In a report titled "Overcoming Barriers to the Transfer and Diffusion of Climate Technologies," the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Risø Centre on Energy, Climate and Sustainable Development analyzes barriers to the diffusion of climate-change-related technologies, emphasizing that policies should take account of linkages between barriers and country-specific needs.
January 2012: A report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Risø Centre on Energy, Climate and Sustainable Development, titled “Overcoming Barriers to the Transfer and Diffusion of Climate Technologies,” provides practical guidance on analyzing barriers to climate change-related technology transfer and on measures to overcoming them.
The report highlights that a clear understanding of the underlying rationale of the barriers and the linkages between them can improve identification of necessary measures. Examining technologies in four categories – consumer, capital, public, and non-market goods – the report specifies framework conditions and enabling environments for technology diffusion, including: macro-economic conditions; human, organizational and institutional capacity; research and technological capacity; and social and cultural factors.
The report also provides recommendations for governments to facilitate diffusion, especially in the early phase of a technology’s introduction, emphasizing a flexible approach adapted to country-specific needs and interests.
The guidebook has been developed as part of a larger project on technology needs assessment (TNA) and complements the information provided in a TNA Handbook. [Publication: Overcoming Barriers to the Transfer and Diffusion of Climate Technologies] [Publication: Handbook for Conducting Technology Needs Assessment for Climate Change]