The Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN)
Overview:
The Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) is the operational arm of the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism and it is hosted and managed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial and Development Organization (UNIDO) and the support of a consortium of 14 partners located in developing and developed countries. This network of organizations work to deliver CTCN services related to climate technologies in over 150 countries. Upon request, the CTCN promotes access to accelerated and scaled-up transfer of environmentally sound technologies for climate change mitigation and adaptation, in developing countries, consistent with their sustainable development priorities. The coordinating entity of the CTCN, the Climate Technology Center (CTC) is located in UN City, Copenhagen, Denmark
Origins of the CTCN:
- COP 15 (Copenhagen) in 2009: Agreement reached to establish a “Technology Mechanism”
- COP 16 (Cancun) in 2010: The UNFCCC Technology Mechanism was further elaborated upon and the Technology Executive Committee was established
- COP 17 (Durban) in 2011: Called for the establishment of the Climate Technology Centre and Network and provided guidance to the CTCN through an Advisory Board
- COP 18 (Doha): Formal selection of Denmark to host the Climate Technology Centre.
- Manage and respond to requests from developing country NDEs (Nationally Designated Entities)
- Foster collaboration and access to information and knowledge to accelerate climate technology transfer
- Strengthen networks, partnerships and capacity building for climate technology transfer.
- Technical assistance at the request of developing countries to accelerate the transfer of climate technologies
- Information and knowledge sharing
- Network and collaboration.
- Country-driven: As the operational arm of the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism, the CTCN provides technical assistance to developing countries at their request that supports the transfer of climate technologies.
- Responsive: The CTCN provides high quality technical assistance quickly and at no cost for the requesting country through its Consortium Partners or the Climate Technology Network.
- Capacity building: The CTCN works with stakeholders engaged in a wide range of activities related to climate technologies with the aim of facilitating south-south, north-south, and triangular collaboration and cooperation.
- Catalyzer: The CTCN builds on previous work carried out in the countries and creates links with other initiatives, in order to back up, complete and speed-up the transfer of climate technologies to developing countries
NDEs are essential to the function of the CTCN since they are the official link to country requests. NDEs are expected to:
- Serve as national focal point on CTCN activities in the country.
- Manage the national submission process to the CTCN and support the articulation and prioritization of requests.
- Identify priority needs in line with national development and climate strategies.
Benefits to the Kingdom:
- Receive country-driven technical assistance to undertake a bottom-up process for carrying out technology needs assessment (TNA) and prepare a technology action plan (TAP) to support the economic diversification policies and programmes of the Kingdom
- Capacity building needs
- individual, institutional and organizational levels, as well as engaging in defining the most appropriate types of activities, target groups, scope, and key topics to be addressed
- identification of the best approaches to ensure sustainability and long-term availability of new capacity
- Low-emission development strategies consistent with the development priorities of the Kingdom
- National Adaptation Plan consistent with the Saudi Vision 2030.
