Songdo, July 21, 2022 – The Climate Technology Center and Network (CTCN) has opened its Partnership and Liaison Office in Songdo, Incheon City, Republic of Korea. The office aims to open new avenues of cooperation for the development of technology and the transfer of support to combat climate change and build resilient societies.
Officially launched on July 21, the Partnership and Liaison Office was established in partnership with the Korean Ministry of Science and ICT and Incheon Metropolitan City, following an agreement signed with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) – the host institution of CTCN – at the end of 2021.
The main objectives of the Partnership and Liaison Office are to strengthen existing efforts for innovation and collaborative research, development and demonstration through greater collaboration with different organizations working on climate change issues, and to improve the link between the Technology Mechanism and the Financial Mechanism under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Specifically, the Office will support capacity-building activities for National Designated Entities (161 national climate technology focal points selected by their governments to coordinate Technology Mechanism activities in-country) in developing countries; to serve as a center of excellence for research, development and demonstration of climate technologies; and promote North-South, South-South and triangular cooperation for research, development and demonstration.
Speaking at the event, Inger Andersen, UNEP Executive Director, stated: “This new office will build on CTCN’s efforts to ensure that countries around the world have access to the technologies they need to build energy efficiency, low carbon and climate- resilient societies. The latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is clear: research and development, together with improved international cooperation, can accelerate the diffusion and deployment of climate technologies needed to achieve net zero by 2050. This is essentially purpose of CTCN Partnership and Liaison Office.”
Mr. Jong-Ho Lee, Minister of Science and Information and Communication Technologies of the Republic of Korea, said: “We are pleased to host the first CTCN Partnership and Liaison Office in the world and will fully support the Office’s activities to Overcoming the global climate crisis through climate technology cooperation Based on Korea’s excellent climate technology and technology transfer capacity, continuous efforts will be made by the Korean government to actualize the country’s climate technology cooperation model developed by the country in development”.
At the opening ceremony, Korea also announced the launch of a Climate Technology Cooperation Committee, which aims to plan and implement best practices of climate technology transfer to developing countries.
Mr. platform for advancing excellent domestic climate technology industries to overseas markets. We will spare no effort to support this new Office by helping its sustainable solution and playing a bridging role in increasing cooperation with the Green Climate Fund.”
Following the official launch of the Partnership and Liaison Office, CTCN and the Green Technology Center (GTC) will host, on July 22, Korean members of the Climate Technology Network at a networking event on co-creating climate solutions. The event will identify best practices in enhancing technology transfer and present lessons learned from Korean pro bono technical assistance provided to developing countries through the CTCN. Four network members will showcase their innovative technology solutions and receive targeted technical feedback from subject matter experts and mentors. Participating Korean Network members, who represent the largest group of Climate Technology Network members in any country, will gain insight into the implementation of CTCN technical assistance and identify potential strategies to scale up technological solutions. Participants will also develop ideas to improve the technology’s impact by taking advantage of the opportunity to gain visibility by building connections with Climate Technology Network members, funders and technical experts.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About CTCN
The UN Climate Technology Center and Network (CTCN) is the implementing arm of the United Nations Framework Convention on the Technological Mechanism of Climate Change and is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. CTCN, which is organized by the UN Environment Programme, promotes the accelerated development and transfer of climate technologies for energy-efficient, low-carbon and climate-resilient development, and mobilizes the expertise of a global network of over 730 civil societies, finance, the private sector and research institutions to provide technical assistance and capacity building at the request of developing countries.
About the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
For more information, please contact:
Karina Larsen, Global Operations and Knowledge Manager, UN Climate Technology Center and Network (CTCN)