Publication date

Friday, April 19, 2024

In the realm of combating climate change, innovative solutions are paramount. For the past decade, the UN’s Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) has been at the forefront of driving these innovations forward. Established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the CTCN has tirelessly worked to facilitate the transfer of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries.  

As we mark its 10th anniversary, it's time to reflect on the remarkable successes achieved in the past decade. From renewable energy advancements to sustainable agriculture practices, here are a few notable achievements that underscore the impact and importance of CTCN's work. 

Technical Assistance 

In just 10 years, the CTCN has funded over 300 technical assistance projects in 112 developing countries, with a budget of $100 million. It is anticipated that this investment will catalyse another $1.24 billion by others, including private sector companies, NGOs and international organizations. 

Worldwide impact
CTCN  projects help transfer technologies around the world, essential to helping reduce emissions or simply adapt to a changing climate that is affecting poor and vulnerable communities.  

In Zimbabwe electricity is scarce, and the CTCN technical assistance financed green building standards which include new policies and a monitoring framework to reduce energy consumption in residential, office and commercial buildings. It also helps improve the energy efficiency in new construction.

On the Caribbean islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis, often hit by droughts, a new risk modelling system can better forecast dry spells using climate hazard maps and data sets, showing which areas are particularly prone to drought. This helps vulnerable communities with better preparedness and response strategies, and is key information for the government and farmers, in particular.

Information and Knowledge 
The CTCN plays a leading role in fostering a dialogue and discussion around the importance of technology transfer to developing countries. At conferences like the Conference of the Parties (COP), the CTCN plays an active part in the negotiations around international collaboration on technology transfers.  These technologies do not always need to be cutting edge and innovative – although in many cases they are. Above all, they need to be rapid and relevant solutions for the problems at hand. Like for example using ingenious but rather simple Slamdam flooding protection technology from The Netherlands - a country well aware of the perils of flooding - in Burundi.

Over the past decade, the most important role of CTCN is to make the possibility of technical assistance known to as many developing country NDEs as possible so they can take advantage of this option when working to protect their countries from climate catastrophes, learn and adapt to their own needs.  

Network and collaboration  
The CTCN has been invaluable in fostering South-South cooperation for technology transfer. Through a network of members – ranging from academia, research, civil society to private companies – the CTCN mobilizes policy and technical expertise to deliver appropriate solutions and policy advice. Any entity can apply to be added to the network, and membership is cost-free. CTCN recently surpassed 800 global Network members with a wide variety of sectoral expertise, across climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The projects are demand-driven – an application for technical assistance is submitted by the developing country’s National Designated Entities (NDEs) – and then a selection of the technical assistance needed is made by the CTCN.

The success of the CTCN over the past 10 years is remarkable and we look forward to another decade of bringing new technologies to developing countries around the world to fight climate change, in its contribution to implementing countries’ climate plans.