20 October 2017: In preparation for the UN Climate Change Conference in November, the UNFCCC Secretariat published a technical paper titled, ‘Experience, lessons learned and best practices in conducting reviews of various arrangements under the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol relevant to the periodic assessment of the Technology Mechanism.’ The Technology Mechanism’s policy arm Technology Executive Committee (TEC) issued a brief promoting industrial energy and material efficiency in emission-intensive sectors.

The technical paper (FCCC/TP/2017/5) looks at experience from the reviews of ten arrangements, including the Adaptation Committee (AC), the Financial Mechanism, the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Expert Group (LEG) and the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with Climate Change Impacts (WIM). It identifies common elements that may be considered best practices for future review of the effectiveness and adequacy of support provided to the Technology Mechanism on matters relating to technology development and transfer. [Experience, Lessons Learned and Best Practices in Conducting Reviews of Various Arrangements under the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol Relevant to the Periodic Assessment of the Technology Mechanism]

The TEC brief identifies lack of awareness of energy efficiency potential, limited access to financing and the need for capacity building as the primary challenges to implementing energy efficiency measures in industry.

The TEC Brief #11, titled ‘Industrial Energy and Material Efficiency in Emission-Intensive Sectors,’ acknowledges the key role that energy efficiency in industry can play in combating climate change. It outlines challenges and needs in the context of energy and material efficiency improvements in industry, with an emphasis on financing, capacity building, awareness raising and innovative policies. The brief presents best practices, lessons learned and success factors, and highlights the roles of different stakeholders in the process of enhancing industrial energy efficiency.

The TEC concludes that implementing energy efficiency measures in industry achieves cost savings and climate change mitigation, and entails additional benefits, such as increased energy security, improved working conditions and health benefits, and employment creation. It identifies lack of awareness of energy efficiency potential, limited access to financing and the need for capacity building as the primary challenges to the process. The brief also highlights developing long-term strategies, choosing adequate policies to overcome barriers and implementing a package of aligned policies that address energy efficiency potential among success factors in effectively addressing energy efficiency in industry. [Industrial Energy and Material Efficiency in Emission-Intensive Sectors] [Publication Landing Page]

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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.