Methodological and Technological Issues in Technology Transfer: Summary for Policymakers

This Special Report has been prepared by IPCC Working Group III in response to a request by the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice to the UNFCC. Innovation and enhanced efforts to transfer environmentally sound technology to limit greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to climate change will be required to meet the objective of the Climate Convention and to reduce vulnerability to climate change impacts. The report addresses the technology transfer problem in the context of climate change while emphasizing the sustainable development perspective. Technology transfer is defined as the broad set of processes covering the flows of know-how, experience and equipment and is the result of many day-to-day decisions of the different stakeholders involved. A number of social, economic, political, legal, and technological factors influence the flow and quality of technology transfer. Essential elements of successful transfers include consumer and business awareness, access to information, availability of a wide range of technical, business, management and regulatory skills locally, and sound economic policy and regulatory frameworks. Technology transfers that meet local needs and priorities are more likely to be successful. But there is no pre-set answer to enhancing technology transfer.