Executive Director's Column LIMATF TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION IN THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES BytotinShIEs industry has been a world leader in forming environmental policy as well as in developing and marketing technology. We can extend this knowl- edge and expertise worldwide as the groundwork Is laid to implement the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and to assist devel- oping countries in expanding their economies and energy use, while hold- ing down increases in greenhouse gas emissions. Technology, not constraint, is the key to the future, and U.S. business has the opportunity to provide that key. During the last three years, the Technology Committee has spearheaded an active program to address national and international issues and to assist U.S. government activities related to technol- ogy cooperation. The coalition has par- ticipated in numerous policy meetings with representatives of Congress and fed- eral agencies, such as the Council on Environmental Quality, the Agency for International Development. the Environ- mental Protection Aseno', and the Departments of Commerce, Energy and State. Additionally, the coalition has addressed technology cooperation issues before the WI Negotiating Committee (INC), has co- chaired a conference with the Depart- ment of Commerce on technology trans- proposals for a business-initiated Tech- nology Cooperation Corps. Currently, the is preparing a resource wide for business on technology cooperation programs of the U.S. government. which will be available soon. In 1991, at the lNC's first meetirg, the GCC highlighhd the inportant role of U.S. technology. 'Buslnes and inwsz will be espe- For more than two decades, U.S. address these issues over the coming decades. Later. at the 1992 Rio Summit, provi- sions of the Framew0rk onvention emphasized the importance of technol- ogy. ?The developed talte all practicable steps to promote. facili- tate, and finance, as appropriate, the transfer or access to environmentally sound technologies and know-how to other parties, particularly developing country The Problem The United States has among the low- est rates of greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GNP in the world. Green- house gas emissions in developed nations, as a whole, are also very low for the value of goods and services pro- duced. Developing countries and the forma centrally planned economies emit a far greater volume of greenhouse gases for each unit of their GNP than the United States. Today, four-fifths of the wodd's people live in developing countries. It?s in these countries that most of the population, economic and energy-demand growth and resulting 95m m- ed to 00cm. The disparity in emissions per uni of GNP will persist. and in all likelihood, increase. Developlrg Mles? use of fossil fuels is projected inaease dra- mg (ountm's than in the develojx-d vsorlrl. for this reason, the developing ounlries' role In the pror ess should hr- heavrly emphasiled. Spot ial considera- tion should be given to ways to help developing ountrit-s upgrade their environmental polic ies. industrial per- formam and resource management practices. Technology transfer is DUN ipally a private set tor-to-prrvate sector, rather than a government-to-govemment. The worldwide movement away from centrally planned economies toward private markets fur- ther underscores this fact. U.S. industry already has extensive environmental technology programs overseas. Many coalition member companies have joint ventures or other mechanisms through which they engage in technology coop- eration with other countries. However, there isaroleforgovernments in help- ing to foster the use of improved tech- nology In developed countries. The GCC and others have proposed Technology Cooperation Corps as a mechanism to promote industry-led technology cooperation efforts. This would initially consist of sending indus- try managers overseas to specifically focus on environment and energy issues. Efforts would be greatly assisted by better access to govemment informa- tion on opportunities for technology transfer, business and government tech. ogy. UnitedStates-supponed aAlDAheExpoerportBankthe lnitisarena. TneEPAandtheDepart- deornmeroeandEneIBYi!" ?I'heDOEprogtamof TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS ON THE RISE WITHIN THE UNITED STATES nergy Sec retary Hazel earv has indit alerl that Lawrenr iver- more National laboratory, one ot the nation's top nuclear weapons I destgn labs, might be used to repair envr- ronmental damage caused by work on nut lear weapons. The proposal is in line with the Depart- ment of Energy?s (DOE) new emphasis on technology transfer within the United States (see related story, page 5). The DOE recently approved two federal tec h- notogy transit-r agreements. The first, a project called the American Textile (AMTEX) Partnership, combines the research and development capabilities of both the U.S. textile industry and univer- sities with the DOE laboratOry system in hopes of boosting the competitiveness and environmental quality of the indus- try. AMTEX marks the first time the gov- emment has linked DOE lab resources with an entire industry, from raw materi- als to retail stores. The second federal technology transfer project will allow Ogden Environmental and Energy Services Co. to test a uranium wage cleanup technology developed by )E's Oak Ridge National laboratory in Tennessee. The method using microorganisms ll) remove uranium, arsenic and other heavy metals from waste streams. In addition to these protet ts. the (Ian ton administration Is formulating other tec hnology transfer programs for the Environmental Protec tion Agent (EPA) and the Department of Defense (DOD). At the EPA. for example, $27] million in increased spending would go to coop- eratfve efforts with Industry to develop innovative tec hnologies over the next four years. and 36 million would fund new programs to market envrronrnental technologies, including waste minimiza- tion techniques. Another program holds changes for the DOD. