East Africa mulls strong linkages to enhance green technology transfer

Countries across the Eastern African region vowed on Tuesday to harmonize their policy and regulatory frameworks to facilitate smooth transfer of green technologies, officials said on Tuesday.

Speaking at a regional summit in Nairobi, the officials emphasized that strategic public-private sector linkages are crucial to promote cross border transfer of clean technologies and innovations.

Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Environment Judi Wakhungu in her opening remarks noted that knowledge sharing and technology transfer was key to strengthen response to climate change in the region.

"We need proper mechanisms to strengthen transfer of climate technologies in East Africa. These clean technologies are an integral part of climate change mitigation and adaptation," Wakhungu told participants.

Senior policymakers, industry chiefs and researchers attended the Nairobi summit on facilitating transfer of green technologies in East Africa.

The summit was organized by local and international climate research centers to discuss viable ways to promote green technology transfer in the region.

Wakhungu stressed that investments in clean technologies will revitalize the war against climate change whose threat to regional economies, livelihoods and ecosystems remained stark.

"Green technologies are key to key to building low carbon and climate resilient economies in this region," said Wakhungu, adding that Kenya is currently a hub for manufacturing of clean technologies

The Paris climate talks held last fall underscored the critical role of technology and knowledge transfer in climate change response.

Wakhungu said the international community has rallied behind efforts to promote transfer of climate-related technologies to the vulnerable population.

"The development and deployment of clean technologies has an essential role to play in meeting our carbon emissions reduction targets," said the CS, adding that robust transfer of green technologies across borders will spur economic growth and job creation.

Edward Mungai, CEO of Nairobi-based Kenya Climate Innovation Centre (KCIC), said that a robust industry-academia linkage has led to discovery of new technologies and innovations to promote green growth in the region.

"We have incubated hundreds of new innovations on renewable energy, water management and climate smart agriculture that will soon be deployed to help respond to negative impacts of climate change in the country and the region," Mungai said.

Multilateral agencies will assist east African states refine and patent indigenous climate related technologies and innovations.

Anatole Krattiger, an official with Geneva-based World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), said capacity development was crucial to enhance deployment of green technologies in the region. Enditem