Technology Stumbling Backwards, Not Leaping Forwards
7 December 2018
The transfer of innovative climate technologies should help developing countries leapfrog straight to growing in a clean and resilient manner, while addressing issues of sustainable development. The Technology Mechanism has had a head start implementing the Paris Agreement and ECO was happy to see the achievements so far at the Mechanism’s side event as well as events on the work of the Climate Technology Centre of Network (CTCN) and Technology Needs Assessments.
Yet, in the negotiations of the Period Assessment of the Technology Mechanism here at COP24, ECO has seen Parties taking a jump backwards; trying to shirk their responsibilities under Article 10 of the Paris Agreement, in which paragraph 6 clearly states that “support, including financial support, shall be provided to developing country Parties for the implementation of this Article”.
How can Parties expect developing countries to respond to the stark warnings from the IPCC 1.5 SR , to both rapidly cut GHG emissions in the next 12 years and adapt to the serious impacts of global warming, if they actively deny developing countries the fair opportunities and support to utilise the most appropriate and transformative technologies to leapfrog to inclusive and green growth?
ECO implores Parties to rekindle their cooperative spirit, and finalise negotiations under Article 10 here in Katowice; ensuring adequate support for gender-sensitive collaborative technology development to enable developing countries to leap towards resilience and prosperity, rather than being drowned by our rising seas.