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(a)

Written materials. Journal articles, technical reports, books, and newsletters (such as the International Energy Agency/Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (IEA/OECD)) study "Energy and environmental technologies to respond to global climate change concerns");

(b)

Databases. Information stored in computerized databases, which can be obtained on diskette or accessed on-line. In addition, a hard copy of information contained in the database is often available upon request (for example, The Greenhouse Gas Technology Information Exchange (GREENTIE) Directory listing 3000 research institutions and technology suppliers);

(c) Workshops and training courses. Some institutions conduct workshops and training programmes on specific technologies (for example, the training courses on environmental information services conducted by the Environmental Systems Information Centre (ENSIC), Bangkok.).

15.

The type of information available on technologies varies considerably. For illustrative purposes, table 1 below gives selected examples of different types of reports. However, in many cases it is difficult to categorize a report since the contents address several subject areas.

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Content

Research and

TABLE 1. EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF REPORTS

development projects Demonstration projects

Product description

Multiple technology

assessment

Programme report

Case study

Cost-effectiveness

study

Government policy report

Bibliography

Description

A description of laboratory, bench scale or other experiments

A description of technology or practices tested on a small or limited scale

A catalogue of technical information and prices for specific products

A comparative analysis of the performance, environmental impacts, and cost of several technologies or practices The results of a programme conducted over a number of years to develop or introduce a technology or process in a country or region A summary of the technical, financial, institutional, and other aspects associated with deploying a new technology in a country or region

A study of the costs of different technologies

An integrated report on policies, measures, and technologies

A description and identification of reports, date of issue, and authorship

Example

"Solar thermal power and solar chemical systems", SolarPACES, IEA, 1994 "Photovoltaics provide electricity to rural communities in the Philippines", Centre for the Analysis and Dissemination of Demonstrated Energy Technologies (CADDET), 1995

"The Australian renewable energy industry”, Department of Primary Industries and Energy, Australia, 1993

"Options for reducing methane emissions internationally, vol. 1: technology options", United States Environmental Protection Agency, 1993

"Implementation programme: reduction of environmental impact from coal in Central/Eastern Europe", United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 1995 "Local and regional energy-related environmental issues", World Energy Council (WEC), 1995

"Renewable energy technologies: a review of the status and cost of selected technologies", World Bank, 1994

"Energy management in Africa", African
Energy Policy Research Network
(AFREPREN), 1992

"Energy conservation in industry”, Industrial and Technological Information Bank (INTIB), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), 1994

Institutional directory A list of organizations working on a International Directory of Energy Efficiency particular technology

16.

Institutions, World Energy Efficiency Association (WEEA), 1995

-Three examples are described below in more detail:

(a) The "Inventory of technologies, methods, and practices for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases", chapter 28 of the IPCC Second Assessment Report provides specific data on 105 mitigation technology options, such as, technical and environmental

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characteristics, cost, implementation requirements, and references. The major objective of this inventory is to provide a data source on energy supply and end-use technologies, as well as on industrial, agricultural and forestry practices. Furthermore, it provides a common format for documenting and exchanging technical, economic and operational data on various technology systems. It does not include adaptation technologies;

(b)

The "Survey of information systems related to environmentally sound technologies" prepared by UNEP in April 1995 identified 51 information systems providing information on environmentally sound technologies, many of which are applicable to climate change issues. Expert meetings and a further assessment of user needs will contribute to a new version of the survey report in April 1996. A database and catalogue of information systems relating to environmentally sound technology will become available on diskette and/or the Internet in the future;

(၁)

The IEA/OECD Greenhouse Gas Technology Information Exchange

(GREENTIE) Directory is intended to facilitate the transfer of greenhouse gas technology, in line with the IPCC list of 105 technologies. It has established and maintains a database of 3,000 sources of expertise on environmentally sound technologies for greenhouse gas emission reduction. GREENTIE provides an inquiry service, a printed directory, CD-ROM, and Internet access. Participating Governments pay the costs of operating the service as well as identifying national centres of expertise and submitting this information to the database.

