being undertaken by a number of the
above organizations is the development of systems to quickly
access the rapidly expanding information available on the
Internet. This requires a means of systematically collecting and
organizing information on climate relevant technologies. This
means is usually called a search engine. Improved search engines
and directories could significantly reduce the time required to
access useful information in the future.
- Recently, the International Environmental Technology
Centre (IETC) at UNEP launched one such system at the fifth
session of the Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD), held
in New York from 7 to 25 April 1997. The newly developed
Searchable Information Directory on Environmentally Sound
Technologies (ESTs) called "maESTro", through its Directory
Interchange Format (DIF), is fully compatible with UNEP's Global
Resources Information Database (GRID), the database of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the
Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS), the National
Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) and others. The
searchable EST directory includes the IETC's survey on EST
information systems, a compilation of about 130 institutions
throughout the world that are involved with ESTs and an overview
of "eco-friendly" technologies in IETC's field of activity.
Table 1. Examples of centres and systems supported
by international organizations
Abbreviation
|
Network
|
Launched
|
Institution
|
Location
|
Area of Application
|
ICPIC
|
International Cleaner Production Information
Clearing-house
|
1990
|
UNEP - Cleaner Production Programme
|
France, Paris
|
Industry and government
|
OAIC
|
Ozone Action Information Clearing-house
|
1991
|
UNEP - IE's Ozone Action Programme
|
France, Paris
|
Government
|
AGRIS
|
International Information System for Agriculture Science
and Technology
|
1975
|
FAO
|
Italy, Rome
Austria, Vienna
|
Agriculture: science and technology
|
CARIS
|
Current Agricultural Research Information System
|
1975
|
FAO
|
Italy, Rome
|
Agriculture: research
|
GREENTIE
|
Greenhouse Gas Technology Information Exchange
|
1993
|
IEA/OECD
|
Netherlands, Sittard
|
Product and company information
|
Table 2. Examples of national systems and
networks
Abbreviation
|
Network
|
Launched
|
Institution
|
Location
|
Area of Application
|
JICST
|
Japan On-line Information System
|
|
Science and Technology Agency
|
Japan, Tokyo
|
Science and technology
|
ISAT
|
German Information and Advisory Service on Appropriate
Technology
|
1988
|
GTZ
|
Germany, Eschborn
|
Appropriate technologies
|
EREN
|
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network
|
1994
|
NREL
|
USA, Colorado
|
Energy (technologies)
|
EREC
|
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearing-house
|
1994
|
NREL
|
USA, Colorado
|
Energy (specific applications)
|
National technology information centres and networks in
developing countries
- Non-Annex I countries also have numerous centres that
collect and disseminate information on technologies. For example,
the Indian Centre for Promotion of Cleaner Technologies (ICPCT),
established in 1996 at the National Environmental Engineering
Research Institute of India (NEERI), founded in 1958 as part of
the National Information Centre for Cleaner Technologies (NICCT)),
has developed a database of 510 case studies on cleaner
technologies, and is in the process of developing an information
system. Also, the Southern Centre for Energy and the Environment
in Harare, Zimbabwe is host to the South African Network on Energy
and Environment (SANEE). The CTI data set includes 65 technology
information centres in 19
countries.(8) It is, therefore,
reasonable to assume that there are probably hundreds of centres
throughout the world. However, because the CTI did not evaluate
current centres, it is necessary to be cautious about the
capabilities and effectiveness of such centres.
Summary of CTI data set on national technology
information centres in developing countries
- The CTI data set indicates that most national centres
had more than one mission. Consulting services is the most common
mission (46%), followed by information networking (35%). The same
data set reveals that 52% of the responding centres are engaged in
training, almost half of the centres (46%) concentrate on
education and economic analysis and 11% are able to provide
quality control to the information they collect. The CTI data set
also provides information about who are the users of the
information provided by centres. It found that most of the users
are government organizations (88%). These users predominantly
request information about energy (91%), environmental science
applications (58%) and waste management
(40%)(9)
(See FCCC/SBSTA/1997/INF.4 for further detailed
information).
