Transfer of Environmentally Sound Adaptation Technologies under the UNFCCC: A Discussion Paper

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