News facts
On 12 May, high-level experts from around the world will convene at a special one-day event to explore how innovation can significantly boost the deployment of climate technologies at scale.
These experts (see the list below) will share their experiences in stimulating innovation for addressing climate change.
Organized by the UNFCCC Technology Executive Committee during the 8-18 May Bonn Climate Change Conference, the event will reinforce the importance of innovation and inspire countries and organizations to enhance their climate efforts.
In recent years, climate technologies have been deployed on an unprecedented scale around the globe. Particularly renewable energy technologies are now often competitive with fossil fuel options. But the global average temperature continues to rise. 2016 was the hottest year on record and the average global temperature is almost 1°C above pre-industrial levels. To achieve the objectives of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, the world needs to deploy climate technologies on a much greater scale and innovation can play a key role.
Showcasing Innovative Technologies that Provide Solutions
The Bonn event will draw on the insights of leading innovation experts to highlight how countries are developing innovation policies to transform onto low-carbon and climate-resilient pathways.
The event will also showcase new innovative technologies which are providing solutions in Argentina, China, Germany, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Tanzania and the United Arab Emirates, amongst others.
Such technology solutions can range from drones for monitoring sea-level rise to off-grid solar for delivering lighting to those without electricity access.
The TEC hopes that countries can draw on these solutions to replicate and scale them up in different regions.
For example, farmers in Kenya can now take better care of their crops through an early warning system that alerts communities of potential floods or other risks, thanks to UNEP’s Climwarn project. And Shell has demonstrated that even people playing on a football field can be the source of power generation, developing a technology that transforms footsteps into energy in a Brazilian favela.
If you are interested in innovation and climate change, participate in the meeting by following the webcast and sending questions and comments using #climatetech on Twitter. Find out more about the programme and speakers here.