31 August 2017: Preparations for the UNFCCC Climate Change Conference, which will take place in Bonn, Germany, from 6-17 November 2017, are underway. The Advisory Board to the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) convened to discuss, among other issues, its input to the COP. The CTCN held a regional forum for National Designated Entities (NDEs) for the Caribbean, and published updates on its ongoing technical assistance. In addition, the UNFCCC Secretariat issued a number of documents ahead of the COP.

Presided over by the Government of Fiji, the Conference will include the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the UNFCCC, the 13th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 13) and the 47th sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 47) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 47). It will also include the fourth part of the first session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA 1-4) and the second part of the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 1-2).

During its tenth meeting, held in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 29-31 August 2017, the CTCN Advisory Board considered, inter alia: matters relating to the UNFCCC Technology Executive Committee (TEC); a Technology Framework submission to SBSTA 47; a submission to the Paris Committee on Capacity-building (PCCB); and a TEC/CTCN joint annual report for COP 23 and the CMA. The meeting also discussed CTCN operations moving forward, including technical assistance requests and process, and capacity building and the Network’s engagement with stakeholders and the private sector.

The CTCN is the implementation arm of the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism, hosted by UN Environment (UNEP) and the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Its Advisory Board meets twice per year, and provides direction on the CTCN’s fulfillment of the COP’s guidance. [CTCN Advisory Board Tenth Meeting Webpage] [Provisional Annotated Agenda]

The CTCN organized a regional forum for the National Designated Entities (NDEs) for the Caribbean in Kingston, Jamaica, from 24-25 August 2017. The forum provided an opportunity to: present the latest development of CTCN services to countries in the region; share experiences and best practices from CTCN technical assistance; strengthen linkages between the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism and the Financial Mechanism, and enhance collaboration between the CTCN National Designated Entities (NDEs) and Green Climate Fund (GCF) National Designated Authorities (NDAs) to facilitate access to climate technologies; and increase South-South learning. [CTCN Press Release] [CTCN Announcement Regional Forum for the Caribbean] [CTCN Regional Forums Webpage]

The CTCN/GEF collaboration contributes to CTCN ongoing technical assistance, helping to advance SDGs 1 (no poverty), 2 (zero hunger), 5 (gender equality), 6 (clean water and sanitation), 7 (affordable and clean energy), 8 (decent work and economic growth) and 13 (climate action).

The CTCN published an update on its ongoing collaboration with the GCF to accelerate the development and transfer of technologies for energy-efficient, low-carbon and climate-resilient development. The CTCN/GCF collaboration contributes to the technical assistance, on improving resiliency of crops to drought through strengthened early warning within Ghana, helping to advance Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 (no poverty), 2 (zero hunger), 5 (gender equality), 8 (decent work and economic growth) and 13 (climate action). The collaboration also furthers the technical assistance on: promoting data for climate change, drought and flood management in Myanmar, which contributes to implementation of SDGs 6 (clean water and sanitation) and 13; and developing a Tonga Energy Efficiency Master Plan, which advances SDGs 7 (affordable and clean energy) and 13. [CTCN Press Release on CTCN and GCF Expanding Green Technology Assistance in Developing Countries] [Improving Resiliency of Crops to Drought through Strengthened Early Warning within Ghana] [Promoting Data for Climate Change, Drought and Flood Management in Myanmar] [Development of a Tonga Energy Efficiency Master Plan]

In preparation for COP 23, the UNFCCC Secretariat issued a publication titled, ‘Report on the independent review of the effective implementation of the Climate Technology Centre and Network’ (FCCC/CP/2017/3), and a summary report titled, ‘The 5th Dialogue on Action for Climate Empowerment’ (FCCC/SBI/2017/10). [Report on the Independent Review of the Effective Implementation of the CTCN] [The 5th Dialogue on Action for Climate Empowerment]