21 November 2013: The Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), co-led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Risø Centre and the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), opened in Copenhagen, Denmark. The CTCN will assist developing countries in making informed decisions about environmentally sound technologies for adaptation and mitigation, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improving climate resilience.

The CTCN, the operational arm of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) Technology Mechanism, will work to accelerate the development and transfer of climate-related technology, including on early warning systems, energy efficiency and renewable energy. The CTCN’s work is expected to reduce climate vulnerability, lower GHG emission intensity, improve local capacity, mobilize greater public and private investment and increase collaboration on technology transfer and deployment across and within developing countries.

It “will translate the rhetoric of climate technology into the realities of technology development, transfer and adoption,” remarked Griff Thompson, CTCN Advisory Board Chair. Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director, said “this facility will make a substantive contribution to accelerating the use of existing and new technologies that can improve the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in developing countries.” Li Yong, UNIDO Director General, said technology transfer will help small and medium enterprises “cope with the effects of climate change, but also to meet the overall requirements of inclusive and sustainable industrial development.”

Over the next five months, the CTCN intends to conduct regional trainings to prepare national focal points from developing countries to submit proposals to receive support for developing and deploying adaptation and mitigation technologies. The first training will take place in Thailand in December 2013. [UNEP Press Release] [CTCN Website] [IISD RS Coverage of CTCN Side Event at COP19]