Canada, EU, others pledge $23m for technology transfer to implement Paris Agreement

The government of Canada, Denmark, the European Union, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Switzerland and the United States announced over $23 million USD to provide a major scale-up of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Climate Technology Centre & Network (CTCN) as it delivers tailored capacity building and technical assistance at the request of developing countries across a broad range of mitigation and adaptation technology and policy sectors. As the implementation arm of the Technology Mechanism, the CTCN is a key institution to help nations realize their commitments under the Paris Agreement.

As countries around the world seek to meet their mitigation and adaptation goals, the CTCN has harnessed expertise from an expanding global network of over 230 technology institutions, from finance, NGO, private, and research sectors, to provide expert policy and technology support to developing country stakeholders, coordinated by nationally-selected focal points (National Designated Entities, or NDEs).

The CTCN has already received 160 requests for assistance from countries.  Support ranges from providing capacity building support for national energy efficiency policies in Colombia, technical assistance for design and financing of crop drying and storage technologies for enhanced food security in Mali, and facilitation of south-south technology transfer in Bhutan for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector.

Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), remarking on the announcement, said: “Accelerating the deployment of clean and green technologies is going to be crucial for realizing the aims of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. Finance will also be key if that deployment is to happen at the speed and scale required. I am thus delighted that the UNFCCC’s Climate Technology Centre and Network is announcing new and additional funding support for its unique work. I would urge others to see how they can contribute so that the CTCN realizes its full potential in connecting developing countries to the innovative and relevant technologies they seek”.

Mr. Spencer Thomas, CTCN Advisory Board Chair, said “The Climate Technology Centre and Network provides essential technology know-how and implementation, from identification of technology needs to deployment and linkages with financing. This new funding support will enable the CTCN to meet the growing demand for technology solutions and capacity building that works for developing countries.”

Referring to the CTCN’s technology transfer services, Mr. Issakha Youm, National Designated Entity from Senegal, stated “The CTCN accurately finds the right experts, helps to develop technology options, removes the barriers and also identifies financial partners to implement technologies in countries”.