UN Technology Mechanism Technology Executive Committee 7th Meeting 4-7September 2013 Summary of Status

Arthur Lee

All photos by Arthur Lee. By Arthur Lee, on behalf of IPIECA and WBCSD as observer

The Cancun Agreement (COP16, 2010) was made effective with a series of decisions at COP17 Durban (2011).. In the Cancun Agreement, the Technology Mechanism is a new United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) structure which consists of two components: • Technology Executive Committee • Climate Technology Centre and Network For the first time, emerging from the UNFCCC is a structure and a process focused on technology development and deployment and transfer issues. Technologies deployed will focus on reducing emissions or adapting to climate impact risks. The Technology Mechanism could pose potential longer term adverse impacts or facilitate deployment of energy technologies. As a very early work in progress, it is yet too early to see whether the Mechanism will be helpful or not helpful. At the same time, the Technology Mechanism will be taking up criteria and capacity for initial “technology needs assessments” for nations.

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Technology Mechanism is Operationalizing

Technology Mechanism: Technology Executive Committee (TEC) and the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN)

The following picture on the left is drawn by the secretariat of the CTCN, describing an equal role of the TEC and the Advisory Board in working with the CTC (secretariat and all the partners). The national designated entities (NDE), nominated by a developed or developing nation, are critical to delivering results to each developing nation. The Network, as envisioned below, consists of national, regional and international organizations, including companies in the private sector, relevant to technology development and transfer.

- 3 - By Arthur Lee, on behalf of IPIECA and WBCSD as observer

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Technology Mechanism: Technology Executive Committee (TEC) and the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) The following picture on the left is drawn by the CTCN, describing an equal role of the TEC and the

Advisory Board in working with the CTC (secretariat and all the partners). The national designated entities (NDE), nominated by a developed or developing nation, are critical to delivering results to each developing nation. The Network, as envisioned below, consists of national, regional and international organizations, including companies in the private sector, relevant to technology development and transfer.

What can the private sector do? • Provide feedback on needs, gaps and

technical/capacity building aspects • Provide advice on viability of policy

recommendations for low-carbon investment

• Participation in activities to bring technical know how into identifying drivers and for low- carbon investment

• Bring business views to support effective complementary functioning – technology experts, trainers, policy, finance and strategy

• Participate at various levels in a meaningful way to provide technical and policy advice

• Support/organize information sharing - dialogues, open platforms

By Arthur Lee, on behalf of IPIECA and WBCSD as observer

Modalities of the Technology Executive Committee

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• Analysis and synthesis • Policy recommendations; • Facilitation and catalysing

• Linkage with other institutional arrangements • Engagement of stakeholders; observers, panels, consultative groups

• Information and knowledge sharing

By Arthur Lee, on behalf of IPIECA and WBCSD as observer

7th Meeting of TEC (TEC 7) Incremental actions

• Key Actions • Reviewed results of the thematic

dialogue on RD&D and draft key messages for reporting to COP19. Stakeholders agreed that collaborative RD&D occurs when objectives and values are clear to all parties.

• Synthesized the third round of Technology Needs, identified by non-Annex I Parties. Mitigation in the energy, forestry and agricultural sectors are highest. Adaptation in the agricultural sector is highest.

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There is a sense among the stakeholders and some in the TEC that the committee is taking small incremental steps, but also the feeling that “this has been done before” in terms of more technology needs assessments and knowing conceptually already all the barriers to innovation, technology development and deployment..

7th Meeting of TEC (TEC 7) Considering elements of rolling work plan 2014-2015

• RD&D “the national innovation system” – potential workshop or thematic dialogue

• Technology Needs Assessments – key lessons learned and recommendations to policymakers (a TEC Brief)

• Barriers and Enabling Frameworks – key lessons learned and recommendations to policymakers (a TEC Brief)

• TT: Clear – Expand the use of the web site and database to be made more useful to Parties

• Collaboration with relevant institutions – e.g., Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Committee

• Work with the CTCN • Context of the mandated 2015 agreement

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Key Questions for the TEC and CTCN: Is there demand from developing nations for the products and services of the TEC and CTCN? How will the Technology Mechanism work with other UNFCCC bodies and non-Convention bodies, in the context of funding and services?

By Arthur Lee, on behalf of IPIECA and WBCSD as observer

Appendix

What is the Technology Mechanism?

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Outline (February 2012 Background Briefing)

What is the Technology Mechanism? • Technology Executive Committee (TEC) • Climate Technology Center and Network (CTCN) • Elements of the TEC Rolling Work Plan 2012-2013

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UNFCCC Technology Mechanism sets out new UN infrastructure to take action on the general area of “technology transfer.” Technology Executive Committee is now established and in very early stage of organizing itself and its work, including evaluating the bids for the host institution for the Climate Technology Center.

