Overview  

The ACE Focal Points Academy was organized as a hybrid event in collaboration with multiple local, regional and international partners. Interpretation in French and Spanish were available via the ZOOM functions.

A variety of training modules were provided based on the needs identified by ACE Focal Points and ACE negotiators. This allowed for countries to showcase good practices and interact with experts in the relevant fields who shared their expertise and answered questions. ACE Focal Points had the opportunity to receive hands on and interactive training and engaged in meaningful discussions through diverse formats such as panel discussions and breakout groups, to allow for discussion of topics at the regional level and across regions.

The ACE Focal Points Academy was organized in three sessions of 2 – 2.5 hours per session on 20 and 23 June 2025 and focused on Policy Coherence and Coordinated Action.

Module 1  

Applying intersectional approaches in accelerating ACE implementation: The session laid a foundation for the policy coherence and coordinated action-related skills-building components of the Academy by connecting to the 2025 ACE Dialogue and further strengthening dialogue discussions among national ACE focal points. Moreover, the session helped to unpack the two deliverables discussed during the 2025 ACE Dialogue under activities A.1 and A.2 of the Action Plan of the Glasgow Work Programme on ACE by building the capacity of national ACE focal points in understanding the concept of intersectionality in the context of ACE.   .    

Module 2 

Bridging Voices: Strengthening Collaboration between National ACE Focal Points and Children & Youth from Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples: FWG was invited to provide a 2-hour interactive training session on the LCIPP and to highlight opportunities and good practices for national ACE focal points to ethically and equitably engage with Indigenous Peoples and local communities, especially children and youth in national climate policy making. According to the Glasgow Work Programme (GWP) on ACE, “Parties are further encouraged to build the capacity of youth to embark on and lead ACE implementation and promote youth participation in relevant climate processes at the national and international level, including by including youth in national delegations at UNFCCC meetings” (Decisions 18/CP.26, para. 14). In addition, the Action Plan of the GWP on ACE flags the need to “allow youth to participate in networking sessions and capacity-building workshops for national ACE focal points”, thereby opening up this session to youth from Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples with the aim of promoting dialogue and building skills.

The session was also organized as part of Activity 5.1 of the Collective Approach 5 of the Baku Workplan of the LCIPP. This activity relates to conducting targeted outreach to and engage with national focal points, including but not limited to national focal points to the UNFCCC, loss and damage contact points, adaptation contact points, national gender and climate change focal points and national Action for Climate Empowerment focal points.

Module 3  

Engaging local governments, communities and organizations in ACE related initiatives: The objective of the session was to build skills in public engagement and in collaborating within the government at the sub-national level and with various communities and organizations to enhance the efficiency and delivery of ACE policy and programs at all levels. Subnational governments are particularly well placed to identify the needs and strengths of their societies in addressing climate change. Important lessons being learned at the subnational level have the potential to feed into and improve national policy and shape more ambitious and innovative responses to this challenge. Moreover, the session was meant to strengthen the National ACE Focal Points network by encouraging peer-to-peer learning and exchange.

Skills-building: Various skills-building components were integrated into daily sessions to strengthen key skills National ACE Focal Points can utilize in their daily work.

Agenda  

Module 1  

Friday, 20 June 2025: 10:00 – 12:30 (CEST) 

Applying intersectional approaches in accelerating ACE implementation 

Objectives 

• Deepen understanding of intersectional approaches as they relate to climate change in general and the ACE agenda in particular 

• Enable ACE focal points to apply key principles for intersectional approaches in their work on education, public awareness, and public participation 

Facilitators 

• Alex Gordon | Senior Coordinator, Programs, Policy & Development | Women’s Environment & Development Organization 

• Diego de León Segovia | Advocacy Chair | Out for Sustainability  

• Angie Dazé | Director, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion for Resilience | International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) 

Detailed Agenda 

12:30 – 14:00 Networking Lunch 

Session Materials:

• Power Point Presentation - Survey results to situate ACE Focal Point needs and the Academy agenda + Scene Setting: Academy and linkages to ACE Dialogue. Link here
• PowerPoint Presentation - Applying intersectional approaches in accelerating ACE implementation. Link here
• World Café Outcome: How would you apply the principles for an intersectional approach in activities under the following ACE elements?

1- Education

Credit: UNFCCC

2- Public Awareness

Credit: UNFCCC

3- Public Participation

Credit: UNFCCC

Module 2 

Friday, 20 June 2025: 14:00 – 16:30 (CEST) 

Detailed Agenda 

Session Materials:

• Power Point Presentation: click here

Module 3 

Monday, 23 June 2025: 10:00 – 12:30 (CEST) 

12:30 – 14:00 Networking Lunch  

Session Materials:

• PowerPoint Presentation ICLEI. Link here
• PowerPoint Presentation Good practices on policy coherence and coordinated action: models for engaging local governments, communities and youth in ACE related initiatives: 
  • Sri Lanka
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Zimbabwe

Recommended Resources 

Below were suggested pre-readings to the delegates of the ACE Focal Point Academy prior to the event.  

Glasgow Work Programme on Action for Climate Empowerment and its Action Plan 

• Decision 18/CP.26 Glasgow Work Programme on Action for Climate Empowerment (pp. 17-26).  

• Decision 23/CP.27 Action Plan under the Glasgow Work Programme on Action for Climate Empowerment. 

The ACE Focal Points Academy took place from 10 – 11 June 2024 and was organized as a hybrid event in collaboration with multiple local, regional and international partners. Simultaneous interpretation in French and Spanish was made available.

Agenda