Songdo, Incheon, Korea (March 21, 2023) — Today in Songdo, 2L Sam Stephens of the Environmental Law Program finished up the first day of his attendance at the Technology Executive Committee’s 26th meeting, where discussions on building upon the progress made at last year’s 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change continue.
The TEC is the policy body of the United Nations’ Technology Mechanism, which is focused on implementing and developing projects focused on bringing climate technologies to developing countries and building capacity in these countries to implement climate technology. At TEC 26, government leaders from the United States, China, and several other countries across the globe look to enact solutions that provide for more efficient implementation of technologies that help countries adapt to climate change and mitigate its effects.
Last semester, Professor Jessica Owley took a group of 14 law students to COP 27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, where students covered a wide variety of global climate issues. There, Stephens covered negotiations on the Technology Mechanism, where he developed relationships with several delegates from various countries. Following COP 27, Stephens worked with Professor Owley to become an official observer for the Technology Mechanism’s follow-up meetings, leading him to the Korea meetings.
Since COP 27, Stephens has been working to familiarize himself with the specific issues facing the TEC and the larger Technology Mechanism and is writing a research paper on potential improvements of the body.
“Developing innovative solutions on getting climate technology into developing countries, especially those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, is one of the most pressing issues in the world right now,” said Stephens. “The Technology Mechanism is working with developing countries to identify suitable climate technology projects and helping prepare these countries for the implementation of such projects.”
“At TEC 26, there has been an added emphasis on improving collaboration between the TEC and other United Nations bodies focused on climate change, as well as improving communications with developing countries and their representatives so that they are prepared to take advantage of all of the tools that the TEC and larger Technology Mechanism offers.”
Stephens will continue attending TEC 26 this week and attend Friday’s joint meeting with the Climate Technology Centre and Network, which is the implementation body of the Technology Mechanism. Stephens plans to incorporate the outcomes into his research following the Korea meetings.
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