1. Transfer of Environmentally Sound Adaptation Technologies under the UNFCCC: A Discussion Paper
Presented by:
Joel B. Smith, Paul B. Violette (PADCO), Brian Hurd, and Megan Harrod
Presented to:
Transfer of Technology Consultative Process (Decision 4/CP.4):
Asia and the Pacific Regional Workshop
Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines
17-19 January 2000

2. KEY ISSUES Start a dialogue:
Identify what we mean by adaptation technologies
How is this different or does it compliment technology transfer relating to climate variability?
What process can be used to address transfer of adaptation technologies?

3. What is the Choice for Adaptation?
Reactive climate change adaptation
An action taken in response to climate change
A farmer switches to drought tolerant varieties of crops in response to a drier climate
Is this because of climate change or variability?
Anticipatory climate change adaptation
An action taken before climate changes
An oil drilling platform is built higher to anticipate sea level rise
Focus on anticipatory adaptations for now because they are based on climate change

4. Two Types of Anticipatory Adaptations
No regrets (win-win)
Make sense under current climate conditions
Have more benefits under climate change
e.g., reforms, water conservation technologies
Can include mitigation technologies
Low regrets
Marginal changes in practices, processes, or structures because of climate change
e.g., expansion of beach set backs, marginal changes to infrastructure being built anyway

5. Two Types of Adaptation Technologies
Soft Technologies
Capacity building, planning, institutions
Hard Technologies
Hardware, Infrastructure, Monitoring

6. Soft Adaptation Technologies

7. Hard Adaptation Technologies

8. Preliminary Steps for Transferring Adaptation Technologies
Demonstrate a country or region’s vulnerability to climate change.
Demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of adaptation strategies.
Define the roles of various groups in the technology transfer process.
Develop action plans that address priority needs.
Capacity building needed to address these.

9. Defining Roles
Developing countries. Play dominant roles in assessing and deter-mining needs and im-plementing adaptations Develop Action Plans
Developed countries. Participate in identifying strategies, setting standards, and removing barriers.

10. Defining Roles (cont.)
Private sector. Provide technologies and expertise.
NGOs. Identify technology needs, adverse consequences, and promote transfer.
Research community. Develop hard and soft technologies, provide training.

11. Reactive Adaptations May eventually become an issue Problems Costs
Attribution
Source: USBR.

12. Conclusions Focus on anticipatory adaptations
Focus initially on soft technologies
Capacity building for assessment
Setting standards for assessment and evaluation
Identify and remove barriers
Developing countries should develop action plans
Need to be collaborative
Address removal of barriers
Can include pilot projects
Examine how can build on existing programs