Today, a meeting was convened to discuss the development, transfer, and dissemination of clean and environmentally sound technologies in order to inform the General Assembly on options for technology facilitation mechanisms. The moderator, H.E. Mr. Patriota, began the panel discussion by giving a statement on the progress made in environmentally sound technology inclusion in the Open Working Group of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The outcome document recognizes the importance of technology in the SDGs, with 19 targets in 11 different goals dedicated to promoting the development and transfer of sustainable technologies.

Following, H.E. Mr. Seger of Switzerland gave a statement on how the president of the General Assembly suggested that a procedural resolution would be welcomed to provide the basis for the continuation ofthese discussions on sustainable technology implementation.

Next, ASG Mr. Gass from DESA spoke about how the UN can support existing technology mechanisms, build on existing legal frameworks, and facilitate additional access to information about technologies. He recommended three options: improve information and mapping of existing technology facilitation activities, increase synergies and coherenceamong existing facilities, and conduct an analysis of technology needs and gaps in order to address them.

Furthermore, Mr. Christensen, the Senior Partnerships Advisor for the Executive Office of the SG, stated how multi stakeholder coalitions, including private sector and non-state actors, are necessary for effective technology dissemination. “When we bring multiple stakeholders together, thesum is bigger than each of its parts; each of these partnerships have technology transfer components,” he said.

Concluding the panel discussion, Professor Naboth van den Broek from Georgetown spoke about the private sector view on technology development and transfer, and the elements which are important from a private sector perspective when thinking about international technology dissemination. The key factors he highlighted include how technology solutions tend to be local, the challenge of the lack of technology infrastructure in the developing world, the need for a stable and predictable legal and regulatory environment, the need for education and capacity building on the ground, and the barriers to markets and trade like existing tariffs on clean technology products in certain developing countries. These factors affect the extent to which a private company can engage in local partnerships for sustainable technology solutions.

Meeting Title: Fourth Structured Dialogue of the General Assembly to Consider Possible Arrangements for the Facilitation Mechanism to Promote the Development, Transfer, and Dissemination of Clean and Environmentally Sound Technologies
Speakers: H.E. Mr. Guilherme de Aguiar Patriota, Deputy Permanent Representative of Brazil; H.E. Mr. Paul Seger, Permanent Representative of Switzerland; Mr. Thomas Gass, Assistant Secretary General (ASG), Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA); Mr. Thomas Christensen, Senior Partnerships Advisor, Executive Office of the Secretary General; Professor Naboth van den Broek, Georgetown University
Date: 23 July 2014
Location: Trusteeship Council, United Nations HQ, New York
Written By WIT Representative: Marli Kasdan