- Also included within the CTI data set is information
about how national centres communicate with the users of
information. The data set indicates that the fax (86%) and printed
media, comprised of reports and documents (85%), are the most
commonly used means of communication (86%). Approximately, 60% of
all centres use the phone, e-mail and newsletters. Finally,
centres use workshops (74%), professional associations (51%) and
paid advertisements (20%) to promote their services.
- A very important factor in the exchange of information
on cleaner technologies is the use of language. As reported in the
CTI survey, 83% of the centres provide services in English and 32%
communicate in more than one language. Twelve centres use two
languages and nine centres use more than two languages.
- Depending on the financial support that technology
information centres and networks receive from governments and
other sources, they may charge users for their services. Free
services are often provided by government institutions, but
sometimes also by non-governmental centres and networks, depending
upon the financial support they derive from, national and/or
international institutions. Yet, more than half of the responding
centres (52%) indicate no charges for calling on their information
services. Of these, 32% of the centres reported no charges to the
users for direct response to questions and 20% reported having
minimal charges for direct services and other charges like
membership fees and subscriptions.
Networks in developing countries
- Eighty percent of the responding centres and networks
to the CTI survey are using e-mail facilities as a means of
communication. Access to the Internet by the same community is
also improving in many countries, as evidenced by the increasing
number of Internet Service Providers (ISP) in the Asian, African
and South American regions. These ISPs provide services such as
electronic mail, Internet access, on-line publishing, access to
various search engines, and electronic conferences. A few examples
are APNG (Asia Pacific Networking Group), JARING (Network for
Malaysia), SDN (Pacific Sustainable Development Network), MauriNet
(Mauritius Network), MANGO (Network for Non-Profit Community in
Zimbabwe), and CCCNet
(Co-operation Committee for Cambodia Network). Since
access to the Internet has been improving, a number of networks are
now being developed which focus on technological and environmental
issues. Some examples include Pactok (PacificTalk), ScINET-PHIL
(Science and Technology Network of the Philippines), and STACnet
(Philippine Science & Technology Advisory Council Network). In
most cases, these networks are still in the process of identifying
the needs of their users and packaging information accordingly.
Current barriers
- There are three barriers that users face in drawing
information from electronic systems, as well as from printed
materials. These may restrict current accessibility of technology
information. First, most of the information is only available in
English. Second, a lack of training in the use of electronic
databases may prolong or even prevent some users from accessing
appropriate data. This includes the lack, in some instances, of a
"hotline" to answer relatively simple questions. Third, some
databases have access and other fees that may be a barrier to
obtaining technology information.
D. Options for possible centres and
networks
- There are numerous options for enhancing and/or
building new international centres and networks, as well as for
enhancing existing national centres. These options require
consideration of the financial, institutional and operational
aspects, some of which are beyond the scope of this initial
report.
Enhancing existing and/or building new international
centres and
networks(10)
- Options for enhancing and/or building new
international centre(s) and networks need to consider the number
of centres, the sectors to be covered, the type of services to be
provided, the types of information needs and the user groups to
whom information will be provided
(see Table 3 below). Each of these factors directly affect
the cost of options.(11) While not
precluding any option, this paper focuses on three different levels
to facilitate consideration by the SBSTA. The first level options are
of relatively modest cost. The second level would be more costly, and
the third the most expensive.
Table 3. Factors affecting the cost of possible
future international centre(s)
Regions
|
Asia, Latin America and Africa
|
Sectors
|
Energy, agriculture, forestry, waste management,
industry,
transportation and adaptation
|
Information services
|
Identification, collection and compilation, synthesis and
quality assurance
|
Users
|
National governments, local governments, business large/
small, education/research institutions, consultants/
engineering design firms, financial institutions and the
public
|
Types of information
|
Strategic information on technology and policies, company
lists, product lists, engineer/consultant lists, projects,
financial services, policies, feasibility studies and
scientific
|
First level
- Extending existing information centres and networks
could be a quick and relatively inexpensive option.
