Methodological and Technological issues in Technology Transfer

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1.1 Introduction

This Special Report has been prepared, in response to a request (FCCC/SBSTA/1995/3) by the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), with the following objectives in mind:

• To explain the "technology transfer" problem in the context of global climate change, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC, also referred to as FCCC), and the subsequent Conferences of the Parties (CoP).
• To provide an overview of the concepts of "technology transfer" in current use, and the related concepts of "technology diffusion" and "technology cooperation" via an analytical framework that includes relevant stakeholders, processes and procedures and the crucial matter of sustainable development choices.
• To list key options that are available to governments and other stakeholders, such as the private sector, to enhance "technology transfer", including the Kyoto mechanisms where relevant, and to build and improve the capacity to make informed choices for the management of climate-related technologies.

The Report is divided into three sections. Section I covers the analytical framework and database of transferring technology in support of the Climate Convention and sustainable development. Section II takes a sectoral view of the main mitigation and adaptation issues in technology transfer related to climate change. Section III illustrates the points made in the preceding sections with well-considered case studies. Since the case studies are a very important part of this Report, a listing of these is provided at the conclusion of this Chapter (Annex 1-1).

The Report is addressed primarily to the policymakers of governments that are parties to the Convention, but it also aims at reaching other stakeholders in the private sector, lending institutions, multilateral agencies, non-governmental organisations, and the interested public.

The broad objective of this introductory Chapter is to set out the landscape for the discussion of the many facets of managing technological change in support of the Climate Change Convention and its Protocols. A list of references is included at the end of the chapter to assist readers who wish to explore further some of the concepts introduced here.