The Cancun Agreement established the Technology Mechanism and the associated Technology Executive Committee to help transfer technologies to the developing nations. Decision at COP17 includes: … “… 4. Notes that the modalities elaborated by the Technology Executive Committee, which are based on the functions of the Technology Executive Committee as decided by decision 1/CP.16, include the following six key elements: (a) Analysis and synthesis; (b) Policy recommendations; (c) Facilitation and catalysing; (d) Linkage with other institutional arrangements; (e) Engagement of stakeholders; (f) Information and knowledge sharing; 5. Stresses the importance of engaging a broad range of stakeholders at the international, regional, national and subnational levels, including public institutions, the business community, academia and non-governmental organizations, in conducting its work, and that its work may require the establishment of institutional interfaces and communication channels at different levels, which would allow the Technology Executive Committee to mobilize and leverage a wider range of expertise and resources. …”

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Technology Executive Committee Cancun Agreement is made effective with a series of decisions at COP17 Durban.

Technology Mechanism/ Technology Executive Committee

The Climate Technology Centre was agreed as a part of the Technology Mechanism at COP16 Cancun with these functions “… 123. Decides that the Climate Technology Centre shall facilitate a network of national, regional, sectoral and international technology networks, organizations and initiatives with a view to engaging the participants of the Network effectively in the following functions: (a) At the request of a developing country Party:

(i) Providing advice and support related to the identification of technology needs and the implementation of environmentally sound technologies, practices and processes; (ii) Facilitating the provision of information, training and support for programmes to build or strengthen capacity of developing countries to identify technology options, make technology choices and operate, maintain and adapt technology; (iii) Facilitating prompt action on the deployment of existing technology in developing country Parties based on identified needs;

(b) Stimulating and encouraging, through collaboration with the private sector, public institutions, academia and research institutions, the development and transfer of existing and emerging environmentally sound technologies, as well as opportunities for North–South, South–South and triangular technology cooperation;”

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Climate Technology Centre and Network Cancun Agreement is made effective with a series of decisions at COP17 Durban.

Technology Mechanism/ Climate Technology Centre and Network

The Climate Technology Centre and Network … (c) Facilitating a network of national, regional, sectoral and international technology centres, networks, organization and initiatives with a view to: (i) Enhancing cooperation with national, regional and international technology centres and relevant national institutions;

(ii) Facilitating international partnerships among public and private stakeholders to accelerate the innovation and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing country Parties;

(iii) Providing, at the request of a developing country Party, in-country technical assistance and training to support identified technology actions in developing country Parties;

(iv) Stimulating the establishment of twinning centre arrangements to promote North–South, South–South and triangular partnerships, with a view to encouraging cooperative research and development;

(v) Identifying, disseminating and assisting with developing analytical tools, policies and best practices for country-driven planning to support the dissemination of environmentally sound technologies;

(d) Performing other such activities as may be necessary to carry out its functions;

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Climate Technology Centre and Network Cancun Agreement is made effective with a series of decisions at COP17 Durban.

Technology Mechanism/ Climate Technology Centre and Network

The Technology Executive Committee (TEC)… Is composed of a geographically mandated diverse set of members: 9 (Annex I) + 9 (non-Annex I) + 2 (SIDS , LDC) Sets out four mandated actions to report to the SBI (SB36, May 2012). The four actions are:

Nominate the Evaluation Panel to evaluate the bids of potential host organization of the Climate Technology Centre Encourage broad stakeholders engagement Establish linkages to organizations within the Climate Change Convention and outside the Convention Rolling Work Plan 2012-2013

At the Second TEC meeting, the TEC invited a number of outside organizations including the ICC, the World Resources Institute, and the World Business Council on Sustainable Development to discuss their views about TEC’s potential work elements..

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Technology Executive Committee Evaluates Bids for Hosting CTC Formative stage February 2012

The effectiveness of the TEC and the CTCN to enhance action on technology development and transfer in mitigation and adaptation is too early to be assessed. The key question is whether there are enough resources and capacity to carry out its work, even if the work becomes better defined.

