6 June 2009: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UNFCCC Secretariat, in collaboration with the Expert Group on Technology Transfer (EGTT) and the Climate Technology Initiative (CTI), launched the advance document of the Handbook for Conducting Technology Needs Assessment (TNA) for Climate Change during a side event held on 6 June 2009, at the Bonn Climate Change Talks.

This updated version of the 2004 handbook was prepared in response to the request from the UNFCCC Ad Hoc Working Group on Long Term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA), as reflected in Decision 3/CP.13, which encouraged non-Annex I parties to carry out TNAs. The updated handbook aims to support technology development and transfer, and the provision of financial resources to enable technology transfer, which are two of the five pillars of the Bali Plan of Action. The TNA facilitates the identification of sustainable low carbon technologies, thereby contributing to meeting the technology transfer needs in the context of the Poznań Strategic Program on Technology Transfer.
According to the handbook, a TNA is an interactive process for conducting multi-criteria assessments to identify and prioritize technological opportunities that will integrate national strategies for addressing mitigation and adaptation challenges, such as Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and low-carbon development strategies. Technology needs in light of a changing climate are defined by national development priorities and include the needs for new technology, equipment, knowledge and skills to meet the development priorities through the use of low greenhouse gases and the promotion of sustainable livelihoods that can mitigate the impacts of climate change.
The handbook describes the tools that have been developed to support the TNA process, including TNAssess, TechWiki, and the TNA Report Formulation Aid. TNAssess is a decision-support tool provided for undertaking the prioritization process of technologies for mitigation or adaptation, and has been designed for use in national TNA processes. TechWiki is a database of low carbon technologies for mitigation and adaptation in different sectors, which provides examples of actual technology application and market potential, and the required financial and management investments. The TNA Report Formulation Aid is a template for reporting that provides an overview of the TNA process, key sectors and technologies, technology prioritization, enabling frameworks and strategies, technology needs to national technology strategies and work plan, and recommendations. [The Handbook]