The GEF Experience in Financing Technology Transfer: Overview

Sub-regional Workshop for GEF Focal PointsEurope and CISDubrovnik, Croatia, 11-13 February 2009

GEF Policies and Strategies on Technology Transfer

From the pilot phase to GEF-1 (1991-98)• Demonstrating a wide range of technologies to reduce GHG

emissions, both long-term and short-term From GEF-2 to GEF-3 (1998-06)

• Removing barriers to the widespread adoption of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and urban transport technologies and practices

GEF-4 (2006-10)• More focused strategic programs to achieve large benefits of

GHG reductions

GEF has been engaged in technology transfer since its creation.

GEF’s approach has conformed closely to the Convention’s technology transfer framework.

GEF Support of Climate Change Technology Transfer

Allocated about $2.5b for climate change projects, with $15b in co-financing

Provided financial support to national communications, technology needs assessments, and mitigation and adaptation projects to over 130 countries

Supported deployment and diffusion of more than 30 climate-friendly technologies

GEF-4 Strategic Programs for Climate Change Mitigation

Energy-efficient buildings and appliances

Energy efficiency in the industrial sector

Market approaches to renewable energy

Sustainable energy production from biomass

Innovative systems for sustainable urban transport

Land use, land-use change, and forestry

Examples of Technolgies

Renewable Energy• Building-integrated photovoltaic power

production• Stationary fuel-cell power generation

Residential Energy Efficiency• Lighting and appliances• District heating systems

Industrial Energy Efficiency• High efficiency industrial boilers

Sustainable Urban Transport• Traffic demand management• Bus Rapid Transit Systems

Convention Guidance to GEF on Technology Transfer

Convention Article 4.5• … developed country Parties and other developed Parties

included in Annex II shall 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.

Convention Article 11• A mechanism for the provision of financial resources on a

grant or concessional basis, including for the transfer of technology, is hereby defined. It shall function under the guidance of and be accountable to the Conference of the Parties, which shall decide on its policies, program priorities and eligibility criteria related to this Convention.

Convention guidance to GEF since COP 1 on technology transfer

Poznan Strategic Programme on Technology Transfer

Support for technology needs assessments

(TNAs) Support for priority pilot projects Dissemination of successfully

demonstrated climate-friendly

technologies

Technology Needs Assessments

Implementation process• Planning process started in Dec 2008• First stakeholder planning meeting in Jan 2009• Global project by UNEP to start in March 2009

Field testing the revised TNA Handbook with 5-10 countries

Progress report to SBI 30 and COP 15 More countries to be supported for preparing

and updating their TNA based on their request

Concluding Remarks

GEF has been a financial mechanism for technology transfer since it was created 18 years ago.

As financial mechanism of the Convention, GEF has been one of the largest public funder of technology transfer for climate change mitigation.

GEF has provided support for TNAs and other enabling activities to more than 130 developing countries.

Preparation of second round of TNAs is underway. GEF has supported the deployment, diffusion, and

transfer of more than 30 climate change mitigation technologies in over 50 countries.

GEF will continue to respond to Convention guidance and scale up its support for technology transfer in the future.

Contact Information

Dr. Robert K. DixonLeader, Climate and Chemicals TeamGlobal Environment FacilityEmail: rdixon1@thegef.orgTel. (202) 473-2340Website: www.TheGEF.org