News and Announcements
CTCN briefings for the Network members: Video recordings and presentations
The Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) held briefing sessions for the Network Members. The meetings are part of a series to keep the partners updated on the progress at the CTCN. CTCN Network membership provides access to a diverse global community of climate technology users, providers and financiers under the umbrella of the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism. Read more here
Call for Applications: CTCN Secondment Programme
The Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) is offering two secondment position and it is currently accepting applications for Fall 20202 (deadline: 10 August 2020). The purpose of the programme is to expand the CTCN’s abilities to respond to developing country needs by utilizing the expertise within its network of partners, to give partner organizations hands-on experience with the work in the global climate community, and to foster inter-regional and inter-cultural exchange and collaboration. Read more here
Japan contributes more than 2,9 million USD to support climate technology transfer
The Government of Japan has announced an additional contribution of more than 2,9 million USD to the United Nations Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) in 2020. The contribution includes more than 1,8 million USD from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, more than 689 thousand USD from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and more than 460 thousand USD from the Ministry of Environment. Read more here
Recorded CTCN Virtual Regional Meetings for the National Designated Entities (NDEs)
The Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) regularly conducts a series of Regional Forums to provide opportunities for the National Designated Entities (NDEs), Network Members and climate technology stakeholders to meet and discuss some of the key issues of the CTCN and share experiences. Due to COVID-19, the meetings are happening online in 2020. Read more here
Highlights from the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism event: Together we can recover better (video)
While the world is dealing with COVID-19, advancing work on climate change remains an important task, particularly in the context of the recovery process from the impacts of the pandemic. “Despite the huge challenges, we are also presented with a golden opportunity to recover better. The recovery can provide opportunities for countries to rebuild their economy in a manner that creates pathways to transformation into green, low emission and climate resilient societies”, noted Daniele Violetti, Director of Means of Implementation Division, UNFCCC. Read more here
CTCN Director on circular economy and business: the role of institutional partners
The Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) recognizes that establishing circular economies can be a fundamental step towards achieving climate targets. The CTCN is currently collaborating with 11 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to determine their long-term visions for developing circular economies. Read more here
CTCN website now available in 6 UN languages
The Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) has updated its website. In addition to improved design and functionality, the website is now available in 6 official languages of the United Nations: English, Arabic, Chinese (simplified), French, Russian and Spanish. Read more here
Summary of organization’s priorities/mandate/core areas of engagement on matters related to capacity-building e.g., technical assistance/support, grants, secondment, staff training, e-learning/courses, assessments, etc
The CTCN is the operational arm of the UNFCCC Technology Mechanism, promoting the accelerated climate technology transfer at the request of developing countries. It provides technology solutions, capacity building and advice on policy, legal and regulatory frameworks tailored to the needs of individual countries. More information on the website here
Capacity-building activities during the last quarter 1 April – 30 June 2020
Activity 1: Webinar on Climate Change, Food Security and COVID-19
COVID-19 has exposed the vulnerabilities of our food systems during a global crisis, both in the global north and the global south. In developed countries, processing centers are forced to open despite outbreaks within the plants, threatening the health and safety of workers and the integrity of food. Farmers are facing economic hardships requiring government assistance. In the global south, partial port closures and quarantine regulations add to the continuing hunger crisis. In the webinar, effects of the COVID-19 on food systems worldwide and attempts to find solutions to these problems in consideration with anticipation of future global crises including climate change were explored. More information here
Activity 2: Webinar on Tools and Methods for Climate Action Plans and Transformative Participation
In the webinar, three different tools/approaches to develop action plan for enhancing urban resilience at local level were presented. As a representative from the CTCN, the Network Member (Anthesis Lavola) introduced a methodology for conducting diagnosis of vulnerability to climate change and developing energy and climate action plans. Adapt-Chile addressed the value of ludic approaches for enhancing participation, specifically in groups where hierarchies may limit interaction. UN-Habitat presented a CityRAP tool for training city managers and municipal technicians to understand and plan actions aimed at reducing risk and building resilience through the elaboration of a City Resilience Action Plan.
The webinar was a part of webinar series, entitled “Urban Resilience Facing Global Crisis at the Time of Pandemic”, at the BLOXHUB Summer School on Urban Resilience 2020. The webinar series were coordinated by the University of Southern Denmark, in collaboration with various partners including the CTCN. Not only Summer School participants but also the public could join the webinar series and learn more about the urban resilience. Read more here
Activity 3: CTCN Virtual Regional Meetings for the National Designated Entities (NDEs)
The CTCN regularly coordinates Regional Forums to provide opportunities for the NDEs, Network Members and other relevant stakeholders to meet each other and share knowledge of climate technologies as well as experiences on CTCN’s support for their climate change responses. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Regional Forums have been held on online basis between the 1st and the 2nd weeks of June 2020.
In each sub-region (Asia, Pacific, Latin America, Caribbean and Anglophone and Francophone Africa), Virtual Meeting for the NDEs of non-Annex I Parties was held. Moreover, Virtual Meeting for the NDEs of Annex I Parties was also provided for their opportunities to understand the operation of the CTCN and its services. Each session of the Virtual Meeting consisted of presentation and question and answer (Q&A). The NDEs, the National Designated Authorities (NDAs) and selected implementors (Consortium Partners and Network Members) of CTCN technical assistance participated in the Virtual Meeting.
Information on regional forums available here
Information on Pacific forum available here
Information on Latin America forum available here
Information on Anglophone Africa forum available here
Information on Asia forum available here
Activity 4: Workshop on the diagnosis of circular economy in Mexico in the context of the NDC
The CTCN hosted a webinar related to the implementation of a technical assistance on circular economy in Chile, Brazil, Uruguay and Mexico. The main goal was to share with the main key actors in the different sectors the results obtained during the first stage of evaluating the current state of the circular economy in Mexico. With this, it is intended to jointly identify the opportunities offered by this model and encourage the link towards the elaboration of a roadmap in circular economy for Mexico. Read more here
Activities Planned for the Next Quarter
Inception workshop on the Adaptation Fund-UNEP-CTCN Small Grant Aggregator for Innovation
Date: Late August or Early September (TBD)
Type: Webinar or Workshop (TBD)
Venue: Online or Offline (TBD)
The Adaptation Fund has launched a new pilot innovation programme (Multilateral Implementing Entity (MIE) Aggregator for Small Grants for Innovation) which will foster innovation of adaptation practices in vulnerable countries. This 5-year grant programme is administered by UNEP/CTCN and UNDP (USD 5 million each) and starts in 2020. At the inception workshop, UNEP/CTCN will introduce the programme and its operational process as well as share knowledge on adaptation innovation based on previous cases of CTCN technical assistance in developing countries.
Launch event for the Adaptation Fund-UNEP-CTCN Small Grant Aggregator for Innovation
Date: Between 29 September and 1 October 2020 (TBD)
Type: Workshop
Venue: New Delhi, India
The Adaptation Fund has launched a new pilot innovation programme (Multilateral Implementing Entity (MIE) Aggregator for Small Grants for Innovation) which will foster innovation of adaptation practices in vulnerable countries. This 5-year grant programme is administered by UNEP/CTCN and UNDP (USD 5 million each) and starts in 2020. UNEP/CTCN will organise a launch event for this programme in collaboration with the Adaptation Fund and UNDP. This event will be convened within the framework of the Adaptation Futures 2020 to be held on the 29 September – 1 October 2020 in New Delhi, India.