What are the exact functions of the Technology Executive Committee (TEC) and the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) and how do these two bodies relate to each other given that both of them report to the COP?

The Technology Executive Committee (TEC) is the policy arm of the Technology Mechanism (TM). The TM’s overarching goal is to sharpen the focus, step up the pace, and expand the scope of environmentally-sound technology development and transfer in a highly qualitative way.

In contrast, the Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) is the TM’s implementation arm. It facilitates a network of national, regional, sectoral and international technology networks, organizations and initiatives with a view to engaging the participants of the CTCN effectively.

TEC:

The key functions of the TEC are to consider and recommend actions to promote technology development and transfer in order to accelerate action on mitigation and adaptation, to provide an overview of technological needs and to catalyse the development and use of technology road maps or action plans at the international, regional and national levels through collaboration with relevant stakeholders including governments, relevant international and regional organizations, the private sector, non-profit organizations, academic and research communities to support action on mitigation and adaptation on the ground. Please see the UNFCCC website for further information.

The aim expressed by the UNFCCC is for countries to “undertake domestic actions identified through country-driven approaches, to engage in bilateral and multilateral cooperative activities on technology development and transfer and to increase private and public research, development and demonstration in relation to technologies for mitigation and adaptation” (Decision 1/CP.16, para 116).

The functions of the TEC are to:

1. Provide an overview of technological needs and analysis of policy and technical issues related to the development and transfer of technologies for mitigation and adaptation;

2. Consider and recommend actions to promote technology development and transfer, in order to accelerate action on mitigation and adaptation;

3. Recommend guidance on policies and programme priorities related to technology development and transfer with special consideration given to the least developed country Parties;

4. Promote and facilitate collaboration on the development and transfer of technologies for mitigation and adaptation between governments, the private sector, non-profit organizations and academic and research communities;

5. Recommend actions to address the barriers to technology development and transfer in order to enable enhanced action on mitigation and adaptation;

6. Seek cooperation with relevant international technology initiatives, stakeholders and organizations, and promote coherence and cooperation across technology activities, including activities under and outside of the Convention;

7. Catalyse the development and use of technology road maps or action plans at the international, regional and national levels through cooperation between relevant stakeholders, particularly governments and relevant organizations or bodies, including the development of best practice guidelines as facilitative tools for action on mitigation and adaptation;

The TEC will also take the responsibility to further implement the framework for meaningful and effective actions to enhance the implementation of Article 4, paragraph 5, of the Convention adopted by decision 4/CP.7 and enhanced by decision 3/CP.13.

Further, more detailed guidance on the scope of the TEC was published in September 2011 in the Report on modalities and procedures of the Technology Executive Committee (FCCC/CP/2011/8). (See Annex 1 in particular). The modalities of the TEC were: (a) Analysis and synthesis; (b) Policy recommendations; (c) Facilitation and catalysing; (d) Linkage with other institutional arrangements; (e) Engagement of stakeholders; and (f) Information and knowledge sharing.

CTCN:

The CTCN facilitates a network of national, regional, sectoral and international technology networks, organizations and initiatives with a view to engaging the participants of the CTCN effectively in the following functions:

1. At the request of a developing country Party:

(i) Providing advice and support related to the identification of technology needs and the implementation of environmentally sound technologies, practices and processes;

(ii) Facilitating the provision of information, training and support for programmes to build or strengthen capacity of developing countries to identify technology options, make technology choices and operate, maintain and adapt technology;

(iii) Facilitating prompt action on the deployment of existing technology in developing country Parties based on identified needs;

2. Stimulating and encouraging, through collaboration with the private sector, public institutions, academia and research institutions, the development and transfer of existing and emerging environmentally sound technologies, as well as opportunities for North–South, South–South and triangular technology cooperation;

3. Facilitating a network of national, regional, sectoral and international technology centres, networks, organization and initiatives with a view to:

(i) Enhancing cooperation with national, regional and international technology centres and relevant national institutions;

(ii) Facilitating international partnerships among public and private stakeholders to accelerate the innovation and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing country Parties;

(iii) Facilitating international partnerships among public and private stakeholders to accelerate the innovation and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing country Parties;

(iv) Providing, at the request of a developing country Party, in-country technical assistance and training to support identified technology actions in developing country Parties;

(v) Stimulating the establishment of twinning centre arrangements to promote North–South, South–South and triangular partnerships, with a view to encouraging cooperative research and development;

(vi) Identifying, disseminating and assisting with developing analytical tools, policies and best practices for country-driven planning to support the dissemination of environmentally sound technologies;

4. Performing other such activities as may be necessary to carry out its functions.

In case one wishes to review Decision 1/CP.16 establishing TEC and CTCN, Decision 2/CP.17 providing for the terms of reference of the CTCN, and Decision 4/CP.17 providing for the modalities and rules of procedure of the TEC, in order to provide more clarity on the interaction of the two bodies, how would one initiate the process?

Pursuant to paragraph 128 of Decision 1/CP.16, the relationship between the TEC and the CTCN and their reporting lines is one matter on which a party may initiate dialogue through making a submission to the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA). The AWG-LCA is due to close at Doha, however it may be possible to request an expert workshop on to discuss any outstanding issues before the AWGLCA closes (Decision 1/CP.16 requested such a workshop to be convened in conjunction with one of the AWG-LCA’s sessions in 2011).

Since the TM was legally established by the Cancun COP 16 Agreements, it does not appear that any legal steps need to be taken to ensure that the TM becomes fully operational at COP18. Rather, the expectations for Doha focus on clarifying the scope and the roles of the TEC and the CTCN. According to the UNFCCC, the main steps to be taken at Doha are:

1. Consideration of the recommendations by the TEC and the issuance of possible further guidance to the TEC ;

2. Approving the CTC host and host agreement;

3. Deciding the constitution of the advisory board of the CTCN;

4. The successful closure of the AWG-LCA;

5. Clarifying the additional functions proposed by some Parties;

6. Clarifying the links between the financial mechanism and TM; and

7. Clarifying the relation between the TEC and the CTCN.