Sharm El Sheikh, November 15, 2022 – At COP27 today, senior officials from several governments, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) launched a new five-year work program to advance climate engineering solutions in developing countries.
The Technology Executive Committee (TEC) and the Climate Technology Center and Network (CTCN) – the two bodies of the technology mechanism under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement – have launched their joint work program to accelerate the deployment of transformative climate technologies that urgently need to be addressed need to be climate change.
“The launch of this joint work program is an important opportunity for us to rapidly scale up our efforts to use technology to combat mitigation and adaptation,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP.
The Technology Mechanism’s new joint work program covers work from 2023 to 2027. It envisages specific joint activities to be implemented by the TEC and CTCN, including technology roadmaps, work on gender and technology, technology and NDCs and digitalisation, and joint work areas for the both bodies, including national innovation systems, industry and the nexus water-energy-food.
“Time is running out to achieve the main goals of the Paris Agreement. Rapid scaling and effective transfer of climate technologies are essential to limit the rise in global average temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius and build resilience to climate change. A reinvigorated technology mechanism is needed to unleash appropriate climate technologies anywhere in the world, and that is what this new work program seeks to achieve.” said Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC.
The IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (IPCC AR6) and Working Group III (IPCC WG III) contributions on climate change mitigation focus on technology as an enabler for accelerated mitigation and to promote effective adaptation solutions. The assessment also highlights that limiting global warming will require significant changes in primary sectors and domains, including energy, cities, and points to several key areas with high potential for emission reductions, such as: B.: Cities/Urban Areas, Industry, Agriculture, Forestry and Land Use change.
This joint work program is a significant milestone for the Technology Mechanism and signals a new era of work for climate technology under the Convention and the Paris Agreement. It is science-driven, aligned with the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement, and focuses on high-potential sectors and high-impact actions.
The United States today announced a contribution of US$3 million to support the implementation of the joint work program.
US Presidential Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry stated: “The UNFCCC Technology Mechanism mobilizes action in this crucial decade through intelligent technology solutions for climate resilience and mitigation. With this contribution, the United States is supporting a new, strategic approach to technology and innovation cooperation in developing countries, fulfilling an important promise made at COP26. The United States helped develop this first joint work program for the Technology Mechanism in Support of the Paris Agreement Technology Framework. We are committed to ensuring that Parties work together effectively to accelerate action at the scale and pace needed through research, development, demonstration and deployment of climate technologies.”
European Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans said: “Technology transfer is critical to the success of the global green transition. Whether it’s energy, infrastructure, mobility or food, we need to ensure that knowledge is shared to help build industrial capacity and help developing countries deal with the climate crisis. The new joint program of the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism opens up new possibilities for innovation and targeted action. The European Commission will continue its support in the coming years by providing a new EUR 2 million contribution to the Climate and Technology Center and Network.”
Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection Stefan Wenzel underlined Germany’s support and announced a voluntary contribution of EUR 1.5 million to CTCN and EUR 500,000 to TEC in 2022: “The accelerated and rapid deployment of climate technologies is an extremely important building block in the solution package for a transformative change that is necessary is to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and the Glasgow Climate Pact. To this end, Germany is supporting TEC and CTCN in implementing their joint work program and the targeted sectoral transformation towards mitigation and adaptation. The new joint work program marks an important milestone in the further development of the technology mechanism.”
In addition, the Canadian government has pledged a C$6 million grant to the CTCN. Canada’s Natural Resources Minister, the Honorable Jonathan Wilkinson, stated: “While technology in itself is not a climate plan, any serious approach must include careful consideration of how critical clean technologies can be developed and deployed. This new joint work program will help governments and other stakeholders around the world work together to achieve just that.”
As a long-time donor, the Japanese government has committed to continuing the current level of funding for the CTCN. The CTCN is pleased to strengthen its cooperation with the Republic of Korea with the recent establishment of its Partnership and Liaison Office in Songdo, Republic of Korea.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism
To address climate change and drive technological innovation, investment and deployment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve resilience to the impacts of climate change, the parties at COP 16 established the Technology Mechanism, which consists of two bodies: the Technology Executive Committee (TEC) serves as the policy arm, while the Climate Technology Center and Network (CTCN) is 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 improve resilience to the impacts of climate change, governments established the Technology Mechanism. It consists of two bodies: the Technology Executive Committee (TEC) which acts as the policy arm, while the Climate Technology Center and Network (CTCN) is the implementation arm.
About the CTCN
The UN Climate Technology Center and Network (CTCN) is the implementing arm of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Technology Mechanism and is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. Hosted by the UN Environment Programme, the CTCN promotes the accelerated development and transfer of climate technologies for energy-efficient, low-carbon and climate-resilient development and mobilizes the expertise of a global network of over 760 civil society, financial, private sector and research institutions to provide technical assistance and to provide capacity building at the request of developing countries.
About the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and fosters partnerships in environmental protection by inspiring, informing and empowering nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without jeopardizing that of future generations.
For more information, please contact:
Keisha Rukikaire, Head of News & Media, UN Environment Programme
