11 November 2017: At the UN Climate Change Conference, currently underway in Bonn, Germany, the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism has been demonstrating how it is supporting countries to accelerate climate technology development in 2017. Speaking at the 2017 Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted climate change and growing inequality as “collateral damage” to economic growth.

The UNFCCC Secretariat published an update, showcasing Senegal’s efforts to cut its energy costs and reduce emissions at the same time by tapping into coordinated support from the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN). Senegal’s project to raise industrial energy efficiency is helping it achieve electricity savings of almost 440,000 MWh over the next eight years. It also contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 (affordable and clean energy), 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure) and 13 (climate action). [UNFCCC Press Release] [Development of Energy Efficiency Projects in Industries and Services] [CTCN Active Technical Assistance Webpage]

On 8 November, the UNFCCC Secretariat hosted a side event titled, ‘Technology Mechanism: harnessing climate technology for Paris Agreement implementation.’ During the event, the Technology Executive Committee (TEC) and the CTCN, the policy and implementation arms of the Technology Mechanism, described their performance and activities in 2017 to enhance climate technology development and transfer. [Side Event Programme] [TEC Event Webpage] [CTCN Event Webpage] [Technology Events at the November Bonn Climate Change Conference]

Speaking at the 2017 Web Summit, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for green technologies to contribute to implementation of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

On 11 November, a UNFCCC side event titled, ‘Supporting the implementation of Technology Action Plans,’ highlighted success stories of developing countries in implementing their technology actions plans (TAPs). TAPs fall under Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs), undertaken to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change. [TEC Event Webpage]

Several other UNFCCC events focused on issues relating to technology development and transfer, including: accelerating South-South and triangular cooperation to bridge the climate technology gap; technology matchmaking in small island developing States (SIDS); and matchmaking for adaptation and mitigation solutions. [Accelerating South-South and Triangular Cooperation to Bridge the Climate Technology Gap] [Technology Matchmaking in SIDS] [Matchmaking for Adaptation and Mitigation Solutions]

Speaking at the 2017 Web Summit, described by the organizers as “the largest technology conference in the world,” Guterres called for green technologies to contribute to implementation of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Summit took place in Lisbon, Portugal, from 6-9 November 2017. Comprising 25 conferences, it brought together over 60,000 participants from more than 170 countries, including representatives from national, regional and local governments, the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders. [UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s Remarks at 2017 Web Summit] [2017 Web Summit Webpage]

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The SDG Knowledge Hub publishes regular capacity building and technology updates that can be found under the tag Climate Change Capacity Building and Technology Update.