1 November 2016: With only a few days left before the opening of the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the UNFCCC in Marrakech, Morocco, and with the Paris Agreement entering into force on 4 November, all eyes are on the UNFCCC process, which is expected to make progress on several issues related to capacity building and technology development and transfer.

Items on the agendas of the Marrakech Climate Change Conference include: elaboration of the Technology Framework; elaboration of the scope and modalities for the periodic assessment of the Technology Mechanism by the COP; linkages between the Technology Mechanism and the Financial Mechanism of the Convention; the terms of reference (ToR) and 2017 focus area or theme for the Paris Committee on Capacity-building (PCCB), as well as who should be invited to its first meeting; and the third comprehensive review of the implementation of the framework for capacity-building under the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol.

UNFCCC Secretariat Prepares for Marrakech, AfDB Assists Moroccan Government

In preparation for COP 22, the UNFCCC Secretariat has made available a number of documents, including:

• Parties’ submissions concerning elaboration of the Technology Framework (FCCC/SBSTA/2016/MISC.4). Views have been submitted by: Brazil; Canada on behalf of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Norway and the US; Costa Rica on behalf of the Independent Association for Latin America and the Caribbean (AILAC); the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on behalf of the least developed countries (LDCs); India; Indonesia; Mali on behalf of the African Group; Republic of Korea; and Slovakia and the European Commission on behalf of the European Union (EU) and its member States. [Elaboration of the Technology Framework]
• A note by the Secretariat on mapping climate technology development and transfer activities and initiatives under and outside the Convention relevant to the implementation of the Paris Agreement (FCCC/SBSTA/2016/INF.9). [Mapping Climate Technology Development and Transfer Activities and Initiatives Under and Outside the Convention Relevant to the Implementation of the Paris Agreement]
• Analysis of policy options of the technical examination process on mitigation (TEP-M) and identification of possible activities for the Technology Executive Committee (TEC) to take these options forward, prepared for the TEC by external consultants. [Analysis of Policy Options of the TEP-M and Identification of Possible Activities for the TEC to Take These Options Forward]

The TEC has highlighted its key messages for COP 22 contained in the joint annual report of the TEC and the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) for 2016, including on climate technology financing, South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation on technologies for adaptation, and technology needs assessments (TNAs). The CTCN’s key messages for COP 22 are also contained in the joint TEC/CTCN report for 2016. [UNFCCC TEC Webpage] [Joint Annual Report of the TEC and the CTCN for 2016]

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has placed at the service of the Moroccan Government a number of climate experts to support the Moroccan COP 22 Task Team on a range of issues, including adaptation, mitigation, climate finance, capacity building, and technology development and transfer. [AfDB Press Release]

CTCN Holds Regional Forum for Francophone Africa, Receives Technical Assistance Requests to Advance Mitigation and Adaptation in Southern Africa

The CTCN convened a regional forum for francophone Africa in Casablanca, Morocco, from 11-12 October 2016, during which participants discussed the outcomes of the Paris Climate Change Conference in relation to technology transfer and the UNFCCC’s Technology Mechanism, and linkages between the Technology Mechanism and Financial Mechanism. They shared national experiences on the activities of the regional network of National Designated Entities (NDEs) and on using CTCN technical assistance. [CTCN Regional Forum for Francophone Africa Landing Page] [CTCN Press Release] [CTCN Regional Forums Webpage]

The CTCN received two new technical assistance requests to build capacity for climate change science in Swaziland, and to develop a regional efficient appliance and equipment strategy in Southern Africa. [CTCN Webpage on Building Capacity for Climate Change Science in Swaziland] [CTCN Webpage on Developing a Regional Efficient Appliance and Equipment Strategy in Southern Africa] [CTCN Technical Assistance Requests Webpage]

The CTCN supported a workshop titled ‘Technology development for climate resilience and efficient use of resources in the agricultural sector in Thailand’ to provide training to researchers and other relevant experts in the public and private sector. Organized by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) of Thailand, the training was part of ongoing CTCN technical assistance to advance climate change mitigation and adaptation in Thailand. [CTCN Press Release] [Technology Development for Climate Resilience and Efficient Use of Resources in the Agricultural Sector in Thailand – CTCN Technical Assistance] [CTCN Technical Assistance Requests Webpage]

Trainings Build Capacity to Address Climate Change, Disasters

The Geo-Information in Disaster Situations (GIS) Master course, offered by the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and delivered by the Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT) of the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), has reached six editions, with the seventh slated to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 6-24 March 2017. An elective of the Master of Disaster Management Programme, the course aims to enable effective utilization of GIS tools and methodologies in support of emergency response operations. [UNITAR Press Release] [GIS Master Course Webpage] [University of Copenhagen Master of Disaster Management Landing Page]

Over the past several weeks, various trainings also built capacity on: flood and drought management in East Africa; Community-based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) in Myanmar; and educational curriculum development in Burkina Faso. [UNITAR Press Release on Flood and Drought Management in East Africa] [UNDP Press Release on CBDRM in Myanmar] [UNITAR Press Release on Curriculum Development in Burkina Faso]