Technology Mechanism

Within the UN Climate Change process, countries have confirmed the importance of enhancing technology development and transfer to developing countries. To facilitate this, in 2010 the Conference of the Parties established the Technology Mechanism. The Technology Mechanism consists of two bodies: the Technology Executive Committee and the Climate Technology Centre and Network. 

Technology Executive Committee 

The Technology Executive Committee is the Technology Mechanism’s policy body. It analyses issues and provides policy recommendations that support country efforts to enhance climate technology development and transfer. The committee consists of 22 technology experts representing both developed and developing countries. It meets several times a year and holds climate technology events that support efforts to address key technology policy issues. Visit the committee's homepage.

Climate Technology Centre and Network 

The Climate Technology Centre and Network is the implementation body of the Technology Mechanism. It accelerates the development and transfer of technologies through three services: 

• Providing technical assistance at the request of developing countries on technology issues

• Creating access to information and knowledge on climate technologies

• Fostering collaboration among climate technology stakeholders via its network of regional and sectoral experts

The Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) is hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and has a network of national, regional, sectoral, and international organizations that support it in undertaking its services. The CTCN is accountable to and guided by the Conference of the Parties through an advisory board. Developing countries may send a request to the centre through their national focal point, called a national designated entity. For more information, visit the CTCN’s website.

Working together

The Technology Executive Committee and the Climate Technology Centre and Network work together to enhance climate technology activities. Their functions are complementary and support developing country efforts to address both policy and implementation aspects of climate technology development and transfer.

The Joint Work Programme of the Technology Mechanism (2023–2027) is composed of the joint activities and common areas of work of the Technology Executive Committee (TEC) and the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), the rolling workplan of the TEC and the Programme of Work of the CTCN. The Joint Work Programme brings together, for the first time, the long-term strategies of the TEC and the CTCN and defines areas of focus for the mechanism as a whole, in order to elevate its performance and increase its impact. In 2023, the Technology Mechanism launched its Initiative on Artificial Intelligence for Climate Action (#AI4ClimateAction) to explore the role of AI as a powerful technological tool for advancing and scaling up transformative climate solutions for mitigation and adaptation action in developing countries with a focus on LDCs and SIDS.