Technology: STATUS OF IMPLEMENTATION - CSD 6 DECISION 6/3 ON
TRANSFER OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND TECHNOLOGIES
Commission on Sustainable Development
Seventh Session
19-30 April 1999, New York
Background Paper #17
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
CONTRIBUTORS: (arranged by
agency)
AGENCY
INPUTS: (arranged by region)
INTRODUCTION
The Commission on Sustainable Development, at its sixth session (April 1998), examined the issue of transfer of environmentally sound technologies
(ESTs) and identified a number of areas for action relating to this issue. The Division for Sustainable Development, as Task Manager for the issue of "Transfer of environmentally sound technologies, cooperation and capacity-building" (Chapter 34 of Agenda 21), has compiled a list of activities planned or undertaken by the United Nations system on the areas for action specified in the Commission's Decision 6/3. Those areas for action include the following:
Develop voluntary guidelines for technology cooperation in the context of creating and maintaining an enabling environment for the purpose of maximizing the complementary roles of public and private sectors in the transfer of
ESTs.
Identify barriers and restrictions to transfer of ESTs and provide opportunities for technology cooperation, including in research and development, as well as partnership initiatives and related capacity-building for using and maintaining
ESTs.
Develop national technology strategies and initiate various forms of partnerships for the implementation of these strategies for technology innovation, commercialization and diffusion.
Evaluate applications of eco-efficiency and cleaner production as a useful tool in developing national technology strategies and in ensuring that these strategies are fully integrated into national sustainable development strategies and programmes.
Study factors that influence company decision-making, such as technology integration, economic competitiveness and environmental management, including international technology cooperation at the enterprise level, as well as adoption of best practices in environmental management and use of ESTs in production processes.
Undertake feasibility studies on the use of policy instruments to promote transfer of ESTs through greater use of public and market-based incentives to promote better management of human and natural resources and development of national capacities to more effectively develop, adapt, integrate and use new technologies.
Improve access to publicly owned and publicly funded technologies in the context of promoting regional cooperation and implementing international environmental conventions and agreements.
Create new cleaner production centres to facilitate the process of technology transfer and adaptation at various levels, including at the regional level, which could greatly contribute to the transfer of
ESTs.
This document is an initial compilation by the Division for Sustainable Development,
UN-DESA,
of information on work in progress. It will be updated and expanded annually to include new initiatives by both the UN system, governments and other international organizations, until the next CSD review in 2002.
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