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Implementing the Poznan Strategic and Long-term Programs on Technology Transfer

(Washington, DC, 2012-11) Global Environment Facility

Promoting the transfer of environmentally sound technologies (ESTs) and best practices to developing and transition countries is a key priority for all countries that seek to mitigate climate change impacts and build resilience. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is one of the entities entrusted to provide financial resources to assist developing and transition countries in implementing the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The GEF launched the Poznan Strategic Program on Technology Transfer in 2008. This program supports the following activities: 1) conduct technology needs assessments; 2) support pilot priority technology projects linked to technology needs assessments; and 3) disseminate GEF experience and successfully demonstrated ESTs. The Long-Term Program on Technology Transfer seeks to scale up technology transfer activities supported under the original Poznan Program. This long-term program includes the following elements: (i) support for climate technology centers and a climate technology network; (ii) piloting priority technology projects to foster innovation and investments; (iii) public-private partnership for technology transfer; (iv) technology needs assessments; and (v) GEF as a catalytic supporting institution for technology transfer. This document provides an overview of the GEF's approach on promoting technology transfer, with new insights, along with updates on the original Poznan Program and the Long-Term Program.
Financing Energy Efficiency : Lessons from Brazil, China, India, and Beyond

(Washington, DC : World Bank, 2008) Taylor, Robert P. ; Govindarajalu, Chandrasekar ; Levin, Jeremy ; Meyer, Anke S. ; Ward, William A.

Energy for heating, cooling, lighting, mechanical power, and various chemical processes is a fundamental requirement for both daily life and economic development. The negative impact on the environment of current energy systems is increasingly alarming, especially the global warming consequences of burning fossil fuels. The future requires change through the development and adoption of new supply technologies, through a successful search for new, less resource-intensive paths of economic development, and through adoption of energy. Greater energy efficiency is key for shifting country development paths toward lower-carbon economic growth. Especially in developing countries and transition economies, vast potential for energy savings opportunities remain unrealized even though current financial returns are strong. Activities included specialized technical assistance, training, and applied research covering the four primary areas of country interest: (a) development of commercial banking windows for energy efficiency; (b) support for developing energy service companies (ESCOs); (c) guarantee funds for energy efficiency investment financing; and (d) equity funding for ESCOs or energy efficiency projects. One clear message from the experience of the three country Energy Efficiency Project is the importance of establishing and maintaining practical, operationally focused dialogue between the banking community and the energy efficiency practitioner community.
Revisiting Ecuador's Economic and Social Agenda in an Evolving Landscape

(Washington, DC : World Bank, 2008) Fretes-Cibils, Vicente ; Giugale, Marcelo ; Somensatto, Eduardo

The policy notes for Ecuador are part of a series of books that the Bank prepares periodically summarizing its accumulated knowledge on the economic and social issues of member countries. The timing of the notes, early 2007, coincides with a new presidential period, which offers the country the opportunity to consolidate many of the gains of the past few years, while building the basis for a more dynamic, equitable and inclusive growth process. The analysis contained in the policy notes indicates that Ecuador is a country with great potential, with a society that has exhibited incredible resilience and the ability to adapt to new challenges. The Ecuadoran society has overcome adversity with great determination in the past few years. Periodic economic crises, external shocks, and even natural disasters tested the country's ability to cope with difficulties. Despite these challenges, the country has maintained a forward-looking perspective and has achieved some important goals. Economic stability in the past few years has given Ecuador the opportunity for a period of sustained economic growth. During this period several development indicators have improved, and several sectors of the economy have demonstrated the dynamism and entrepreneurship that are present the Ecuadoran culture. In general, surveys show that Ecuadorans feel that their individual conditions are likely to improve in the future. The notes cover many areas and subjects but are grouped into three broad themes: preserving stability and accelerating growth, promoting sustainable and equitable social development, and improving governance and strengthening institutions. The remainder of this chapter summarizes the main findings and recommendations of the policy notes.
Environment Matters at the World Bank, 2007 Annual Review : Climate Change and Adaptation

(Washington, DC, 2007) World Bank

This edition of environment matters arrives just as the international community embarks on a two-year process to secure a new global framework to limit the amounts of greenhouse gases (GHGs) entering the atmosphere and devise ways to help developing countries adapt to and prepare themselves for the effects of climate change. At the World Bank, the author believe that climate change, and developing countries' adaptation to it, is a critical challenge of our time that must be integrated into core development strategies. Changes in temperatures and weather patterns will affect the frequency and severity of rainfall, droughts, floods, and access to water, flood protection, health, and the use of land. These impacts will not be evenly distributed. The poorest countries and people, those least responsible for climate change and least able to cope with it, will suffer earliest and most due to their geographical location, low incomes, and low institutional capacity, as well as their greater reliance on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture. This is why building up resilience to increasing climate variability is the most significant climate challenge facing many developing countries. But we believe that adaptation, while necessary in and of itself, can also serve to meet the development objectives of countries. Many appropriate adaptive measures are consistent with good development practice. They can improve the local environment, increase resilience to current and future climate variability and to natural disasters, and ease the dissemination of innovative technologies. They can also reduce resource scarcity within specific social groups or regions, thereby addressing some of the principal causes of social unrest and violent strife. In other words, climate action is development action.
An Opportunity for a Different Peru : Prosperous, Equitable, and Governable

(Washington, DC : World Bank, 2007) Guigale, Marcelo M. ; Fretes-Cibils, Vincente ; Newman, John L.