(a) Corporate and product databases. One possible
approach to extending existing
capabilities could be GREENTIE. Presently, GREENTIE, an
initiative of the IEA and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation
and Development (OECD) is a leading provider of information on
corporations and product databases. It is accessible on-line and on
CD ROM. It includes the participation of 25 member countries of the
IEA/OECD(12) and its service is free
to all countries. Approximately 9,000 organizations from 31
countries(13) are in the GREENTIE
system. These organizations include suppliers of machinery and
equipment, Research and Development centres, engineering and
consulting companies, service suppliers, and also organizations that
provide funding, training, reports or publications. For users in
countries not yet actively participating, telephone and fax service
is provided and sets of information are distributed in hard copies
(FCCC/TP/1997/4).
GREENTIE provides information on technology to all
countries, but transmits
information from sources only within the OECD member
countries. Information on corporations and products from developing
countries are not available. GREENTIE has been hitherto restricted to
do so due, to its legal status and the implementing agreements, which
bind it within the IEA and OECD context.
The GREENTIE database could be opened up to non-OECD
information sources and
users that meet agreed criteria. This might be
accomplished at relatively low cost, perhaps in the range of 100-250
k (US$), but would need to be done on a multilateral
basis.
(b) Improving linkages between national and
international centres - Around 43% of
the national centres and networks responding to the CTI
survey cited inadequate computer equipment and limited or no Internet
access as technical barriers. Improving access to equipment, and
supporting users in how to make the best use of it, could foster
access to climate-friendly technologies and could overcome barriers.
Equipment could also help to link national centres to international
centres and systems. Another barrier to accessing information
electronically is the lack of training in the use of information
technologies. This includes, in some cases, how to install and use
hardware and software, how to develop Web pages and collect
information from the Internet.
Bilateral and multilateral activities through workshops
could be used to train experts in
developing countries to access electronic information.
Collaboration with industry might further strengthen the process of
identifying technology information needs and solutions. A series of
workshops might be held at a relatively modest cost, to ensure that
there is a focal point to access information and train others in each
developing country.
(c) Linking networks - Information about
climate-friendly technologies is
available at numerous institutions, spread over the whole
world, each of which contains a part of the knowledge that together
represents the current status of scientific and empirical knowledge
as a whole. Many networks have been developed to disseminate such
knowledge. However, one way to share this expertise is to improve
linkages between institutions.
The Web itself has a "linking" nature. Any information put
on the Internet can
easily be linked to other sites through hyperlinking.
Hyperlinking, moreover, allows providers to focus on their area of
expertise while offering services to many users. There are many ways
these linkages can be improved. Links between national centres and
institutions in Annex I and
non-Annex I countries can be established as can links
between national centres and institutions within the countries.
The best way to improve these linkages is through the
initiative of each institution.
Although, in some instances national governments may need
to provide an environment to enable this to occur.
Second level
- A single international centre - A single
international centre with limited functions could be established.
The scope of such a centre would need careful consideration. One
approach would be to focus activities on the needs of a few
customers, such as national governments, local governments, small
businesses and consultants/engineering-design companies
( FCCC/SB/1997/4). Such a centre could also focus,
initially, on providing only a few services like identifying sources
and collecting and synthesizing information. Also, the types of
information could be limited to publishing newsletters, for example,
until such time that experience had been gained with the demand for
its products. The cost of such a centre would be a function of its
scope and location, but could range from 1 to 5 million
US$.
- The centre could focus on all or just a few sectors.
If such a centre were to cover all sectors, it would need to rely
on specialized centres for its information. Careful consideration
would also need to be given to its institutional location. In this
regard, options could include co-location with another
international organization, such as, the Ozone Action Information
Clearing-house (OAIC) of the UNEP or a national institution having
complementary capabilities.
- The abovementioned option would need either
multilateral support directly from Parties on a voluntary basis or
through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and one of its
implementing agencies.
Third level
- Multiple international centres - Several
international centres could be established either to serve
regional users, providing limited information on all sectors, or
to provide more detailed sectoral information on technologies for
all users. As in the case of the single centre option, the
services, customers and types of information would need to be
considered. Multiple centres would, a priori, be able to
provide more specialized information on technology information.
Regional centres might have the advantage of being able to tailor
products to meet the unique needs of each region. Sectoral centres
would have the advantage of being able to focus on specialized
technologies, such as renewable energy equipment.
