Lima Climate Change Conference December 2014

At its 20th session the Conference of the Parties (COP 20) adopted the Lima Ministerial Declaration on Education and Awareness-raising, which stresses the fundamental role of education, training, public awareness, public participation, public access to information and international cooperation in meeting the ultimate objective of the Convention and in promoting climate-resilient sustainable development. Ministers and Heads of Delegation attending COP 20 also reaffirmed in the Declaration their commitment to the implementation of the Doha work programme on Article 6 of the Convention.
 
At its 41st session the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) took note of the summary report on the 2nd Dialogue on Article 6 of the Convention contained in document FCCC/SBI/2014/15. The 2nd Dialogue was held during the fortieth session of the SBI in June 2014 and focussed on raising public awareness and fostering public participation in, and public access to information on, climate science, policy-making and action as well as on international cooperation in these areas.


Bonn Climate Change Conference June 2014

During SBI 40 the 2nd Dialogue on Article 6 of the Convention was convened with the active participation of Parties, observer organizations, the private sector and the media focusing on raising public awareness and fostering public participation in, and public access to information on, climate science, policy-making and action. Further information on the 2nd Dialogue, including presentations and webcast recordings of all session is available here.

SBI 40 invited Parties, admitted observer organizations and other stakeholders to submit to the secretariat, by 18 February 2015, their feedback on the organization of the 2nd Dialogue and their views on the agenda for the 3rd Dialogue.

SBI 40 concluded that the 3rd and 4th Dialogues on Article 6 of the Convention will be convened during SBI 42 and SBI 44 respectively. SBI 40 took note of the Report on good practices of stakeholder participation in implementing Article 6 of the Convention (FCCC/SBI/2014/3) and invited Parties and other stakeholders to replicate the examples and approaches contained therein.

Conclusions on Article 6 of the Convention adopted by SBI 40 are contained in document FCCC/SBI/2014/L.20.


Warsaw Climate Change Conference November 2013

At its 39^th session the SBI considered the summary report on the 1^st Dialogue on Article 6 of the Convention and welcomed the progress made in the implementation of Article 6 through the adoption of the Doha work programme and the establishment of the annual Dialogue on Article 6.

The SBI acknowledged the success of the 1^st Dialogue and concluded that the 2^nd Dialogue will be convened during its 40^th session in June 2014. The SBI requested the secretariat to prepare a report on good practices of stakeholder participation in implementing Article 6 for consideration at its 40^th and as a background document for the 2^nd Dialogue.

The SBI further requested the secretariat to continue facilitating the work of the United Nations Alliance on Climate Change Education, Training and Public Awareness and coordinating with other stakeholders to catalyse a programmatic response to the implementation of the Doha work programme.

Conclusions adopted as document FCCC/SBI/2013/L.21.

FCCC/SBI/2012/L.26

Workshop on the implementation of Article 6 of the Convention in least developed countries: 19–21 June 2012, Bonn, Germany
The workshop on the implementation of Article 6 of the Convention in least developed countries was organized in response to a request by the SBI 34 ( FCCC/SBI/2011/7). It contributed to the review of the implementation of the amended New Delhi work programme on Article 6 of the Convention and the identification of possible elements for a successor work programme. more>>

SBI 36: 14–25 May 2012, Bonn, Germany
The SBI launched the review of the implementation of the amended New Delhi work programme on Article 6 of the Convention and agreed to continue its consideration at SBI 37 on the basis of a draft text contained in document  FCCC/SBI/2012/L.26.

To address the challenges of communicating, teaching, and learning about climate change, Parties adopted in 2002 the New Delhi work programme on Article 6 of the Convention (decision 11/CP.8), a five-year country-driven work programme engaging all stakeholders in the implementation of Article 6 commitments and recommending a list of Article 6 related activities that could be undertaken at the national level.

The five-year mandate for the execution of the New Delhi work programme came to an end in 2007. Parties recognized that this work programme had proved to be a good framework for action (FCCC/SBI/2007/34) and decided to adopt the amended New Delhi work programme on Article 6 of the Convention for a further five years (decision 9/CP.13), with a review of progress in the implementation of this work programme to be undertaken in 2012.

The amended New Delhi work programme differs from its predecessor in the scope and implementation chapters. Within the scope of the new work programme, public awareness, public participation and public access to information are given more prominence than they had in the previous one. Within the list of Article 6 related activities that Parties could undertake, the amended New Delhi work programme features also the preparation of a national Article 6 plan of action.  Another new area is related to actions leading to strengthening regional and international efforts in support to the implementation of Article 6. 

CC:iNet
The climate change information network clearing house CC:iNet serves as an information platform in support of Article 6 of the Convention and its implementation. It is designed to help governments, organizations and individuals gain rapid and easy access to ideas, strategies, contacts, experts and materials that can be used to motivate and empower people to take effective action on climate change.

Workshops
Information on previous workshops on the implementation of Article 6 of the Convention, including relevant documents for, and presentations held at, each workshop, is available here.

Improving awareness and understanding of climate change, and creating solutions to facilitate access to information on a changing climate are key to winning public support for climate related policies.

The UNFCCC, through its Article 6, and the Kyoto Protocol, through its Article 10 (e), call on governments to educate, empower and engage all stakeholders and major groups on policies relating to climate change.

In particular, Article 6 of the Convention, which addresses the issue of climate change related education, training and public awareness, is the main vehicle by means of which the Convention fosters action to develop and implement educational and training programmes on climate change.

Many governments and intergovernmental organizations are already working in partnership with civil society to fulfill the commitments in Article 6.  However, the scale of challenges posed by climate change requires an engagement on outreach activities of a greater magnitude.

Last modified: 15 October 2014