Background

Following the conclusion of the first global stocktake under the Paris Agreement, countries are preparing their third-generation national climate plans, or NDC 3.0, with the aim to also accelerate implementation of existing commitments and help unlock finance at scale. As underscored by the Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, Simon Stiell, new NDCs need to “incorporate investment plans that give a clear signal to the world, to investors, and to donors, of how countries plan to tackle climate change.”

Technology action plans (TAPs), as one of the key elements of the technology needs assessment (TNA) process under the UNFCCC, outline country-driven prioritized actions and project ideas for mitigation and adaptation technologies. TAPs can facilitate investments in nationally-endorsed technological transitions pathways that are needed to keep the goal of holding global average temperature to a maximum of 1.5°C alive.  

Parties to the UNFCCC have recurrently highlighted that the TNA process should be integrated with other related processes under the Convention and Paris Agreement. Countries are increasingly using their TNAs and TAPs to inform the development and implementation of their NDCs and low-emission development strategies. These processes, if utilized effectively, are mutually reinforcing and ultimately help strengthen the cycle of ambition for climate technology action and support under the Paris Agreement.

To date, more than 100 countries have undertaken TNAs. Currently, 17 countries are about to complete their TNAs, under phase IV of the GEF-funded Global TNA Project, and another 17 country will start the development or update of their TNAs under phase V of the project in 2024.

Objectives
This session aims to provide an engaging space for exchange of information, experiences, and views to enhance the shared understanding of stakeholders of the value of the TNA outcomes and the role of different actors in fostering alignment and complementarity in ongoing processes and actions in support of NDCs 3.0 and TNAs. The discussions will offer practical insight on:
1- Policy and strategy: How TAPs and TNAs can inform national climate targets and make new NDCs more ambitious
2- Implementation and support: How effective use of TAPs, as nationally-endorsed technology priorities and actions, can help unlock support and investment for climate technologies at scale

Moderator: 
Ms. Elfriede More, Head of Department, Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology, Austria

13:15-13:25 | Opening & Scene-setting: TAPs in support of ambitious and implementable NDCs 3.0
- James Grabert, Director, Mitigation Division, UNFCCC
- Aysel Rzayeva, Representative of COP 29 incoming presidency, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan 

13:25-13:30 | Introduction: Global state of play on TNAs and TAPs
- Sara Traerup, Head of Section Technology, Transitions and System Innovation, UNEP-CCC

13:30-14:05 | Panel discussion: Making NDCs 3.0 ambitious and investment-ready through Technology Action Plans
- Saravanee Singtong, Director of Sustainability Policy Division, Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO) and NDE Thailand
- Pedro Ivo Silva, Coordinator for scientific and technological affairs, Climate Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil
- Hansol Park, Climate Policy and Governance Specialist a.i. , GCF
- Filippo Berardi, Lead of Climate Change Mitigation, GEF
- Alla Metelitsa, Senior Advisor, Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development, UNIDO

14:05-14:20 | Q&A

14:20-14:30 | Closing: Reflecting on the work of the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism on TNAs, TAPs and NDCs and the way forward
- Thibyan Ibrahim, Chair, TEC
- Fred Onduri, Chair, CTCN Advisory Board