United Nations Climate Change Conference - Poznań 2008

United Nations Climate Change Conference - Poznań 2008 - Press

The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poznań, COP 14

Note to correspondents
Note to correspondents No. 2	Media Arrangements for High-level Segment (52 kB)
Note to correspondents No. 1	Media arrangements (67 kB)

UNFCCC Communications Team in Poznań
Press accreditation Veronika Crowe-Mayerhofer Tel: +48 723 979 494 Sebastian Lauer Tel: +48 723 979 496 press(at)unfccc.int	UNFCCC Media Coordinator Axel Wuestenhagen Tel: +48 723 979 489 awuestenhagen(at)unfccc.int	Conference Spokesman Eric Hall Tel: +48 723 979 497 ehall(at)unfccc.int
Media Liaison John Hay Tel: +48 723 979 498 jhay(at)unfccc.int	UNFCCC Interview Requests (Executive Secretary) Carrie Assheuer Tel: +48 723 979 703 cassheuer(at)unfccc.int	Online services Alexander Saier Tel: +48 723 976 387 asaier(at)unfccc.int
Press Conference Room booking Annetta Dunn Tel: +48 723 979 493 adunn(at)unfccc.int	Media Information Counter Elke Hoekstra Tel: +48 723 979 492 ehoekstra(at)unfccc.int	Media Training Workshop Lucy Waruingi Tel.: +48 723 979 705 lawaruingi(at)unfccc.int

Why is Poznań important?

Poznań is an important half-way mark in the two-year negotiating process to reach a post-2012 climate change deal in Copenhagen in 2009.

Countries have agreed that in Copenhagen, an ambitious climate change deal will be clinched to follow the first phase of the UN’s Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. At Poznań, Parties to the UNFCCC will take stock of progress made in 2008 and map out in detail what needs to happen in 2009 to get to that agreement. Delegates – including Ministers – will discuss their vision for long-term cooperative action on climate change, including a long-term emission reduction goal. The issue of technology will also be high on the agenda, and the conference will deal in depth with the issue of risk management and risk reduction strategies. Parties are also expected to put the finishing touches in Poznań to the Kyoto Protocol’s Adaptation Fund so that is it ready to roll out concrete projects in 2009. Some governments are likely to make voluntary contributions to provide for initial funding.

Poznań is significant because it will be the first time that a real negotiating text for a successor pact to the Kyoto Protocol will be on the table.

pdf-icon Fact sheet Poznań - COP 14/CMP 4 (136 kB)

Further fact sheets

Programme 30 November-12 December
	30 November Pre-session press briefing by Yvo de Boer, UNFCCC Executive Secretary
Week 1	1 Dec Opening ceremony and start of the sessions-details to be confirmed. 1-6 Dec Meetings of negotiating bodies and working groups
Week 2	8 Dec No negotiating sessions due to observation of Festival of Eid al-Adha (shifted from 9 December) 9 Dec Main media training day 9-12 Dec Meetings of negotiating bodies and working groups 11-12 Dec High-level segment - Heads of State and UN Secretary-General (All plenary sessions and workshops are open to the press)

For full programme timetable see pdf-icon

Overview schedule (188 kB) . For explanation of acronyms see glossary.

In addition, there will be a Trade Ministers Meeting in Warsaw from 27-28 November and a Finance Ministers Meeting in Warsaw from 9-10 December.

Press Conferences

All press conferences are announced in the latest meetings schedule.

To book a press conference, please send your request by e-mail.

Venue: Press Conference Room (Pavilion 8A, 1st floor)
Regular press briefings will be held by the United Nations, national delegations, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations representing environmental and business interest groups.

Briefings will normally be limited to 30 minutes. Space in the Press Conference Room is limited and journalists are advised to arrive early. Check the CCTV on location for updates of the schedule.

Daily UNFCCC Briefings: Yvo de Boer will give daily lunchtime briefings on scheduled working days in the Press Conference Room starting with a pre-conference briefing on Sunday 30 November. A video and text summary will be posted daily on the Poznań meetings page.

