Technology transfer in the context of national communications

Taka Hiraishi

On behalf of UNFCCC Expert Group on Technology Transfer

CGE workshop on non-Annex I national communications  Cairo, Egypt, 20 -- 22 September 2007 

Outline of Presentation

1.Context and status of technology transfer

2.Technology needs assessments

3. Integration of technology transfer information into NCs

4.Barriers and Constraints

5.Key Lessons Learned and recommendations

Context and status of technology transfer

“Achieving the ultimate objective of the UNFCCC, as formulated in Article 2, will require technological innovation and the rapid widespread transfer and implementation of technologies, including know-how…”

IPCC special report on methodological and

technological issues in technology transfer

Technology transfer is stipulated under Article 4.3, 4.5 and 4.7 of UNFCCC

Technology Transfer Framework

• COP7 adopted a framework for meaningful and effective actions to enhance the implementation of Article 4.5 of the Convention

• The framework contained five key activities: • technology needs assessments, • technology information, • enabling environments, • capacity building, and • mechanisms for technology transfer)

•NAI NC Reporting Guidelines (COP8) contains paras 39, 41, and 42 referring to technology transfer.

• The Expert Group on Technology Transfer (EGTT) was established as part of the technology transfer framework and the Marrakech Accords.

Technology Needs Assessment• Para 54 of NAI NC Reporting Guidelines is relevant.• Funding has been provided under the top-up of the

enabling activities for national communications, or as part of NAPA;

• About 34 countries so far completed their assessments.• TNA Synthesis Report (FCCC/SBSTA/2006/INF.1) was

prepared for SBSTA 24. CGE developed for SBI26 “Template on cross-cutting themes in national communications from non-Annex I Parties” (FCCC/SBI/2007/3). EGTT and LEG contributed to this work.

• “Good practice guidance for technology needs assessments - Background Paper” is being prepared by EGTT.

Integration of technology transfer information into NCs

TNA

NC NAPA

TNA, NC and NAPA area complementary to each other

Parties that have completed their TNA should integrate the information into NC2 and NAPA

Barriers and Constraints

• Lack of capacity in conducting comprehensive technology needs assessment across all sectors.

• Technology information is not fully ultilised by all sectors.

• Uncertainty in long term assessment of technology as no decision for additional funding is made.

• Projects identified in TNA have not been satisfactorily implemented with external financial support.

Key Lessons Learned and recommendations

• TNA is a dynamic process and it provides valuable inputs not only to NC and NAPA but also to national economic development

• Mainstreaming TNA into national planning and development will assist each country in accessing to the right technologies as well as improvement of future preparation of NC and NAPA

• Convergence of TNA, NAPA and NC processes will ensure cost effectiveness and consistency in technology transfer requirement

Other work of the EGTT• Innovative Financing

– Drawing upon from the Montreal Workshop (October 2004) and the Bonn workshop (October 2005), on innovative options for financing the results of the technology needs assessments, held in Bonn, in October 2005, Technical Paper on Innovative Options for Financing the Development and Transfer of Technologies and Practitioners’ Guide for Preparing and Presenting Project Financing Proposals have been prepared.

• Adaptation– Seminar on the development and transfer of environmentally sound

technologies for adaptation to climate change (14–16 June 2005, in Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago), and Technical Paper on Applications of ESTs for Adaptation to Climate Change was made available for consideration by the SBSTA at its twenty-fourth session (May 2006). <http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/2006/tp/tp02.pdf>

• TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION– The Convention secretariat has designed and developed a web-

based technology transfer information system/clearing house (TT:CLEAR) <http://unfccc.int/home/items/3092.php>