UNFCCC Workshop on Enabling Environments for Technology Transfer Ghent, Belgium, 9-10 April 2003

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UNFCCC Workshop on Enabling Environments for

Technology Transfer

Ghent, Belgium, 9-10 April 2003

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Development and transfer of Technologies in the Context of Climate

Changeby

Wanna TanunchaiwatanaManager, Technology Subprogramme

UNFCCC Secretariat

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Contents

• Overview of UNFCCC and KP

• Ongoing Technology Transfer Activities

• Workshop and Expected Outcome• Outstanding Issues and Challenges

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UNFCCC - Overview

• A global legal instrument on the control and management of greenhouse gases (GHG) which are not controlled by the Montreal Protocol

• Adopted: 1992; Entered into force:1994• Status of participation: 186 Parties• Contains 2 Annexes:

– Annex 1: countries with obligations to reduce GHG

– Annex 2: countries with funding obligations

• Affiliated instruments:– Kyoto Protocol

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Ultimate Objective of the UNFCCC

• To achieve stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system

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Overview of Kyoto Protocol– Commitments: industrialized countries to

achieve quantified targets for decreasing their greenhouse gas emissions

– Adopted: 1997; not yet in force;

– Status of Ratification: 106 Parties, but only 43.9% of global GHG emissions; 55% needed for Protocol to enter into force (as of 20 March. 2003)

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Constituted Bodies (I)

• Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA): provide advice to the COP on scientific and technological matters relating to the Convention.

• Conference of the Parties (COP): the supreme body of the Convention, shall keep under regular review the implementation of the Convention and any related legal instrument that the COP may adopt, and meet annually. COP-9 will be held on 1 – 10 December 2003 in Milan, Italy

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Constituted Bodies (II)

• Relevant international and national bodies:

– Global Environment Facility (GEF) - an operating entity of the financial mechanism of the Convention

– Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

– National UNFCCC focal points

• Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI): to

assist the COP in the review and assessment of the

effective implementation of the Convention.

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Marrakech Accord and Technology Transfer Framework

• Comprise of five major activities– Technology Needs Assessments– Technology Information– Enabling Environments for Tech Transfer– Capacity Building for Tech Transfer– Mechanism for Tech Transfer (Establishment

of Expert group on Tech Transfer: EGTT)

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Ongoing ActivitiesTechnology Need Assessments• More than 60 Parties are currently undertaking

this activity and funding are being provided underthe GEF top-up activities

• Some countries are getting support from other resources such as CTI.

• Handbook for conducting the assessments are currently developed by UNDP-GEF with support from EGTT.

• Reports received from Indonesia, Georgia, and Ghana

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Technology Information

• The secretariat with the support of the EGTT has designed and developed a web-based technology transfer information system/clearing house (TT:CLEAR).

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Characteristic of TT:CLEAR (I)

• Acting as a gateway for fast access to up-to-date information on the latest technology transfer projects and case studies of successful technology transfer, environmentally sound technologies and know-how.

• Primary targeted users are Parties to the Convention

• Complementing and working with existing web sites and clearing houses of other relevant international organizations and national/regional technology information centres.

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Characteristic II

• Includes an innovative

search engine

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An inventory of methods, models and tools An inventory of methods, models and tools covering different aspects of mitigation of and covering different aspects of mitigation of and adaptation to climate change;adaptation to climate change;

Over 40 case studies and/or success stories on Over 40 case studies and/or success stories on technology transfer*;technology transfer*;

600 links to relevant web sites, including 600 links to relevant web sites, including national web sites as provided by Parties in national web sites as provided by Parties in their submissions;their submissions;

Some 1,670 technology cooperation projects Some 1,670 technology cooperation projects and programes;and programes;

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Information on development and transfer of Information on development and transfer of technologies under UNFCCCtechnologies under UNFCCC

A database of organizations and experts A database of organizations and experts involved in the development and transfer of involved in the development and transfer of technologies;technologies;

Preliminary databases of mitigation and Preliminary databases of mitigation and adaptation technologies and projects;adaptation technologies and projects;

A technology forum, including a web board A technology forum, including a web board and chat rooms.and chat rooms.

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Workshop and Expected Outcome

• Organized in response to the request by SBSTA17 • Being part of the EGTT activities for 2003 in

preparing a technical paper on enabling environments for technology transfer for consideration at SBSTA18

• A draft technical paper has been made available as background paper for the workshop

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Workshop and Expected Outcome

• Input for the revision of the technical paper

• Ideas for possible actions and next steps to promote the enabling environments for technology transfer

• If possible, some recommendations to the SBSTA and to the EGTT on its future work in this area

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Challenges and Outstanding Issues• Submissions by Parties and EGTT on special

climate change fund• What concrete actions might be needed for

capacity building for tech transfer?• The technical paper on capacity building for tech

transfer is being prepared by the secretariat to facilitate the work of the EGTT on this area. The paper will be made available at SBSTA18

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Challenges and Outstanding Issues• What further actions might be needed to

enhance the activities on technology needs assessments?

• How to involve other key stakeholders such as private sector, IGOs and NGOs in the tech transfer activities under the Convention process ?

• Consultation with other expert groups

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We are ready to take up new challenges !