Making intellectual property rights work for climate technology transfer and innovation in developing countries

The role of intellectual property rights (IPRs) in climate technology transfer and innovation in developing countries remains controversial, often cast as a barrier to development. Using a systematic literature review and case study methodology, we assess the impact of IPRs on three sources of climate technology: (1) international technology transfer, (2) adaptive innovation, and (3) indigenous innovation. We examine four cases across regions with different development levels: Bangladesh, India, Kenya, and South Africa. Our contributions are threefold. First, existing debates overstate IPRs’ importance, whereas national capabilities and development levels are more decisive. Second, lower-tier IPRs may nevertheless incentivize climate innovation in developing countries. Third, we develop a framework for IPRs to support climate change mitigation and adaptation, considering the broader context of trade and climate policy. IPRs and market mechanisms may encourage the transfer of mitigation technologies under certain conditions, while adaptation requires more institutional support to meet local needs.