Poor world calls on West to share ‘clean’ technology

Negotiations on access to cutting- edge technology to tap solar, wind and geothermal power intensified during the two-week climate change conference in Poznan, Poland, with disagreements emerging between the developed and developing countries.

A group of delegates from China and 77 other states (termed G-77 & China) said the world has enough of the clean production technologies for everyone, but these are either too expensive for poor countries or unavailable to the developing world.

This group believes that because the anti-global warming campaign will benefit all countries those in possession of climate-friendly technologies ought to transfer them to developing countries. This will ensure, the developing world effectively plays its role in combating climate change and reduce greenhouse emissions.

The G-77 and China also acknowledge the intellectual property rights issues related to research and development and the fact that real cash and brainpower are expended in developing such technology. Because of this, they suggested the setting up of as global Climate Development Fund to compensate the holders of such patents.

“They recognise that the innovator should be paid,” said Krishnaswamy Srinivas, a policy adviser with Greenpeace International in an interview with The EastAfrican.

Mr Srinivas said developing countries believe that once patent holders are compensated, the technologies they have developed can be made readily available to developing countries.

Greenpeace is an environment campaigning body with a presence in 41 countries.

The G-77 & China want the developed world to transfer modern technologies at two levels.

One, they are seeking technologies that will help them play their role in mitigating climate change, by enabling them to efficiently tap solar energy; make industrial production more fuel-efficient, as well as raise their ability to use biogas widely.

Developing countries are also asking the developed world to transfer climate adaptation technologies like early warning systems so they can better predict climate-related disasters such as floods, as well as the know-how to arrest rise sin sea levels.

“Transfer of technology is absolutely essential if the world is to meet the climate change targets set, and I hope delegates will agree to it during next year’s meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark,” said Unep’s spokesperson Nick Nuttall.

But as delegates from China and India led the campaign for technology transfer, it emerged that they themselves had many renewable and clean technology.

“South-to-South technology transfer is already happening and should also be encouraged,” said Mr Nuttall. He said both China and India have cutting- edge technologies in tapping solar and wind energy.

He mentioned the Chinese Suntech company and Suzlon of India, as among the world’s leading producers of renewable energy. Kenya is also a leader in tapping geothermal energy in East and Central Africa and can share this with other countries in the region.

The developing and the developed world can thus fruitfully co-operate in research and development.