As temperatures continue to rise at an alarming rate, the impacts of climate change are progressively threatening lives and livelihoods around the world. Governments have taken steps to tackle climate change but is not only their responsibility. More than ever, we need climate action taken by non-Party stakeholders under the path provided by the Paris Agreement.

Non-Party stakeholders play a crucial role in supporting the work of UN Climate Change secretariat. With their support, we can accelerate climate action and speed up the full implementation of the Paris Agreement.

UN Climate Change is the United Nations entity tasked with supporting the global response to the threat of climate change. The UN Climate Change secretariat seeks to engage with all non-Party stakeholders such as subnational governments, foundations, civil society, multilateral organizations and the private sector.

Opportunities for Partnerships:

The UN Climate Change secretariat seeks to engage in mutually beneficial partnerships with non-Party stakeholders. Any voluntary financial or in-kind contribution, in the form of expertise, materials and innovative solutions will increase our capacity and resources to support developing countries in undertaking the transformation required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, carry out strategic outreach to promote climate action and to deploy technology and innovation.

Scope of the Intended Partnerships:

Interested non-Parties can support the work of UN Climate Change secretariat in pursuing the Paris Agreement goals by:

1. Support ongoing UN Climate Change programmes and priorities.
2. Showcase thought leadership and climate action by joining UN Climate Change in raising awareness among the global community. 
3. Collaborating on joint strategic initiatives with the UN Climate Change secretariat by being part of transformative projects. 
4. Participate in UN Climate Change events by being featured as an official UN Climate Change partner at climate change conferences including COP 28, the meetings of the Subsidiary Bodies, Regional Climate Weeks and other climate events throughout the year.  

The Selection Process

The UN Climate Change secretariat engages with partners in voluntary agreements to achieve a common goal or undertake a specific task, in support of achieving the aims of the Paris Agreement. Partner contributions may include any combination of financial, in-kind, and knowledge resources. 

Once entities interested in partnering with the UN Climate Change secretariat have submitted a partnership proposal, the secretariat begins an internal review process. This process begins with a due diligence assessment, which is outlined in the annex to the UNFCCC Partnership Guidelines, and includes the application of eligibility and the exclusionary criteria. Prospective partners must disclose to the secretariat all relevant information that will allow the secretariat to conduct due diligence. 

Once a potential partnership has passed the secretariat’s internal review process, the secretariat will inform the entity accordingly, then formalize the partnership through a written agreement in accordance with the UNFCCC Partnership Guidelines. Partnership agreements require that parties carry out their responsibilities and obligations in accordance with their respective regulations, rules, policies, and procedures, as well as the decisions of their governing bodies. 

The purpose of the secretariat’s partnerships is not to establish commercial relationships, or for commercial or private gain. Partnerships are non-exclusive and are open to multiple partners at any time. As stated in the UNFCCC Partnership Guidelines, cooperation with the secretariat explicitly excludes any role of the partner to influence the secretariat’s governance, decision-making processes, or policies. Partnerships should maintain the integrity, independence, and impartiality of the secretariat and its partners. 

Partnership Proposal

Entities interested in partnering with the secretariat under this call for proposals should submit their formal proposal by e-mail to partnerships@unfccc.int. 

The proposal should: 

• Clearly reference the relevant call for proposal; 
• Indicate the scope, objectives and duration of the proposed partnership and, if applicable, the financial value of the entity’s contribution; 
• Address, to the extent possible and with supporting documentation, the entity’s capacity to enter into and implement the partnership (including proof of juridical personality, proof of sound financial management and proof of technical capacities to carry out the partnership); 
• Address, to the extent possible and with supporting documentation, whether and how the entity meets each of the eligibility criteria set out in Partnerships with UNFCCC: At a Glance, indicating any relevant present and/or past activity or advocacy regarding these criteria; 
• Confirm by a formal statement that the entity does not meet any of the exclusionary criteria set out in Partnerships with UNFCCC: At a Glance, indicating any relevant present and/or past activity or advocacy with regard to these criteria; 
• Include a statement of the entity’s intention to fully comply with the terms of a partnership agreement to be agreed with the secretariat, as outlined in Partnerships with UNFCCC: At a Glance; 
• Please note, all new and existing partners always need to seek permission to publish the UNFCCC name and logo for any communications material that highlights the partnership with the UNFCCC. All requests need to always be in accordance with the 'Partnership formalisation' section in Partnerships with UNFCCC: At a Glance.