28 July 2017: This update on capacity building and technology focuses on news from the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), the UNFCCC Secretariat and the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). The CTCN held a regional forum for Pacific island countries and published updates on some of its ongoing and completed technical assistance contributing to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UNFCCC Secretariat published a summary report on the sixth Durban Forum on capacity-building, while UNITAR announced online courses on climate change diplomacy and resilience action planning.

On 21 July 2017, the CTCN – the implementation arm of the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism, hosted by UN Environment (UNEP) and the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) – conducted the Pacific Regional Forum of National Designated Entities (NDEs). Participants discussed opportunities for countries to use CTCN services, along with successes and associated challenges, and shared experiences using Green Climate Fund (GCF) readiness windows for addressing technical assistance requests from countries to the CTCN. [CTCN Press Release]

The CTCN also published updates on its ongoing and completed technical assistance on climate change mitigation, including:

• Formulating a national electricity grid code for Seychelles, helping advance SDGs 7 (affordable and clean energy) and 13 (climate action) [CTCN Update] [Formulating National Electricity Grid Code for Seychelles] [CTCN Active Technical Assistance Webpage]
• Development of a Mechanical-Biological Treatment (MBT) pilot project of the Waste Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) in Cali, Colombia (completed), advancing SDGs 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and 13 (climate action). [CTCN Update] [Development of MBT Pilot Project of the Waste NAMA in Cali] [Management and Destruction of Existing Ozone Depleting Substances Banks] [Publication Landing Page] [CTCN Active Technical Assistance Webpage]

The UNFCCC Secretariat published a summary report, titled ‘The 6th Durban Forum on capacity-building,’ summarizing the Forum discussions. The 6th Durban Forum on capacity-building, held on 10 May 2017, during the 46th session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), convened under the topic, ‘Enhancing capacities for adaptation in the context of national adaptation plans (NAPs) and nationally determined contributions (NDCs).’ [The 6th Durban Forum on Capacity-building]

UNITAR will hold online trainings on climate change diplomacy and resilience action planning. They include:

• Eight-week online course, ‘Climate Change Diplomacy: Negotiating Effectively Under the UNFCCC,’ from 11 September to 5 November 2017 [Climate Change Diplomacy: Negotiating Effectively Under the UNFCCC]
• 12-week online course, ‘Resilience Action Planning – Implementing the Sendai Framework at the Local Level,’ from 12 September to 1 December 2017 [Resilience Action Planning – Implementing the Sendai Framework at the Local Level] [Planes de Acción para Resiliencia – Implementación del Marco de Sendai a Nivel]
• Two-day ‘Workshop on Climate Change Diplomacy and Climate Negotiations,’ from 30-31 October 2017 [Workshop on Climate Change Diplomacy and Climate Negotiations].