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) would be reor~ ganized and given more civilian assign- ments. In addition. the program would . create a new high-level position, asst tant secretary for economic and environ- mental security. Among the secretary's duties would be to increase the export ot U.S. environmental technologies. 0 MITIGATION FINDING reoentissmofEnergyDar?lyfea- turedtheworkofthetntema- tionalEnergyAgency?stwo- year-oIdGreenhouseGas ResearchandDevekxxnentProgram. Oncogernittedfromwlfuelpower generation. Humbuounpletadaseriesof bytheottandgastndustries. Faminehandtemperanmofm 40degeesl?ahrenheit. Thisprocessis now used commercially in the western United States to transport CO, from Wyoming and Colorado to Texas and New Mexico for enhanced oil rec0very operations. This experience demon- strates that can be captured, trans? ported and disposed. Capturing however, requires mas- sive amounts of energy and. as a result, is very costly. The program's initial heeyear funding arranpment for 2 million British pounds expires next year, and the group Is nego- tiatingwiththeprog-am's ticipants for funding to carry it I997. The United States contributes about 12 percent of the bucba through the Department of Energy's Fossil Energy Of?ce. easier domestic research alternatives. the program's future remains uncertain. i i I 3? Technology Cooperation Continued from page 2 in transition in their choice and applica- tion of new energy technologies. These programs should be better coordinated among the agencies, and private sector interaction should be increased. Barriers to Technology Cooperation Inadequate protection of intellectual property rights can create barriers to tech- nology transfer. Without protection for patents, trademarks and copyrights, .5. companies have a strong disincentive to pursue the costly work of technological and industrial innovation and to transfer- ring that technology overseas. The antitrust implications of private firm collaboration are another problem. Private firms frequently are reluctant to establish joint research and technology development programs with other firms. Yet, because of the prohibitive costs and highly speculative nature of technology development programs, private compa- nies are hesitant to sustain the costs alone. Thus, rapid development and dif- fusion of technology may suffer. If the uncertainties related to antitrust enforce- ment were clari?ed, private companies could form joint ventures, merge their resources, and develop and introduce new products more quickly. If properly prepared, the National Action Plans that will be developed by those countries ratifying the Framework Convention can provide a wealth of infor- mation about the capabilities of countries to supply technology and the needs of the i countries that wish to receive technology. The Global Climate Coalition has recom- mended that each plan contain a "Tech- nology Assessment? component. This would draw together information needed to allow for the efficient design of cooper- ative efforts among the suppliers and the receivers of technology. Technology-receiving countries must realize that they have the responsibility not only to identify their technology transfer opportunities but also to reveal and remove the domestic barriers to effective cooperation with technology suppliers. Finally, it is important that technology cooperation be interpreted in the broad- est sense, including not only "hard" tech- nology equipment) but also ?soft? technology techniques, practices and ?know how." Due to the private sector?s enormous operational experience, soft technology could be its most crucial con- tribution. Furthermore, it may be that the transfer of soft technology provides the best opportunity for early technology collabo- ration. For example, through the Tech- nology Cooperation Corps, private indus- try experts could provide assistance on issues such as reducing methane leakage in natural gas systems, or improving the operating efficiency of fossil fuel power plants. Actions in these areas could have a signi?cant impact on greenhouse gas emissions, at relatively low cost, without encountering signi?cant impediments related to intellectual property rights, ?nancing or other issues associated with hard technology transfer. While countries continue to negotiate frameworks for enhancing international technology transfer procedures between developed and developing countries or "economies in transition,? industry should strive to develop, in partnership with government, a few pilot programs "laboratories" for beginning to understand the mutual needs and requirements of these potentially grow- ing relationships. 0 i CLIMATE WATCH TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS ON THE RISE ORGANIZES CARBON DIOXIDE INFORMATION CENTER 198,), the Department of lnt-rgv let Oak Ridge National lalxiraton ()ak )l 1 established llit?( arlxm I lei I -h 5 t3- norm Set rt-tan Hazel 0 lean if 's Ridge National laboratory in l)roxrdt- information Analysis( en bl rl', 44] Fit) in )1 4-3) I has indrt ated that lawrem t? lt-nnesset- lhe method rmolws Using he Department of Energy (DOD to, I Oak 1 more National lalmraton' one of mu inorganisms to remove uranium, ?flu-ll?, pm?mm we?. Ridge National laboratory in support Il~ the nation's top nut lear weapons .trsenrt and other metals from lit of federally developed ("Owl hnmw( hang" Rowan pm. design labs. might he used to repair em i- waste streams tec hnology in order ?mm by prowdmg a? ronmt?ntal damage aused hs work on In addition to these prolet ts, the lrn- l? mm interested parllt?s nuclear weapons ton administration is formulating other l? 