1. Issues of Technology Needs Assessment for Climate Change
Kishan Kumarsingh
UNFCCC Adaptation Technology Seminar
Tobago Hilton
14 June 2005
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2. Outline of Presentation
What is TNA ?
Generic activities involved in TNA
Overview of sectors
Priority setting and criteria for technology assessment
Barrier analysis and policy needs
Stakeholder consultation
Synthesis report
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3. What is TNA?
Technology: “..piece of equipment, technique, practical knowledge or skills for performing a particular activity1…”
Needs assessment: evaluation of adequacy of requirements suited for a particular purpose
TNA: identification and evaluation of equipment, techniques, practical knowledge or skills for addressing a particular purpose or activity
(operational definition)
Purpose/activity: climate change response (adaptation) and mitigation
1 IPCC Methodological and Technological Issues in Technology Transfer. Cambridge University Press
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4. What is TNA?
TNA is not a stand alone activity: continuation of work carried out or identified in Initial National Communications
Not isolated to climate change objectives
Can be considered as an approach by which development and climate change response needs and technology opportunities are integrated
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5. Generic activities involved in TNA
Overview of sectors
Preliminary assessment of current status
Drawn from existing data and information e.g. nat.comms., national and sectoral development plans etc.
Prioritize Sectors
May be based on various criteria e.g. extent of vulnerability, contribution to GDP, socio-cultural value etc.
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6. Generic activities involved in TNA
Prioritize Sectors
Should be limited to three or four sectors for initial action
Three related but distinct components:
Potential to benefit from technology development and transfer
Technology options and resources available
Ability to assess the relative merits of policies that would support adoption of technologies identified
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7. Generic activities involved in TNA
Identification of criteria for technology assessment
May depend on:
Contribution to developmental goals – based on sectoral policy etc.
Contribution to climate change mitigation and adaptation – how effective is technology?
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8. Generic activities involved in TNA
Identification of criteria for technology assessment
More detail analysis depending on country, sector and technology in question e.g. contribution to overall developmental goals, results of vulnerability analyses, environmental technology impact assessment etc.
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9. Generic activities involved in TNA
Identification of barriers and policy needs
Integrated and cross-cutting
Should be done at each step of the TNA process
Various forms and complexities
Important to engage stakeholders in barrier analysis
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10. Generic activities involved in TNA
Definition and selection of actions
Stakeholder consultation undertaken to define preliminary actions to enhance technology transfer
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11. Generic activities involved in TNA
Stakeholder consultation
Important for effective decision making
Requires a structured approach involving all relevant parties
Important benefits such as:
Access to insights that can address a broader range of options, sectors, opportunities etc.
Facilitation in the buy-in process
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12. Generic activities involved in TNA
Stakeholder consultation
Important benefits such as:
Enhancement of the potential of learning by doing as experience and awareness of the role of technology to address climate change related issues evolve
NB: Stakeholder engagement does not guarantee equity, fairness or buy-in
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13. Generic activities involved in TNA
Stakeholder consultation
Engagement process generally involves 5 major steps:
Identifying stakeholders
Important that as many types of stakeholders be engaged at an early stage e.g. gov’t departments, pvt. And pub. Sector industries, associations and distributors;
Organisations, households, farmers etc.
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14. Generic activities involved in TNA
Stakeholder consultation
Engagement process generally involves 5 major steps:
Identifying stakeholders
NGOs, CBOs, BINGOs
Institutions
Labour unions, consumer groups, media,
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15. Generic activities involved in TNA
Stakeholder consultation
Engagement process generally involves 5 major steps:
Defining objectives and scope
Setting up a transparent process in which expectations and privileges of stakeholder involvement is discussed and agreed upon
Clarifying stakeholder roles
Direct participants and wider group of interested and affected parties
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16. Generic activities involved in TNA
Barrier analysis
Main categories:
Policy based barriers
Market structure
Consumer framework
Social and cultural acceptability
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17. TNA Methodology- Mitigation
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19. TNA Methodology- Adaptation
What is adaptation technology?
Definition of adaptation
“..adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, that moderates harm and exploits beneficial opportunities..”
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20. TNA Methodology- Adaptation
What is adaptation technology?
Operational definition of adaptation technology:
“Any application of equipment, techniques, practical knowledge or skills that would allow natural or human systems to adjust to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, by moderating harm or exploiting beneficial opportunities..”
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22. TNA Methodology- Environmental Technology Impact Assessment (EnTA)
Examine the reason for the proposed technology
Describe the technology
Alternative analysis
Examine the longevity of the technology
Stakeholder participation
Evaluate potential impacts
Identify key decision makers
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23. TNA Methodology- Environmental Technology Impact Assessment (EnTA)
Identify action options for the framework that supports decision-making
Draw conclusions
Make recommendations
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