-Advisory Board meeting of UNFCCC Technology Mechanism
held for the first time in Korea
- 8 areas of
cooperation (digitalization, energy system, building &infrastructure, etc.)
to become top agenda
The Ministry of Science and ICT of the Republic of Korea (MSIT, Minister: Lee Jong-Ho) announced the launch of the CTCN Advisory Board (AB) meeting of Technology Mechanism under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to be held from Friday, March 24 to Wednesday, March 29 in Songdo, Incheon.
The UNFCCC, established in 1992 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, is the most influential treaty with a total of 198 countries, and every year the Conference of the Parties (COP) is held to decide on major climate issues.
In 2010, the Parties in COP16 decided the establishment of Technology Mechanism, acknowledging the importance of science and technology in combating climate change.
The Technology Mechanism supports the development and transfer of climate technologies for countries requiring assistance. It comprises three interdependent bodies: Technology Executive Committee (TEC), which provides policy guidance; the Climate Technology Center and Network (CTCN), which manages implementation; and a Nationally Designated Entity (NDE) responsible for managing requests submitted to the CTCN.
These bodies aim to implement the technology development and transfer, a part of COP decisions. In particular, they carry out activities to support developing countries hit the hardest by extreme weather events and hold the AB meeting twice a year.
The MSIT has been an active participant in Technology Mechanism under the UNFCCC by serving as the Korea NDE since 2015 and becoming an Advisory Board member* in 2018. In the same year, the MSIT was recognized as the NDE that made the most significant contribution to technology cooperation.
* Director-General of the R&D Policy Bureau in the MSIT currently serving as the Advisory Board member of CTCN in the Asia-Pacific region.
Korea’s technological prowess, contributions to technology cooperation, and strategic location in the Asia-Pacific region led to the establishment of the world’s first CTCN Partnership and Liaison Office (PALO) in July 2022, located in Songdo, Incheon.
The CTCN PALO has been undertaking practical activities for technology dissemination by supporting cross-border climate technology cooperation and conducting capacity-building programs and networking events for government officials from developing countries.
In recognition of the contributions made by the Republic of Korea, Technology Mechanism decided to hold its 21st AB meeting in Korea for the first time outside of Europe and invited CTCN AB members from each country to Korea.
More than 90 participants from nearly 36 countries, such as Japan, Canada, Kenya, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia, are expected to join the meeting. The United States, which holds the chairmanship of Technology Mechanism this year, will also be in attendance.
The AB will discuss a way forward including establishing flagship projects, scaling up TA projects, and collaborating with Financial Facilities** to implement practical activities in 8 areas of technology support decided in the COP27 last year.
* (8 areas of support) Digitalization,
Water-Energy-Food
Systems, Energy Systems,
Building
and Resilient Infrastructure,
Technology Road Map, National Systems of
Innovation, Technology
Needs Assessment, Business
and Industry.
** Operating entities of Financial Mechanism under the UNFCCC including Green
Climate Fund (GCF), Global Environment Facility (GEF), Adaptation Fund (AF)
In particular, Technology Mechanism (TEC and CTCN) will focus on technology cooperation related to technology roadmaps and digitalization among the eight areas of technology support. To enable developing countries to respond to rapid climate change through technological innovation, Technology Mechanism will provide guidance on establishing technology roadmaps for each country, and will finalize the process and main contents of a policy report on climate change response through digital transformation such as machine learning.
In welcoming remarks, Koo Hyuk Chae, Director-General of the R&D Policy Bureau in the MSIT said “The Korean government is taking the lead in climate technology cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region by establishing the CTCN PALO and carrying out various technology cooperation activities.” He added, “In close cooperation with agencies under the UNFCCC, MSIT will continue its support for RD&D and human resources exchanges across borders so that technological innovation in carbon-neutral fields such as hydrogen and CCUS can be realized and the developed technologies can be applied to the Asia-Pacific region.”
For further information, please contact
the Public Relations Division (Phone: +82-44-202-4033, E-mail: yunay@korea.kr)
of the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Please refer to the attached PDF.