Climate change is one of the most important challenges currently facing humanity and will continue to be a major problem not only due to its complex and pervasive nature but also because of its long-term impact on sustainable development. This view, supported by the Fourth Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), has been expressed repeatedly by the United Nations Secretary-General in different fora.
Finding effective and practical responses to this problem will have profound implications at the global, regional, national and community levels. Economic, environmental and social policies specifically designed to tackle this challenge are necessary since climate change affects all aspects of society. The urgency in finding solutions to this global problem will require unprecedented, bold actions from Governments, the private sector, and civil society.
A global commitment to a concerted effort under the United Nations system began in 1992 with the adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its entry into force upon ratification by the required number of signatories in 1994.
There is an increasing recognition that technology development and transfer will play a major role in global and national strategies to combat climate change. Therefore, the effective and timely development and transfer of technologies to developing countries are essential for pursuing sustainable development goals and objectives. This view has come to the fore in discussions on the post-2012 framework for international climate policy. There is, however, a need to deepen the understanding of several issues currently affecting the development and transfer of technologies worldwide. In particular, the identification of mechanisms for overcoming barriers and obstacles to technology transfer and for enhancing international cooperation is a major priority.
Article 4.5 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) requires developed countries to “take all practicable steps to promote, facilitate and finance, as appropriate, the transfer of, or access to environmentally sound technologies and know-how to other Parties, particularly developing country parties to enable them to implement the provisions of the Convention.”
Agreed by countries in Paris in 2015, the ground-breaking Paris Agreement paves the way for a new chapter in global action on climate change. It also sets the stage for urgently needed climate technology development and transfer. In addition, Paris countries also strengthened the Technology Mechanism, requesting further work on technology research, development and demonstration, as well as on endogenous capacities and technologies. Furthermore, the Paris Agreement established a technology framework to provide overarching guidance to the Technology Mechanism. Together, the Technology Mechanism and the technology framework will support countries to limit the rise in global temperature and adapt to climate change.
UN treaties have long recognised the important role that developing and transferring environmentally sound technologies play in combating the climate crisis.
A successful transfer includes the knowledge needed to successfully install, operate and maintain the equipment that embodies a new technology. It also includes the capacity to choose and adapt know-how, experience and equipment to local conditions and integrate them with indigenous technologies.
Under the Paris Agreement, nations laid out a long-term vision to fully realise technology development and transfer. They agreed that the two existing branches of the UNFCCC’s Technology Mechanism would work to achieve this goal. The policy-recommending Technology Executive Committee (TEC) and the implementing Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) became operational in 2012. Since then they have worked to guide the development and transfer of technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve resilience.
The Ethiopia Climate Innovation Center (ECIC) supports Ethiopian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that are developing innovative solutions that address climate change challenges. We aim to accelerate the development, deployment and transfer of climate technologies by providing SMEs with a set of holistic country-driven support services, including early-stage financing, business support and capacity building. Through our programs, activities and financing, the Ethiopia Climate Innovation Center and its network of partners and stakeholders will provide a regionally driven approach to solving climate, energy and resource challenges and support economic development through job creation. The Ethiopia CIC is an initiative supported by the World Bank Group’s infoDev and is part of its global Climate Technology Program (CTP)
The Ethiopia Climate Innovation Center was founded in March 2014 to provide incubation services to small and medium-sized businesses that focus on creating innovative solutions to climate change challenges in Ethiopia. The Center is a launchpad for clean and green technology companies in the country.
Two years after its launch, the Center has about $1 million pledged to 31 companies, with a total of 61 active clients. These companies are directly and indirectly responsible for having created 958 jobs and have mitigated an estimated equivalent of 61,485 metric tons of carbon dioxide.
As the Ethiopia Climate Innovation Center continues to promote a robust private sector and gear up Ethiopia’s fight against climate change, it will improve its strategic approach in 2017. The Center will expand its strategy and scope of work, from incubating and accelerating enterprises to also building a supportive ecosystem that will grow Ethiopia’s green market. This means connecting commercial-stage firms with capital, continuing support after investments, and champion policies that grow the overall market.
The Ethiopia Climate Innovation Center (ECIC) was initiated by the World Bank – infoDev in 2014 with the upport of the governments of Norway and the United Kingdom.
BY STAFF REPORTER
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD AUGUST 31/ 2021
