Technology has profoundly shaped society, the economy and the environment. Technology has caused many environmental and social problems, but it is also key to addressing environmental degradation, climate change, food scarcity, waste management, and other pressing global challenges.
Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, blockchain, IoT, geo-spatial mapping are powering the fifth industrial revolution and have the potential to help us solve our climate goals.These technologies are poweringorganizations to solve traditional problems. Digital Transformation is a process where digitalare replacing the traditional and enabling a higher level of performance, innovation and creativity.We need to harness the digital revolution to drive forward environmental sustainability using a combination of high and low tech solutions. We need to use digital technology to engage and empower governments, companies and citizens to adopt environmentally sustainable practices, policies and business models.
For example, technologies used for treating waste help solve environmental problems whereas refrigeration and air-conditioning systems that use ozone-depleting refrigerants have huge environmental impacts associated with their use. How fast human society meets these and other challenges depends in large part on the pace and scale at which good technology displaces inferior technology in different global contexts.
Technology development, deployment, transfer and diffusion is a complex process. However, environmentally sound technologies need to be compatible with development goals and any national environmental, socio-economic, and cultural priorities. Several multilateral environmental agreements, intergovernmental decisions and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development stress the importance of mechanisms to support the transfer of technology transfer.
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Key terms*
- Technologyincludes theequipment, knowledge and skills needed to perform a particular activity. It includes both ‘soft technologies’ such as information, research, training, and capacity-building, and ‘hard’ technologies such as equipment.
- Environmentally Sound Technologiesare those technologies that from a life cycle perspective protect the environment, are less polluting, use resources in a sustainable manner, recycle more of their wastes and products, and handle all residual wastes in a more environmentally acceptable way than the technologies for which they are substitutes understand, utilize and replicate the technology, including the capacity to choose it and adapt it to local conditions and to integrate it with indigenous technologies.
- Technology Transferis the broad set of processes covering the flows of know-how, experience and equipment amongst different stakeholders, including governments, private sector entities, financial institutions, NGOs, and research and educational institutions. It comprises the process of learning to
*Source:Agenda 21, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer`
Useful Links:
- Technology Needs Assessments- Resources which can be useful in undertaking Technology Needs Assessments.
- RECPnet- Knowledge Management System of Global Network for Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production
- UNEP-DTU Partnership- contains resources forsustainable development.
- Climate Initiatives Platform- information portal oninternational cooperative climate initiatives.
- Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)Solution Center- To access information, training materials, resources, and access expert advice on a range of measures and policies that help reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants.
- Finance Initiative- Resources on Sustainable Finance
- Global SCP Clearinghouse- One-stop hub dedicated to knowledge sharing, cooperation and innovation for SCP implementation around the world.
- Regional Gateway for Technology Transfer and Climate (REGATTA)
- UNFCCC -TT: CLEAR-UNFCCC web-platform for all information related to climate technology.
- ClimateTechWiki- A Clean Technology Platform.
- SolarThermalWorld- Global knowledge-based web portal for solar thermal professionals.
- WIPO Green-interactive marketplace started byWIPOthat connects technology and service providers with those seeking innovative solutions.