'n has Ht 0W, The proposal is in line ith the l?repart- lt't hnology transfer programs for the "mm-(L data pat Itages on topit sut as atmos- "l Huh?, mu] mm (mm ment ot fnerg? 's th)lt new emphasis Environmental Protection Agent The pmg'am (kw?lmx'd by a" ?d "hem 0t and um I "mount .l ?lm on technologv transter the United and the Department of Defense th )Dt. h? Wm" 0? DOE q'm membp? methane. industrial emissions, ln t?mmt In? H, {mt-t States tsee related ston. page ?it The Al the EPA. for mample, $27i million ?0'?me I?m?m Nahum? (llmatp (hangs! plant Inn. if int tiriil\l\ m. tr DOT rel enlh two federal IN h- in increased spending would go to coop 'n'l'a'we' a 'O?agmy 9mm bo" . responses to elevated (0. levels, or ean r-l' ill t" i nnloRV transfer agreements. The "Rt, .1 eraiive efforts with industry to develop mm" 9mm? f? l? hm?l?my and ?It HIIH i\ til till ('l'itll protect called the American innovative ll?( hnologies over the next "emu." unmd In addition, 's information sys- t? ?l "m (AMTEXI Partnership. combines the tour years, and if) million would fund In MaKh "we 0? terns group vs a now?tlt?llt". Ul- research and development of new programs to market environmental ruby! Clyde "Ml" as wt." 0., the both the US, mdustn and unrver- tec hnologies, including waste ?(Mary lb? DOE DOE Research Summary series and srttes with the DOE laboratory in [ion techniques. Mtotal'm d'v'z'on' pm' glossary, Carbon Dioxide and Climate hopes of boosting the ompetrtneness Another program holds (hanges for the 3mm 5 goal 'mm?rm? the "9 m" for more information, Omar-t the (or. and ennronmental qualrtv of the indus- DOD. The Defense Advanced Research RM) md '"Y?slm" The swam hon Analygg on. try. AMTEX marks the first time the g0v- Projects Agency (DARPA) would be reor- 0? Research andDeveiop. ernment has linked DOE lab resources ganized and given more civilian assign- Wm? accord'ng with an entire industry, trom raw materi- ments. In addition, the program would ??ggli??m als to retail stores create a new high-level position, assis? The second tederal tec hnology transfer tant secretary for economic and environ- numb." of agreements 7 ATMOSPHERIC UPDATE proled will allow Ogden Environmental mental security. Among the secretary?s ,often leg.? mam.? that wedl?de it last month's issue we introduced consecutive month, despite the record- ?nd Energy CO- ?0 ??Sl 3 Uranium duties be t0 iml'ease lhe 9?90" 0f Imam I'cens'ns lechmques' our readers to the important work setting heat in the eastern United States Cleanup lefhnOIO?Y developed bY U-S- e?Vironmenlal leChnOlosies- . Cumin the DOE pt lack the of the Earth System Science Labora- While temperatures in the southern les'SIatwe famed.? Much Pm'dm' tory at the University of Alabama at hemisphere were above the iO-year have called be Huntsville (UAH). Working closely averages, the northern mid-latitudes 98's a m? NASA's Earth Science Lab, Dr. hn i were much below the decade-long lune m2 MITIGATION FINDING Sg?h': mghe Christy analyzes global norms. Temperatures in the stratosphere recent issue of Energy Daily fea- I now used commercially in the western 9:23,. efforts will be small scale, such as an": 'lelad'rgs? d3: lured the work of the Interna- United States to transport CO: fr0m a wast? site in in order pd "e t' llhlai?em ?we; in were bombed in "?79 . tional Energy Agench two- Wyoming and Colorado to Texas and to test the agency; ability to negotiate rite; bemveu up?? 20" year-old Greenhouse Gas I New Mexico for enhanced oil recovery gremlined commercialization contracts 89 Research and Development Program. - operations. This experience demon- with private ?rms and ?nanciers. The program's seven-member group snares that CO, can be captured, trans- Future large-scale projects may include assesses ?technologies used for abate ported and disposed. cleaning up a mine drainage site outside I 0f Wm 83993 however. Mira mas- Butte, Montana, that contaminates about RB RT the CO2 emitted from fossil fuel power siw amounts ofenergy and, as a result. is 7 million gallons of water with heavy 8909mm} VefY 005?? metals each day. In addition to provid- The 8WD has COmPle?Ed a 0? W's initial Myer funding ing a clean water supply to the commu- 0.8- studies on power generation and CO, arrangement for 2 million British pounds nity, this project could yield as much as 0? capture tedmolosieS- Amine absorption. expires next Year. and the group is nego- 51 so million in silver and copper. The the CO, capture technology of choice, is tiating with the program?s 13 country par- hope, said Frank, is f0r the ad hoc group I an adaptation of methods currurtfy used ticipants for funding to carry it through to function as a board of directors, ensur- I e: I bytheoilandgasindustries. 1997.TheUnitedStatesoonuibtms 79 .1 32 3334 a ?07 3309 91 03 . vestment.? aired, CO, is best transported as a wper- the Department of Energy?s Fossil Energy For inromalion, can Does Envi. ?mm aim-u 1m Mun-m critical fluid at pressures of 1,200 pounds Office. In the face of bucket crises and - ronmental Technol Information Ser- . persquare inch and temperaturesofJO- the vice at 800/845-2032 I 40 degrees Fahrenheit. This process is program?s future mains uncertain. Puc4 W5 W-- ARUONNE EXAMIX CLIMATE 7 1w. (\mmh (Mu, mm mm my mm van \m'u 1w: \wamwmm h'u'nw my my mewvm hm" va'ux'n Rum Km vmameHHM'm "hum wawmmi \U'v ,mnm umth rm'vr mm .m uuH Mu 1~ (ham <