1. Enabling environments for technology transfer: ‘some food for thought’
Bernard MAZIJN
President/Visiting Professor
Centre for Sustainable Development
(Ghent University)

2. Contents … in relation to technology transfer
Short overview of the history
Decade of sustainable development
Recent initiative within the European Union
Different points for further discussion

3. But at first … let there be no misunderstanding
There is a full appreciation for the work of IPCC on technology transfer
There should be a broad participation of all the stakeholders
There is a big support for the work of UNFCCC on technology transfer

4. Short overview of the history of technology transfer

5. Three different periods
Phase I During the ’70 the Declaration on the establishment of the NIEO launched the debate about the transfer of technology.
Phase II During the ’80 UNCTAD played an important role in heading for an international code of conduct for the transfer of technology.
Phase III During the ’90 transfer of technology was regarded as being essential for development as well as in general terms as well as in specific multilateral agreements.

6. Technology transfer in the decade of sustainable development

7. UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992)
“… there is a need for favourable access to and
transfer of environmentally sound technologies, in
particular to developing countries …”
Agenda 21 - Chapter 34 and other chapters
Climate Change - Biological Diversity - Desertification

8. WSSD (Johannesburg, 2002)
“… As a result of globalisation, external factors
have become critical in determining the success or
failure of developing countries in their national
efforts. … the continuous need for a dynamic and
enabling international economic environment
supportive of international co-operation,
particularly in the areas of … technology transfer.”

9. Plan of Implementation (Johannesburg, 2002)
‘transfer of EST’s’ is mentioned 30 times,
only once in relation to climate change;
several times in relation to ‘Changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production’;
explicitly in relation to Chapter 34;
‘enabling environments’ is mentioned once … in the part on ‘poverty reduction’

10. Recent initiative within the European Union on EST’s

11. Context EU Strategy of … EU 6th Environment Action Programme
Lisbon for a competitive, dynamic and inclusive Europe;
Göteborg for a sustainable Europe.
EU 6th Environment Action Programme
From the Commission …
Report on ‘Environmental technology for Sustainable Development’ – COM(2002) 122 final;
Communication on ‘Developing an action plan for environmental technology’ - COM(2003) 131 final

12. Content Focus on 4 environmental issues:
climate change
sustainable production and consumption
water
soil protection
cross-cutting enabling technologies (ICT, GPS, …)
Identification of 4 categories of barriers:
technical barriers
regulatory barriers
economic barriers
social barriers

13. Improving the Diffusion of New Solutions
Despite the main focus is on technology transfer
within the EU and with the Candidate Countries,
there is a vast part on “Global technology transfer”,
“Identifying ways of improving the diffusion of cost-
effective environmental technologies outside the EU, and
in particular water and renewable technologies in line with
the agreement at Johannesburg. Ways to improve
partnerships with developing countries including with the
support of existing public funds and mechanisms …”

14. Different points for further discussion

15. A common ground for the removal of barriers
Not only from the environmental point of view,
one can conclude that there is a common ground
for Annex I and Non-Annex I Parties
to eliminate barriers and stimulate opportunities
in enabling environments.

16. A push for a follow-up on a meta-level
Enabling environments for technology transfer is a
cross-cutting issue. The political, institutional,
technological, economical, social, … barriers
doesn’t hinder only the technology transfer in the
UNFCCC process.
There is a need for synergy - not only with the
other conventions - but also with other processes
at a meta-level.

17. A need for selectivity in further action
EGTT (and UNFCCC) will need to be selective
in further action.
On the one hand we should stimulate in an active
way the initiatives looking for synergies,
on the other hand we should focus on specific
climate change related issues.

18. Centre for Sustainable Development Ghent University Poel 16
B-9000 Ghent
Tel
Fax
Website :