1 December: A press conference by the newly elected President of COP14/CMP4 and the UNFCCC Executive Secretary will take place on the opening day following the closure of the morning session.

10-11 December: A larger number of briefings is expected when Ministers arrive for the high-level segment of the Conference (10-11 December).

Conference Side Events 1-12 December

A number of side events by several major organizations, including IPCC, OCHA, World Bank, WHO and WTO will take place during the two weeks. They will normally be held between 1-3 pm and 6-8 pm. (See Daily Programme of the Conference.)
Side events schedule
Side events overview

Webcasts

All plenary sessions and press conferences will be webcast and can be viewed both live and on-demand. A selection of side-events will also be webcast, on-demand only.
View webcasts

A comprehensive web index provides ready access to information on recorded events. Each recording is classified by date, agenda item and type of meeting. "Video anchors" will allow direct access to discussions of a particular agenda item. Audio/video on-demand archives will be delivered where possible in the original language, and in English. A timetable is automatically generated and posted to the website throughout the day to provide information on additions or changes in the programme schedule.

Speeches

All key UN speeches will be posted on the Poznań meetings page after delivery. Copies of other key speeches will be made available at the media desk in the conference venue.

Accreditation/Registration

Accreditation

Bona fide representatives of the national and international media can apply for accreditation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference - Poznań 2008. Only one accreditation is required and will cover participation in all sessions. Bloggers employed by bona fide publications can apply for accreditation as journalists.

For information on completing the accreditation process, please visit the press and media accreditation section

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Note: Individuals applying for accreditation must submit proof that they are media professionals and represent bona fide media organizations. Media accreditation is not accorded to the information outlets of non-governmental organizations. Applicants can check the status of their requests online by utilizing the URL and PIN code received when the online form is submitted.

Registration

All participants are requested to register upon arrival at the desk located in Pavilion 15 at the entrance of the Poznań International Fair Limited.
A valid photo ID and press card should be presented to the registration staff.
As of 29 November 2008, the “no registration, no access” rule shall be strictly applied and will be enforced throughout the period of the sessions.
Early registration on 28 and 29 November 2008 is highly recommended to avoid delay on the first morning of the sessions.

Opening hours

Saturday, 29 November 2008 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday, 30 November 2008 to Friday, 12 December 2008 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Note: The registration desk may be closed on Sunday, 7 December - please check in advance if you are planning to arrive that day.

Double registration for the session is not permitted (i.e. State representative and observer organization representative, or State representative and press/media representative).

Badges

Badges are required for participants to gain access to the premises. They are issued only to accredited media. For security reasons, all participants are requested to wear their badge at all times.

Other essential information

Visas

All foreign participants entering the Republic of Poland must have a valid passport. Participants requiring a visa for Poland, or a transit visa for their journey to/from Poland, are strongly encouraged to contact the appropriate consular authorities immediately. The issuance of a visa for the Schengen States may take up to two weeks from the date of submission of the visa application. For more information, please visit the website of the Polish Foreign Ministry.

Hotels

The Government of Poland would like to inform participants that it has contracted the World Trade Center Poznań to assist participants with their hotel accommodation for the sessions.

Please contact the WTC directly to book their accommodation. Information on accommodation procedures.

In addition to the services being offered by the WTC, other hotels and accommodation facilities are also available in Poznań and its vicinity. Participants may therefore wish to make their own reservations independently. Participants who prefer this option are requested to inform the WTC accordingly.

Medical insurance

Participants are strongly advised to obtain, before departure to Poland, adequate and valid individual or group travel insurance to cover any expenses that may arise in connection with repatriation for medical reasons, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment.

Disclaimer

The United Nations and the UNFCCC secretariat disclaim all responsibility for medical, accident and travel insurance, for compensation for death or disability, for loss of or damage to personal property and for any other costs or losses that may be incurred during travel time or the period of participation. In this context, participants are strongly recommended to obtain international medical insurance for the period of participation.