Source organisation:

Climate Technology Centre and Network

Objective:

Adaptation

Mitigation

Sectors:

Cross-sectoral

Cross-sectoral enabler:

Innovation & RDD

Publication date:

Friday, December 8, 2023

December 8, COP28, Dubai, UAE – Leaders, innovators, and experts from around the world have gathered at COP28 at the Technology Mechanism side event to foster innovation through collaborative climate technology RD&D.

The latest findings from the IPCC Climate Change 2023 Synthesis Report have illuminated a pathway to achieve the ambitious goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. However, the critical gap lies in the establishment of robust national systems of innovation, spanning policy development, research, development, and deployment (RD&D), technology transfer, capacity building, and financial mechanisms.

In alignment with this imperative, the Paris Agreement recognizes the pivotal role of collaborative RD&D under the Technology Framework. Within the Innovation theme of the Technology Framework, novel approaches to climate technology RD&D have been explored to foster innovation.

Under the Technology Mechanism, both the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) and the Technology Executive Committee (TEC) acknowledge the significance of new collaborative approaches to climate technology RD&D. They emphasize the role of collaborative climate technology RD&D in implementing countries' Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and other mitigation and adaptation strategies, disseminating the outcomes and activities of the Technology Mechanism.

To achieve a comprehensive overview of the current and future global RD&D needs to fundamentally decarbonize human activity in line with the targets of the Paris Agreement, the Technology Executive Committee in collaboration with the Future Clean Architects surveyed Future RD&D needs. The survey was focused on the short- and medium-term implementation of climate action and served as a starting point to identify areas for further analysis. The results of this survey highlighted that energy storage was a priority need in RD&D and the need for an enhanced role of the public sector to accelerate RDD.

Erwin Rose, CTCN Advisory Board Chair sees the results from the 2023 survey on collaborative RD&D challenges and opportunities as “not just timely” but rather “a significant step toward catalyzing climate technology innovation.”

“It lays the groundwork for transformative actions, and I am optimistic that these insights will guide us in forging a sustainable future through international cooperation and innovative solutions,” Rose noted.

Stig Svenningsen, Chair of the Technology Executive Committee, reiterated the “paramount importance of innovative collaboration in climate technology RD&D.”

Svenningsen further said, “Our focus extends beyond mere recognition – we champion collaborative approaches as a foundation in realizing Nationally Determined Contributions and enhancing global efforts in mitigation and adaptation. The dissemination of outcomes and activities through the Technology Mechanism underscores our joint commitment to fostering transformative solutions on a global scale.”

The Vice Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlighted the importance of the collaborative approaches to RD&D and featured panelists from the Future Cleantech Architects, the Green Climate Fund, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, GIZ, the National Institute of Green Technology, the Ministry of Environment of Ecuador, and the International Water Management Institute shared practical activities for collaborative RD&D and lessons learned and success factors and their thoughts on the enablers or enabling environments to promote collaborative RD&D. They also delivered their understanding and valuable insights on the current and future Research, Development, and Deployment (RD&D) needs. They illuminated key strategies, emerging technologies, and collaborative approaches crucial for addressing the challenges of our rapidly evolving environmental landscape.

The 'Fostering Innovation through Collaborative Climate Technology RD&D' side event was organized by the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism, underscoring the critical role of collaborative efforts in advancing climate technology research, development, and deployment.

About the Technology Mechanism: 

The Technology Mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) consists of the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) and the Technology Executive Committee (TEC). Its mission is to facilitate the development and transfer of climate technologies to developing countries to support their efforts in addressing climate change and achieving sustainable development.