Demand Climate Justice

Submission by Global Campaign to Demand Climate Justice for the Belem Technology Implementation Programme

We are pleased to make this submission on the topics for the global dialogue to be held under the Belem Technology Implementation Programme (BTIP) in 2027, as mandated by the Belem decision on the Technology Implementation Programme adopted at CMA.7. 

We believe these dialogues should serve not only as a platform for information exchange and learning but also provide a space for exchanging views and identifying actionable solutions for addressing political and systemic barriers related to technology transfer, including intellectual property rights (IPR), trade restrictions and financial accessibility for developing countries. At the same time, any solutions identified through these dialogues should not come attached with more conditionalities for developing countries. 

We stress that discussions should focus on both adaptation and mitigation related technology needs of developing countries so that they can be supported in a comprehensive manner in the implementation of their climate actions. 

We would also like to reject the discussion of any technological solutions that may be considered to have mitigation potential but are unproven in terms of their actual impact. We reject particularly any kind of speculative technologies that would need to be implemented at a large scale and involve a modification of atmospheric systems such as engineered Carbon Dioxide Removal, Carbon Capture and Storage and Utilization (CCUS) and Direct Air Capture. Studies have shown that a majority of such projects have failed to achieve any kind of substantial amount of emissions reduction.  

DCJ prioritizes the following four topics for dialogue:

1. Strengthening implementation of climate related environmentally sound technology priorities in developing countries through provision of financing: Under this topic, discussions could focus on ways by which implementation of technologies as identified by developing countries can be enhanced, especially through a stronger linkage between the Operating Entities of UNFCCC’s Financial Mechanisms (like the Green Climate Fund, Global Environment Facility, Adaptation Fund) and its Technology Mechanism. Developed countries have a legal obligation under the UNFCCC to provide support to developing countries for the technology development and transfer. They also have a legal obligation under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement to provide means of implementation to developing countries, which includes finance, technology development and transfer, and capacity building as key pillars. Discussions under this topic could focus on tracking how much support has actually been provided by developed countries for financing the technology needs identified in developing countries’ Technology Needs and Assessment (TNAs), Technology Action Plans, Nationally Determined Contributions, National Adaptation Plans, and other relevant documents. Such a discussion would allow an understanding of the key barriers and enablers faced by developing countries while accessing funding to implement their technology needs. 

2. Addressing identified financial barriers and enablers for technology development and transfer in developing countries: Developing countries often face various barriers for accelerating their technology development and innovation. These include financial and economic, regulatory and legal barriers, and gaps in the capacities of developing countries to build required technology capabilities, including endogenous development of technologies. Development of climate related technologies like renewable energy requires high upfront investment which needs access to large sums of capital. The cost of access to such finance for developing countries is often very high which makes it difficult for them to undertake such projects to advance their climate action. Further, developing countries are often required to adhere to regulatory standards that are designed according to the conditions that exist in developed countries, which makes it much more difficult for them to adhere to those standards. Additionally, technology transfer from developed countries can also be accompanied by conditionalities which constrains the ability of developing countries to pursue their technology requirements as per their needs. Discussions under this topic could focus on these issues, identify actionable solutions that international financial institutions and developed countries can undertake so that such the barriers therein can be addressed. Thereby allowing developing countries to access predictable finance in a manner that does not add to their debt. 

3. Addressing trade barriers to and enablers for technology development and transfer, including intellectual property rights (IPR) and policies:  Developing countries pay huge sums of money in the form of royalties for accessing technology from developed countries. In 2023, developing countries have paid an estimated USD 98.7 billion in Intellectual Property Royalties, and received only USD 16.6 billion, which amounts to a deficit of 589%. The amount developing countries have paid to developed countries is one third of the USD 300 billion goal set under the New Collective Quantified Goal on Finance (NCQG). Discussions under this topic could focus on identifying ways by which payment of such royalties and barriers related to IPR and associated policies can be removed or reduced to ease developing countries’ access to crucial climate related environmentally sound technologies. Discussions could also focus on enhancing the use of flexibilities related to IPR as provided under Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights for the transfer and development of such technology, as proposed by the Africa Group in the WTO.  

4. Strengthening international cooperation for technology transfer and development: Discussions under this topic could focus on ways by which international cooperation can be enhanced for increasing access to technology by developing countries. Some areas that could be discussed include the creation of a global technology and voluntary patent pools of climate related technologies, cooperative IPR arrangements like cross licensing, technology standards agreement and other forms of technology sharing. Discussions could particularly focus on the barriers and enablers for the creation of such cooperative arrangements. 

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