Sharm El Sheikh, November 15, 2022 – Senior officials from governments, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) launched a new five-year work plan today at COP27 to promote climate technology solutions in developing countries.
The Technology Executive Committee (TEC) and the Climate Technology Center and Network (CTCN) – the two bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Technology Mechanism under the Paris Agreement – launched their joint work program to accelerate the deployment of much-needed transformative Climate technology for climate change.
Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, said: “The launch of this joint work program presents an important opportunity for us to rapidly intensify our efforts to deploy technologies to solve problems through mitigation and adaptation.”
The new joint work program of the Technology Mechanism covers the period 2023-2027. It foresees specific joint activities to be implemented by TEC and CTCN, including technology roadmaps, work on gender and technology, technology and nationally determined – Energy-food relationship.
“Time is running out to achieve the key goals of the Paris Agreement. The rapid scale-up and effective transfer of climate technologies is critical to limit the rise in global average temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius and build resilience to climate change. A revitalized technology is needed mechanisms to unlock the right climate technologies around the world, which is what this new work program aims to achieve,” Simon Steele, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (IPCC AR6) and Working Group III (IPCC WG III) contribution on climate change mitigation focused on technology as an enabler to accelerate mitigation and drive effective adaptation solutions. The assessment also highlights that limiting global warming will require major transformations in primary sectors and sectors including energy, cities, pointing to several key sectors with high potential for emission reductions, such as: cities/urban areas, industry, agriculture, forestry and Land use change.
This joint work plan is an important milestone for the Technology Mechanism, marking a new era of work on climate technology under the Convention and the Paris Agreement. It is guided by science, aligned with the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement, and focused on high-potential sectors and high-impact actions.
The United States today announced a $3 million contribution to support the implementation of the joint work program.
John Kerry, US Presidential Special Envoy for Climate, said: “The UNFCCC Technology Mechanism is taking action in this defining decade through smart technology solutions to address climate change and mitigate it. With this contribution, The United States is supporting developing countries in adopting new strategic approaches to cooperation on technology and innovation, and fulfilling important commitments made at COP26. The United States helped lead the development of the first joint work plan of the Technology Mechanism to support the Paris Agreement Technology Framework. We Committed to ensuring that both parties work effectively together to accelerate action at the scale and speed required through research, development, demonstration and deployment of climate technologies.”
Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, said: “Technology transfer is crucial to the success of the global green transition. Whether in energy, infrastructure, mobility or food: we need to ensure that knowledge is shared to help build industrial capacity and support Developing countries respond to the climate crisis. The new joint program of the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism opens up new possibilities for innovative and targeted action. The European Commission will continue to provide support in the coming years, providing new climate and technology centers and networks A donation of 2 million euros.”
Stefan Wenzel, Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Germany’s support was highlighted and a voluntary contribution of €1.5 million to the CTCN and €500,000 to the TEC was announced in 2022: “Accelerating and rapidly deploying climate technologies is very important in the set of transformative change solutions needed to achieve the transformation goals Constituent parts of the Paris Agreement and the Glasgow Climate Convention. To this end, Germany supports the TEC and CTCN in implementing their joint work program and the targeted transformation of the mitigation and adaptation sectors. The new joint work program marks a step in the further development of the Technology Mechanism Important milestone.”
In addition, the Government of Canada has confirmed a $6 million grant to the CTCN. The Honorable Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, said: “While technology itself is not a climate plan, any serious approach must include thoughtful consideration of how key clean technologies are developed and deployed. This new joint work plan will Helping governments around the world and other actors collaborate to do this.”
As a long-term donor, the Japanese government is committed to continuing to provide CTCN with current funding levels. CTCN is pleased to strengthen its cooperation with the Republic of Korea through the recent establishment of a Partnership and Liaison Office in Songdo, Republic of Korea.
Editor’s note
About the Technology Mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
To address climate change and drive technological innovation, investment and deployment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change, Parties established the Technology Mechanism at COP 16, which consists of two bodies: the Technology Executive Committee ( TEC) as the policy arm, while the Climate Technology Center and Network (CTCN) represents the implementation arm.
About the Technology Executive Committee
To address climate change and drive technological innovation, investment and deployment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change, governments have established technology mechanisms. It consists of two bodies: the Technology Executive Committee (TEC) as the policy arm, and the Climate Technology Center and Network (CTCN) as the implementation arm.
About CTCN
The United Nations Climate Technology Center and Network (CTCN) is the executive arm of the Technology Mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. The CTCN, hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme, promotes the accelerated development and transfer of climate technologies for energy-efficient, low-carbon and climate-resilient development and mobilizes the expertise of more than 760 civil society networks worldwide, financial, private sector and research institutions should Developing countries request technical assistance and capacity building.
About the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
UNEP is the leading voice on global environmental issues. It provides leadership and encourages partnerships in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and helping countries and peoples improve the quality of life of future generations without compromising it.
For more information, please contact:
Keisha Rukikaire, Head of News and Media, UNEP