- Regional or sectoral centres could be co-located with
other regional or specialized institution, so as to take advantage
of existing capabilities. The cost of this option would depend on
the number of centres and their functions. Its implementation
would also need multinational support on a voluntary basis.
Enhancing existing national centres
- National centres can be a complement to and an
important user of information from an international centre(s).
They can serve as an interface with the private sector and other
local institutions, synthesize information and translate key
information into local languages.
- The enhancement of existing national centres could be
pursued independently or in parallel with activities to enhance
and/or build new international centres and networks. While several
approaches could be considered. There are two ways to ensure the
relevance to the Convention. The first would be to provide support
to improve information for national communications. The second
would be to provide support to developing countries.
- As many non-Annex I Parties are preparing national
communications, there is a need for the best available information
on technologies. Enhanced support to improve the information
collection capabilities in national centres could be accomplished,
via modest support for enabling activities through the GEF. This
support could take the form of the provision of software,
equipment and training.
- A second example might be the co-location of
"community technology centres" with local industries in developing
countries. These "centres" are typically equipped with personal
computers, printers, a modem, a fax machine and a consultant. As a
means of serving communities with modern communication facilities,
community technology centres, sometimes called "telecottages",
have been established by the private sector and governments in
Australia, Brazil, Canada, some European countries and the United
States of America. Such centres often start with basic functions,
and then add functions as local people and organizations provide a
demand. Often the following services are offered:
(a) Shared telecommunications, computer, and office
facilities;
(b) Training in the use of the technology;
(c) Information technology consulting
services;
(d) Local business and support services
(data-processing);
(e) Electronic information access; and
(f) Local government information and meeting
space.
- There are three interrelated functions, in particular,
that a community technology centre could address. These could
include, providing a place where people in the community can
become familiar with information and communication technology,
increasing skill levels in the local business and community, and
advising businesses and organizations on how to access information
on technologies. A community technology centre could also provide
a local capacity to evaluate and implement information technology.
This type of activity has two aspects in that both local
initiative and involvement and some assistance are required.
Technical support from governments in developing and developed
countries could help to overcome initial barriers.
E. Issues requiring clarification
- The SBSTA will need to consider whether the options
provided in this document have merit and how it wishes to proceed.
In this regard, the following issues warrant consideration:
- What general approach should be taken as a
follow-up to this document?
- Are additional options needed and/or is more
information needed on a particular option?
- If appropriate, what institutional arrangements
should be considered regarding implementation of any of these
options?
- How should the financial aspects associated with
centres and networks be approached?
- - - - -
1. This activity is supported by the
government of the Netherlands.
2. As experience is gained from these
projects, the secretariat will co-operate with the relevant Parties
to assess modalities for making results available to other Parties.
3. This activity was supported by the
government of the United States of America.
4. The 19 countries included 16
non-annex II Parties and 3 Parties with economies in transition.
5. Preliminary definitions are provided
in FCCC/SB/1997/4.
6. This document focuses primarily on
items (a) and (b) above.
7. Provides technical and financial
support to build and maintain networks and national centres.
8. The CTI data indicate that most of
the centres replying to the questionnaire were NGOs (63%), while 17%
were commercial organizations. A majority of these centres provide
services within their own country, but approximately 15% of the
centres provide services on an international scale. Twenty-five
percent of the centres were located in research institutions.
9. Comparable information may be found
in the preliminary technology needs survey prepared by R. van Berkel,
in co-operation with the secretariat. In that survey, Parties most
frequently cited the energy and waste management sectors as ones
about which they needed technology information.
10. The term "building new" refers to
a new capability at an existing physical facility or institution.
11. Preliminary information on user
needs was provided in the initial survey of technology information
needs conducted by the secretariat. The survey will be expanded as
described in section II of this document.
12. Australia, Austria, Belgium,
Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland,
Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand,
Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States
of America.
13. Australia, Colombia S.A.,
Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Egypt, Eritrea, France, Germany,
Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, the
Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Senegal,
Seychelles, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda, the United
Kindom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Uruguay, the United
States of America, and Zambia.