Areas for future collaboration at TEC level

Analysis and synthesis Policy recommendations; Facilitation and catalysing

Linkage with other institutional

arrangements Engagement of stakeholders;

observers, panels, consultative groups

Information and knowledge sharing

TEC modalities What the private sector can do •Provide feedback on needs, gaps and technical/capacity building aspects • Provide advice on viability of policy recommendations for low-carbon investment • Participation in activities to bring technical know how into identifying drivers and for low- carbon investment •Bring business views to support effective complementary functioning – technology experts, trainers, policy, finance and strategy

•Participate at various levels in a meaningful way to provide technical and policy advice

•Support/organize information sharing - dialogues, open platforms

Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) in Copenhagen

The CTCN is operated by the United Nations Environment Programme and UNIDO in cooperation with a consortium of 11 regional Annex I and non-Annex I organizations (e.g., Energy Research Institute, India; ECN, Netherlands; National Renewable Energy Laboratory, U.S.)

The CTCN Advisory Board consists of equal numbers of non-Annex I and Annex I members, single member each from ENGO, RINGO (Heleen de Connick, Radboud University Nijmegen) and BINGO (Jean-Yves Caneill, Electricité de France), and the chair and vice-chair of the Technology Executive Committee. Other members include one representative of the Green Climate Fund and one from the Adaptation Committee, which is designed to strenghten interactions between the funding mechanism and the adaptation work to be conducted via the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The facility is hosted by the Government of Denmark at the location called UN City, Copenhagen, for at least 2 years.

The funding for the CTCN is so far short of its projected needs of $44 million for five years. $13 million has been secured so far from Denmark, Switzerland, Japan, Canada and the European Commission for 2013-2015. UNEP is also approaching U.S. and Norway for funding.

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Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) Three Main Functions

• Managing requests [from developing nations] and responses in the technology cycle;

• Fostering collaboration to accelerate technology transfer;

• Strengthening networks, partnerships and capacity building for technology development and transfer

• These three functions will have to be enabled by modalities, supported by procedures.

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Modalities and procedures need to be reviewed and approved by the Advisory Board (AB). Then the modalities and procedures have to be agreed to by the Subsidiary Body on Implementation. COP19 will review and formally adopt the final modalities and procedures.

Bottom photo: Kenihiko Shimada (Japan) consults with Heleen de Connick (Netherlands) representing research organizations.

Climate Technology Centre and Network: Very Early Work in Progress

What has been achieved so far by the Climate Technology Centre and Network?

Deliverables in 2013 • Advisory Board formed and met first time 14-15 May • Need to approve the modalities and procedures for the

three primary functions of the CTCN • Need to draft a report to the Subsidiary Body on

Implementation (SBI 38) in June, which would be reviewed for adoption at COP19, November 2013.

• Advisory Board approved the overall Work Plan of the CTCN at the first meeting.

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UNFCCC Technology Mechanism sets out new structure and process to take action on the general area of “technology transfer.” Technology Executive Committee has a strategic and policy planning role. The CTC and its Network (CTCN) need to deliver results to developing nations who request help from the CTCN. National designated entities (NDE) in each participating nation will coordinate in-country and make the request. Oil and gas industry can help shape the NDEs so they become effective organizations and pose barriers to the business.

Photo: Like the construction site nearby the UN City, the CTCN is a very early work in progress

Work Plan Laundry List of Actions to be taken by the CTCN in 2013 (Approved by the AB)

Critical Elements of the Work Plan

• Recruiting CTC staff

• Capacity-building for national designated entities (NDE)

• Mapping existing tools (gap finding) and developing new tools and content for a knowledge management system

Color codes were discussed. Red generally means an action being mandated by the COP decisions. Blue means actions to be taken in that month.

Work Plan Laundry List of Actions to be taken by the CTCN in 2013 (Approved by the AB)

Critical Elements of the Work Plan

• Modalities and procedures to SBI38 and approval at COP19

• Prioritization criteria for NDE requests to the CTCN needs approval from the Advisory Board.

• Criteria for joining the CTC Network needs approval from the Advisory Board.

• Status report to COP19

Color codes were discussed. Red generally means an action being mandated by the COP decisions. Blue means actions to be taken in that month.

CTCN Advisory Board (AB) Rules of Procedure

Discussion and agreement to these key rules of procedure occurred at the first meeting.

• At least two AB meetings per year, or more frequently if needed.

• A quorum of the Board must be reached at an AB meeting with 11 members. At least five members from Annex I and five members from non-Annex I nations.

• Expert observers may be invited from time to time to participate in the meetings.

• Observers are allowed to attend the AB meetings, though the AB can close meetings or portions of meetings from being observed.

• The chair will allow at least one time during the AB meeting to invite comments from observers.

• Consensus is preferred, though voting with a three-fourths majority would be a standard decision-making mechanism.

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Both the TEC and the CTCN allow and indeed encourage NGOs to observe the meetings. This open approach is positive for potential collaborations and buy-in with stakeholders, especially with business NGOs.

Photo: Gabriel Blanco (Argentina) . Left, consults with a colleague..