A number of existing programs are assisting developing countries with preparation and implementation of low greenhouse gas emission plans and strategies. This includes support for technology needs assessments, for low carbon and clean energy development plans, and for technology roadmaps and deployment programs. The Coordinated Low Emissions Assistance Network (CLEAN) aims to improve communication and coordination by bringing together national and international organizations that are assisting developing countries with such plans and programs. The network proposes to foster collaboration on methods, training, and technical assistance to support low emission planning and implementation processes. It also aims to facilitate coordination of activities with specific developing country partners and sharing of experiences, best practices, and lessons. The network builds from successful past models where organizations have coordinated support to developing countries for new programs, such as climate change country studies and CDM support.
The founding partners established CLEAN in November 2009. Other international organizations and centers, including centers in developing countries, assisting countries with low carbon plans and programs are welcome to join this network.
All of the CLEAN partners collaborate on a set of core activities. In addition where there is an alignment of interests, individual members cooperate on supplementary initiatives. These core and supplementary activities include:
Core Activities:
Common Principles: Establish and apply shared principles for the design and implementation of programs assisting developing countries with low emission development plans. This includes principles on analysis, technical assistance, strategy development and implementation, and coordination of activities.
Activities Inventory: Develop an inventory of activities that CLEAN partners are conducting at country, regional, and global levels to support low carbon development assessment and plans. This inventory will be made broadly available through the CLEAN web-site and will be used to promote coordination of activities and to enhance the quality of support provided to developing countries.
Information, Tools, and Knowledge Sharing: Develop common forums for sharing of data, tools and methods, experiences and best practices with low carbon development analysis and plans among developing and developed countries officials and experts. This may include on-line forums, regional networks, and information exchange meetings. Make available technology data and analysis methods and tools to each other and to developing country stakeholders.
Linkage with Other International Groups: Facilitate access of developing country officials and experts with international technical organizations, private sector companies, finance organizations, donors, NGOs, and others who can serve as important sources of advice and implementation support for low carbon technology plans. CLEAN will develop strong working relationships with such existing networks and programs.
Supplementary Activities:
Methods Development and Harmonization: Cooperate on improving analysis methods and tools to support low carbon plan preparation. This includes evaluation of clean energy and other technology potentials and dissemination of this data, incorporation of development priorities, multi-criteria impact analysis and economic benefits assessment, prioritization of technologies and options, and policy analysis.
Collaborative Training and Technical Assistance: Coordinate across members training and technical assistance programs on low carbon technology assessment and planning that will transfer knowledge and skills to developing countries. This includes engaging common regional developing country technical institutions, conducting joint training workshops and on-line forums, and tapping a roster of experts across CLEAN members to provide technical assistance.
Coordinated Country Support: Enhance implementation of assistance to specific countries by integrating delivery of assistance to countries among CLEAN partners. This could also include cooperation among CLEAN partners (and other international organizations) in piloting new programs, methods, and tools with countries.