17. The secretariat also found that the transfer of information electronically is expanding rapidly. Many Governments, intergovernmental organizations, corporations, and universities use fax machines, electronic mail (e-mail), and have "web sites" to transfer data, text, and graphics. For example, the United States Department of Energy has an Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy "web site" that provides links to over 200 national and international "web sites". In many cases, these 200 "web sites" lead to additional sites with unprecedented amounts of information. There are therefore numerous sources of data, but it is difficult to assess the quality of the information. The simple steps taken by the secretariat this regard are identified later in this report.

In preparing this report the secretariat was confronted with several challenges,

18. including:

(a) Accessing information. As stated previously, there are many sources of information on technology and practices. In most cases the challenge is to know where to look and what to ask for. In a few cases, information was unavailable because it was out of print or could only be obtained for a fee. Almost all organizations exhibited a willingness to provide information. Many indicated that this would be made easier if the Parties decided to

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(b) Comparing data. The secretariat has not attempted to develop a structure for synthesizing qualitative information, a common format for assessing technologies, or a means of comparing data on specific technologies. Each of these aspects represents a different level of complexity that should reflect the needs of the Parties;

(c)

Presenting information. The information collected and synthesized by the secretariat must be presented in a clear and comprehensible manner and meet the needs of all Parties. In so far as this is a new activity, the secretariat has not yet developed a structure or format for presenting information;

(d)

Collecting information from non-governmental institutions. The initial letter from the secretariat requesting information on technology and practices was addressed to Parties and intergovernmental organizations. The secretariat encouraged Parties to identify information from other sources, such as universities, environmental organizations, and private sector laboratories. Although relatively little information was transmitted from non-governmental institutions to the secretariat in response to its initial letter, the secretariat nevertheless routinely receives some information directly from such sources;

(e)

Adaptation technologies and practices. Little specific information has been collected on adaptation technologies and practice although the subject is treated broadly in the IPCC Second Assessment Report. This may be due to a lack of awareness in many organizations as to what constitutes an adaptation technology or practice.

IV. ISSUES THAT THE SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR SCIENTIFIC
AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE MAY CONSIDER

19. This initial attempt by the secretariat to inventory information on technologies and know-how conducive to mitigating and adapting to climate change demonstrates that a great deal of information is available from Parties, intergovernmental institutions, and the private sector. As discussed earlier, the current information ranges from data on specific products and vendors to case studies describing the introduction of a new technology in a country.

20.

Decision 13/CP.1, while recalling the provisions of chapter 34 of Agenda 21 and the relevant provisions of the Convention, provides only broad guidance concerning the scope of such technology assessments to be undertaken by the secretariat. In order to offer more focused guidance, the SBSTA may consider several issues.

A. Objectives

21. What should be the objective(s) of future technology assessments? For example, should assessments provide information to assist developing countries in formulating and implementing national programmes to mitigate and adapt to climate change? Should assessments provide information to inform Annex I Parties about technologies that could

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support a process of developing policies and measures? Or should both, and or others, be considered? In this regard, the SBSTA may wish to refer to the note prepared by the secretariat on policies and measures (FCCC/AGBM/1996/2).

B. Use of information

22. How will the information be used and by whom? Table 2 provides examples, as taken in modified form from the 1995 Second Assessment Report of the IPCC Working Group II, chapter 27, of the different levels of decision-making and typical questions that may be addressed. In this regard, it is apparent that the type of information that would be useful in preparing a request for tenders to build a 200 megawatt electricity plant in a specific location would be very different from the information needed to prepare a national communication.

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Project

Senior Corporate

Which particular projects or facilities will provide the

Executive/Municipal Official highest return for an investment?

Facility

Plant Manager

What motors should be purchased and from which vendor?

23.

C. Types of reports

Should any particular sectors, as, for example, energy, industry, transport, agriculture, forestry, or waste management, be given priority in future assessments? Should the reports be of a particular type, for example, case studies? Given the request of the COP to the Convention secretariat to prepare documents for consideration at regular intervals (each interval not to exceed a year), should these reports be very broad or should a series of reports that focus on specific topics be developed over the next several years?

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