Technology development and its rapid diffusion are considered crucial for tackling the climate change challenge. In particular, enhancing technology transfer towards developing countries has been an integral part of the global climate change regime since the inception of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Bali Action Plan reaffirmed its centrality, and the Copenhagen Accord calls among other things for the establishment of a mechanism to accelerate technology development and transfer.
The role of intellectual property rights (IPRs) in the transfer of climate change technologies has emerged as a particularly contentious issue in the past two years. Against this background, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the European Patent Office (EPO) and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) joined forces to undertake an empirical study on the role of patents in the transfer of clean energy technologies (CETs).
Changing Pace is an analysis of policy initiatives aimed at accelerating progress towards inclusive and sustainable growth. It complements the WBCSD report Vision 2050, The new Agenda for Business, published in 2010.
Innovation, particularly technological innovation, is widely touted as a panacea for development. As more and more countries begin to formulate policies that support innovation, they expect to find a magic bullet in the experiences of the advanced and some of the more dynamic less developed economies. But emulating foreign success stories and models is not so easy. Moreover, the developing world is extremely diverse, ranging from giant powerhouse economies to poor fragile states. Nevertheless, this publication presents some useful principles and illustrations that can help inform effective approaches to innovation in the difficult institutional and business climates of low- and medium-income countries.
This paper explores a potential deliverable that emerged from submissions to the Rio+20 compilation document – the development of a green economy knowledge‐sharing platform. The paper provides an overview of existing platforms and initiatives, and proposes potential aims/objectives, governance arrangements, and structural components for a green economy platform based on existing initiatives and best‐ practice literature.
The paper concludes that a comprehensive green economy knowledge‐sharing platform would need clear aims/objectives, an effective governance structure, and a number of key structural components:
• A mechanism for promoting connections, networks and partnerships;
• A brokering mechanism to match ‘knowledge seekers’ with ‘knowledge providers’;
• An online data platform and green economy toolbox;
• Expert focal points or hubs for sectoral or cross‐sectoral issues; and
• A financing facility for developing countries.