News facts
Government representatives from more than 20 countries and climate technology experts gathered today in Panama City to advance climate action. The 2025 Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) NDE Forum and the Capacity Building Program on Climate Technology and Finance is organized by the United Nations Climate Technology Centre and Network (UN CTCN), with the Panama Ministry of Environment. The event gathers LAC National Designated Entities (NDEs) to exchange experiences, strengthen cooperation in climate technology transfer, and learn about the latest developments in technological solutions and financing for climate action. Participants will include representatives from the Global Environment Facility, Green Climate Fund, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE).
The event participants will spend four days reviewing new climate technology projects supported by the CTCN in the region and how they align with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs), along with their respective national climate action plans. The event will also strengthen knowledge in digital solutions, agricultural transformation, and access to climate finance.
Hosted by the Government of Panama, participants will have the opportunity to learn from key initiatives implemented in the country such as the national climate transparency platform to manage data on mitigation and adaptation, the Climate Risk Atlas a digital tool for better decision-making as well as sustainable mobility projects.
High-Level Speakers include:
- Welcoming Remarks by Ana Aguilar, Director, Climate Change Directorate, Ministry of the Environment, Panama (MiAmbiente)
- Opening Remarks by Ariesta Ningrum, Director, UN CTCN.
The conference is held in parallel with the Climate Week organized by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
“As a country, we recognize the value of establishing technological mechanisms that allow us to accelerate the implementation of climate solutions adapted to our local realities. This conference represents a valuable opportunity to strengthen partnerships, learn from regional experiences, and promote concrete projects that benefit our communities,” said Juan Carlos Navarro, Minister of Environment, Panama.
Juan Bello, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), stated that the conference comes at a key moment for Latin America and the Caribbean—a region highly vulnerable to climate change but also rich in innovative solutions. “At UNEP, we support countries in a unified manner in their efforts to accelerate clean technology transfer, strengthen capacities, and mobilize climate finance. Spaces like this demonstrate the power of regional cooperation to move toward more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable development,” he emphasized.
“Climate technology is key to accelerating innovation and climate action; it enables the implementation of innovative solutions that transform strategic sectors such as energy, agriculture, and transportation. It also catalyzes the necessary financing to scale projects with real impact, reinforcing the commitment to resilient and sustainable development. Keeping the focus on climate action, with technology as an ally, is essential to facing current and future climate change challenges. This is what we do at the CTCN: we support pilot projects that introduce climate technologies for mitigation and adaptation,” said Ariesta Ningrum, Director of UN CTCN.
About the Climate Technology Centre and Network (UN CTCN)
The CTCN is the implementation arm of the Technology Mechanism of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). The Centre promotes the accelerated transfer of environmentally sound technologies for low-carbon, climate-resilient development at the request of developing countries.
More information on the Forum here.