The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) provides the foundation for intergovernmental action to combat climate change and its impacts on humanity and ecosystems. The ultimate objective of the Convention and any related legal instruments that the Conference of the Parties may adopt is to achieve stabilization of greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system within a time-frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner. 

To achieve the objective of the Convention, Parties need reliable, transparent and comprehensive information on GHG emissions, climate actions and support. Under the Convention, all Parties are obliged to communicate to the Conference of the Parties (COP) information relevant to the implementation of the Convention (Article 12). By communicating information on GHG emissions and actions to reduce them, as well as on adaptation and means of implementation such as finance, technology transfer and capacity-building, the transparency and reporting system allows to understand ambition and progress on climate actions and support by Parties, – and informs the COP deliberation and guidance on these matters. 

Over the past two decades, the arrangements for national reporting of the Convention and its Kyoto Protocol have evolved into a more comprehensive measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) framework. Measures to significantly enhance transparency of action and support under the Convention were adopted as part of the Bali Action Plan at COP 13 and elaborated in decisions adopted at subsequent COP sessions. 

The reporting requirements and the timetable for the submission of national reports are different for Annex I Parties and Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention (non-Annex I Parties), in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. 

(resource: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/transparency-and-reporting/the-big-picture/what-is-transparency-and-reporting) 

The work on Transparency in the region was in November 2020 enhanced by RCC Panama with the virtual regional training workshops together with the consultative Group of Experts on existing MRV arrangements under the Convention and the enhanced transparency framework (ETF) of the Paris Agreement. On the secretariat’s YouTube Channel video presentations are accessible presenting an overview of the concepts.  

Technologies that we use to address climate change are known as climate technologies. Climate technologies that help us reduce GHGs include renewable energies such as wind energy, solar power and hydropower. To adapt to the adverse effects of climate change, we use climate technologies such as drought-resistant crops, early warning systems and sea walls. There are also ‘soft’ climate technologies, such as energy-efficient practices or training for using equipment. 

Developing and transferring technologies to support national action on climate change has been an essential element from the beginning of the UNFCCC process. In 1992, when countries established the Convention, they included specific provisions on technology with the aim of achieving the ultimate objective of the Convention. The Convention notes that all Parties shall promote and cooperate in the development and transfer of technologies that reduce emissions of GHGs. It also urges developed country Parties to take all practicable steps to promote, facilitate and finance the transfer of, or access to, climate technologies to other Parties, particularly to developing countries. Furthermore, the Convention states that the extent to which developing country Parties will effectively implement their commitments will depend on the effective implementation by developed country Parties of their commitments under the Convention related to financial resources and transfer of technology. 

Over the years, technology development and transfer with regard to adaptation has received increasing attention. The Paris Agreement speaks of the vision of fully realizing technology development and transfer for both improving resilience to climate change and reducing GHG emissions. It establishes a technology framework to provide overarching guidance to the Technology Mechanism. 

(resource: https://unfccc.int/topics/climate-technology/the-big-picture/what-is-technology-development-and-transfer)  

Climate change has a greater impact on those sections of the population, in all countries, that are most reliant on natural resources for their livelihoods and/or who have the least capacity to respond to natural hazards, such as droughts, landslides, floods and hurricanes. Women commonly face higher risks and greater burdens from the impacts of climate change in situations of poverty, since the majority of the world’s poor are women. Women’s unequal participation in decision-making processes and labour markets compound inequalities and often prevent women from fully contributing to climate-related planning, policy-making and implementation. 

Yet, women can (and do) play a critical role in response to climate change due to their local knowledge of and leadership in e.g. sustainable resource management and/or leading sustainable practices at the household and community level. Women’s participation at the political level has resulted in greater responsiveness to citizen’s needs, often increasing cooperation across party and ethnic lines and delivering more sustainable peace. At the local level, women’s inclusion at the leadership level has led to improved outcomes of climate related projects and policies. On the contrary, if policies or projects are implemented without women’s meaningful participation it can increase existing inequalities and decrease effectiveness. 

Parties to the UNFCCC have recognized the importance of involving women and men equally in UNFCCC processes and in the development and implementation of national climate policies that are gender-responsive by establishing a dedicated agenda item under the Convention addressing issues of gender and climate change and by including overarching text in the Paris Agreement. 

(resource: https://unfccc.int/gender) 

One of the ways RCC Panama are working with gender and social inclusiveness together with the secretariat is through the workshop on Gender integration into national climate actions, which was held virtually 2020 involving regional stakeholders from a broad range of sectors.  

Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) is a term adopted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to denote work under Article 6 of the Convention (1992) and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement. 

The over-arching goal of ACE is to empower all members of society to engage in climate action, through education, training, public awareness, public participation, public access to information, and international cooperation on these issues. 

Implementation of all six focus areas (Education, Training, Public Awareness, Public participation, Public Access to Information, International Cooperation) is crucial to the global response to climate change. Everyone, including and perhaps especially the young, must understand and participate in the transition to a low-emission, climate-resilient world. 

Sustainable lifestyles, sustainable patterns of consumption and production, are fundamental to reducing greenhouse emissions and enhancing resilience to the inevitable effects of climate change. Success will require broad collaboration between all levels of government and all sectors of society. 

(resource: https://unfccc.int/topics/education-youth/the-big-picture/what-is-action-for-climate-empowerment) 

Two of the regional events within this work that RCC Panama has supported during the fall 2020 was the launch of Toolkit for Young Climate Activists and the 8th Dialogue on Action for Climate Empowerment – Americas & the Caribbean.