This book argues that Peru faces an unprecedented opportunity to become the next success story in Latin America. In the coming five years, policy making could put the country on a development path similar to the one that, say, Chile, Costa Rica, or Spain have followed over the last two decades. This book includes 32 sector-specific chapters and 2 historical perspectives that precede them. The beginning chapter, a synthesis, builds a comprehensive reform agenda that highlights possible sequencing and priorities. It is organized in five sections-the main messages, the three strategic challenges in Peru's development, and a path for action over the next five years.
Liberalization and Universal Access to Basic Services : Telecommunications, Water and Sanitation, Financial Services, and Electricity

(OECD and the World Bank, Paris, 2006) Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ; World Bank

Access to basic services plays an important role in both individual well-being and a country's economic development. For this reason, general availability of these services to citizens, regardless of income level and geographical location, has generally been viewed as an important public policy goal. However, the precise definition of this goal and the means of attaining it have provoked controversy. This volume explores whether liberalization can contribute to achieving universal service goals and, if so, how, and looks at the types of complementary policies that may be required. It focuses on experience in four sectors: telecommunications, financial, water and sanitation, and energy services. For each sector, an overview paper and one or two case studies from developing countries examine the experience of governments in harnessing liberalization to meet social goals. It is hoped that this cross-sector view will yield general insights which a focus on a single sector may not, and help each sector to generate ideas by drawing upon experience in other sectors. A horizontal assessment also helps to determine how far the services negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO), under the general agreement on trade in services can aid or impede the attainment of universal service goals.
Private Solutions for Infrastructure in Rwanda : A Country Framework Report

(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2005) Private-Public Infrastructure Advisory Facility

This report aims to provide an objective assessment of the condition of Rwanda's infrastructure sectors and of the institutional and policy frameworks that are associated with them. It also provides a clear route map for infrastructure sector reform, as well as highlighting both the opportunities that exist for the private sector and the role that the donor community can play in assisting the Government with establishing priorities in infrastructure.
Finding Global Balance : Common Ground Between the Worlds of Development and Faith

(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2005) Marshall, Katherine ; Keough, Lucy

This book relates the latest chapter in the story of a remarkable partnership between the worlds of faith and development, launched in 1998 by Jim Wolfensohn and then Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, when they convened a meeting of faith and development leaders in Lambeth Palace. The intervening years have seen the growth and enhancement of a network of world faith and development leaders who share a common passion to eradicate global poverty, extend social justice and ensure global security for all of the world's people. Periodically this group of leaders gathers together to debate issues of common concern and global significance. The most recent meeting took place in Dublin, Ireland in January 2005. Debates over two days were rich and provocative, examining issues ranging from the recent Asian tsunami, to HIV/AIDS, gender and youth, and the roots of conflict, all viewed through the lens of equity. References to the ethical dimensions of poverty alleviation and the need for a strong moral underpinning as a foundation for equitable and sustainable development lay at the heart of every session. The uniqueness of this partnership is the fresh perspective it offers on critical development issues and the opportunity for faith leaders and development leaders to seek new avenues for collaboration. The book tells the story of this partnership, within the context of the Dublin meeting. It draws primarily on background materials prepared for the meeting and on discussions during the meeting itself.
Where is the Wealth of Nations? Measuring Capital for the 21st Century

(Washington, DC, 2005) World Bank

The book presents estimates of total wealth for nearly 120 countries, using economic theory to decompose the wealth of a nation into its component pieces: produced capital, natural resources and human resources. The wealth estimates aims to provide a unique opportunity to look at economic management from a broader and comprehensive perspective. The book's basic tenet is that economic development can be conceived as a process of portfolio management, so that sustainability becomes an integral part of economic policy making. The rigorous analysis, presented in accessible format, tackles issues such as growth, development and equity. This publication is organized in four sections. The first part introduces the wealth estimates and highlights the main facts on the level and composition of wealth across countries. The second part analyzes changes in wealth and how they matter for economic policy. The third part deals with the level of wealth, its composition and links to growth and inequality. The fourth part reviews existing applications of resource and environmental accounting.
Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Production Landscapes

(Washington, DC : Global Environment Facility, 2005) Petersen, Caroline ; Huntley, Brian ; Petersen, Caroline ; Huntley, Brian

This volume contributes to broadening the understanding and application of the concept of mainstreaming biodiversity. It captures the inputs to, and findings of an international workshop held in Cape Town, South Africa, in September 2004 on Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Production Landscapes and Sectors. The aims of the workshop were to: determine an operational definition of the concept of mainstreaming biodiversity in production landscapes and sectors; demonstrate the role of mainstreaming in advancing Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) goals and Strategic Priority of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) work program; explore the scale at which mainstreaming can most effectively be implemented; critique successes and failures in achieving mainstreaming outcomes to date; and, brainstorm on modified or new approaches and tools. These aims are addressed in the first paper in this volume, which explores what is meant by "mainstreaming biodiversity," while the new approaches and tools-the products of the workshop-are outlined in the final paper, on guidelines for effective intervention. The remaining papers, presented at the open symposium preceding the workshop, represent a broad range of mainstreaming initiatives-in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and Latin America, and in a large number of production sectors. A final paper, drafted by the Cape Town workshop participants, provides guidelines on effective interventions in achieving mainstreaming outcomes.