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Title | [UNFCCC] How Climate Technology Is Being Ramped Up |
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UN Climate Change News, 9 January 2024 – Last year marked a significant step-change for the work on climate technology under the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement, setting the scene for more ambition in this crucial area in 2024. Technology plays a fundamental role in galvanizing climate action and building a greener and more sustainable future. Technology is also a foundational means of implementation to deliver the unprecedented social and economic transitions that are needed to keep the goal of holding global average temperature to a maximum of 1.5°C alive. At the UN Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai at the end of last year, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said: “Only by working together, harnessing technology and making bold strides towards a new, better and more sustainable world, will we succeed in taming climate change.” A key agreement at COP28 was the outcomes of the first global stocktake under the Paris Agreement, also known as ‘the UAE consensus’, which calls on Parties to take actions towards achieving, at a global scale, a tripling of renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency improvements by 2030. Finance for climate technology is critical. As part of the decision, Parties established a technology implementation programme, supported by, among others, the operating entities of the Financial Mechanism, to strengthen support for the implementation of technology priorities identified by developing countries. Artificial Intelligence rises to the fore In 2023, the UNFCCC’s Technology Mechanism launched an initiative on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Climate Action (#AI4ClimateAction) which is now garnering growing interest and engagement from a diverse range of stakeholders interested in exploring the role of AI as a powerful tool for advancing and scaling up transformative climate action. The main focus of the initiative is on developing countries, notably on least developed countries and small island developing States. At COP28, the Technology Executive Committee (TEC) in collaboration with the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) and the COP28 presidency hosted a high-level event under the #AI4ClimateAction initiative to discuss various aspects of the application of AI for climate action to help accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement. For example, AI-powered models can provide early warning systems to alert communities about impending disasters. And the efficiency and reliability of renewable energy systems can be improved by AI algorithms that predict energy demand and optimize grid operations. TEC and CTCN step up cooperation The TEC and CTCN continue to be a driving force for advancing climate technology and innovation in the UNFCCC process. At a high-level event at COP28 that was hosted by the UAE COP28 presidency, Stiell called for international cooperation on technology and innovation. He also acknowledged “the profound commitment and commendable leadership of the TEC and CTCN in delivering results under the first joint work programme of the Technology Mechanism”. Examples of how the two bodies are pooling forces are a flagship publication on technology and nationally determined contributions (NDCs, countries’ national climate action plans) and collaborative efforts to promote national systems of innovation and the development, deployment and scale-up of low-emission, climate-resilient technologies. Such technologies can be applied to water–energy–food systems, energy systems, buildings and infrastructure, along with the broader sectors of business and industry. Diversity and inclusion increased to boost effective climate technology Diversity and inclusion are crucial for effective climate technology. At COP28, the TEC and CTCN launched a Gender and Climate Technology Expert Roster that will serve as a global pool of female experts in the area of climate technology and of female and male experts on gender and climate change. The TEC also joined forces with the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform under the UNFCCC to co-convene a multi-stakeholder dialogue at COP28 and showcase indigenous technologies and technologies from local communities. The Technology Mechanism will continue to utilize its convening power for supporting transformational changes aligned with the Paris Agreement in the landscape of climate technology policy and action though such collaborative and participatory approaches. Looking ahead: Key milestones for climate technology in 2024
More information Regular updates about the work of the TEC and the Technology Mechanism are posted on TT:CLEAR and on the UN Climate Change Technology Group on LinkedIn. |
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Category | Policy trends |
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Sources | United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change |