The CTCN organized virtual forums for Annex 1 and non-Annex 1 National Designated Entities (NDEs) to share experiences and discuss key technology issues. Topics included the GCF Readiness Programme, the GEF Challenge Programme, industrial energy efficiency, urban resilience and COVID-19 biomedical waste management. In addition, Germany’s NDE organized webinars on private sector and market mechanisms for technology transfer acceleration.

The Climate Technology Centre also conducted a survey for non-Annex I NDEs with regard to updates on Nationally Determined Contributions in August 2020. All NDEs who responded to the survey were aware of the NDC revision process, the majority having already engaged with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and NDC Partnership for this process. Most NDEs indicated that updates would be completed by the end of the year and many solicited CTCN support on developing project pipelines and concept notes for NDC implementation.

The CTCN developed a new Network engagement plan in 2020 that responded to Network members’ interest in engaging in more networking, knowledge sharing, national events, and matchmaking events (as conveyed in a 2019 Network member survey). A number of Network engagement initiatives were launched, including the creation of more knowledge sharing and capacity building engagement opportunities such as targeted webinars, technology clinics, pro-bono research, co-creation of regional technology briefs, and Youth Climate Innovation Labs which sought to match the Network’s small and medium sized enterprises with youth innovators to collaborate on innovative climate change solutions. Virtual meetings with Climate Technology Network members were also organized, including events tailored for civil society, private sector, and RD&D Network members.

In addition, the CTCN began to regularly provide feedback to Network members on their technical assistance bidding proposals and introduced a two-tier bidding process to facilitate the participation of more Network members in technical assistance projects. As a result, the number of technical assistance cases implemented by Network members has increased significantly: 75% of new technical assistance cases were implemented by Network members in 2020.

The CTCN strives to generate greater awareness of the important relationship between gender, climate change and technology among the broader climate change community. For example, in August 2020 the CTCN presented its work on gender-responsive technology development and transfer at the Global Gender Summit. The CTCN also continued to engage with the UNFCCC Women & Gender Constituency and supported the development of a number of gender and climate change publications in partnership with UNEP, UNIDO, UN Women and Women Engage in a Common Future.

The CTCN has increasingly engaged young people in its technology work over the last few years, with the goals of offering both technology services to youth and providing young people with a platform from which to share their insights and experience with climate change technologies. The CTCN has enhanced its collaboration with the UNFCCC youth constituency, YOUNGO. At COP25, the CTCN and YOUNGO co-hosted an interactive discussion on youth engagement in climate technology action. Likewise, the CTCN launched Youth Climate Innovation Labs in Africa and Asia which provided young people with training and tools to develop solutions to various climate change challenges. The Centre supports youth engagement in climate action while building important inter-generational bridges in support of transformative technology solutions by offering opportunities for learning and mutual exchange of knowledge and experiences, such as through highlighting the work of youth innovators and the co-creation of articles, workshops and webinars. Additional types of collaboration are highlighted in the Support section.