Expression of Interest – APCW 2021

The Asia-Pacific Climate Week 2021 organizing partners invite organizations to submit an Expression of Interest to join APCW 2021 by 6 June. This is your opportunity to support the thematic track sessions, host a side event or showcase your video in the Action Hub. We welcome diverse voices and ask all applications to align with one of the three tracks of APCW 2021:

  • National actions and economy-wide approaches – led by organizing partner the World Bank
  • Integrated approaches for climate-resilient development – led by organizing partner UNDP
  • Seizing transformation opportunities – led by organizing partner UNEP

Asia-Pacific Climate Week 2021 thematic sessions are scheduled for 6-9 July and will be hosted by the Government of Japan.

The Regional Climate Weeks 2021 provide a platform for engagement by national and subnational governments, regions, cities, indigenous communities, the private sector and civil society. Each Week is an opportunity to shape implementation and delivery of national climate action plans under the Paris Agreement on the way to COP26 in Glasgow. 

Join us by sharing an engaging video in the Action Hub, hosting a Side Event or as a Supporting Organization for one of the thematic tracks. Browse each section to learn more about our engagement opportunities, the thematic tracks and how to submit your Expression of Interest before the 6 June deadline.

 

Supporting Organizations are needed to enrich the delivery of the thematic tracks, the central component of APCW 2021. Each track covers one theme and runs for four hours on 6-8 July. Core partners coordinate and manage each track, with support from a diverse group of supporting organizations. 

If your organization is interested in supporting a thematic block, please indicate the role that interests you by considering the following responsibilities: 

  • Deliver support, including financial support if applicable, as indicated in the online application form 
  • Provide ideas to the Core partners   and other supporting organizations on how the thematic tracks should be delivered, making the sessions meaningful for policymakers of the region. The thematic tracks should avoid simply publicizing an organizations’ work
  • Provide names and mobilize potential speakers, storytellers and moderators (national governments/line ministries, businesses, cities, sub-national regions, financial institutions, civil society, etc.) with a focus on new voices bringing solutions, experiences, technologies and/or innovative approaches, ensuring that they do not over-publicize or market their individual or organizations’ work, projects or initiatives during the sessions
  • Mobilize high-level speakers and moderators
  • Support the organizing partner in capturing key discussion points and key takeaways

Organizations with expertise and experience delivering climate action in Asia and Pacific regions can support design and delivery of one or more sessions taking place within the thematic tracks. Interested organizations are encouraged to fill out the form below and  the organizing partner for that track will conduct a selection process based on: 

  • Commitment to strive to limit warming to 1.5°C and achieve a climate-neutral and resilient world 
  • Representation and ability to mobilize a wide range of actors, stakeholders (national governments/line ministries, businesses, cities, sub-national regions, financial institutions, civil society, etc.) and sectors in the region with a focus on new voices bringing solutions, experiences, technologies and/or innovative approaches
  • Balanced geographical representation of regions 
  • Transformational collaboration within or across sectors 
  • Level and type of expertise in topics related to the three thematic tracks 
  • Experience in showcasing cross-cutting issues like gender, just transition, health and education 

Selected organizations will be invited to join in a supporting role. Preference will be given to organizations delivering climate action on the ground with an ability to mobilize stakeholders with substantive solutions, experiences, technologies and innovative approaches. Shortlisted organizations will be contacted for further discussion. Selected applicants will be informed as soon as possible. 

Application deadline: 6 June 2021

APPLICATION FORM

Side Events provide an opportunity for organizations to host a 1-2 hour session on topics aligned with one of the themes of this year’s Regional Climate Weeks. For APCW 2021, each Side Event must be hosted external to the conference platform. The APCW 2021 team will incorporate each Side Event into APCW promotion and materials such as the overview schedule, with a link taking participants to the Side Event online space from the APCW platform to attend. 

This application form serves as a concept note for the session you are proposing, with selection based on the session aligning with one of the following themes: 

  • Commitment to strive to limit warming to 1.5°C and achieve a climate-neutral and resilient world 
  • Representation and ability to mobilize a wide range of actors, stakeholders and sectors in the region 
  • Balanced geographical representation of regions 
  • Transformational collaboration within or across sectors 
  • Level and type of expertise in the topics related to the three thematic tracks 
  • Experience in showcasing cross-cutting issues like gender, just transition, health and education 

The selection process will be carried out by APCW 2021 core and regional partners. Organizations with shortlisted proposals will be contacted, and selected applicants will be informed as early as possible.  In the online form, you must select only one track to align with. Only one Side Event will be approved for each organization or partnership. We strongly encourage you to collaborate with other organizations to deliver your session. 

For each Side Event, APCW 2021 organizers will feature the event in the official programme and promote the event as part of the Climate Week. However, the event must be hosted on an external platform and the organizing partners are responsible for its delivery. The APCW 2021 platform will integrate the link into the site so interested participants can seamlessly access the Side Event as part of their APCW 2021 experience. Side Event organizers are responsible for technical issues on their platform and any required interpretation. 

Application deadline: 6 June

APPLICATION FORM

The Action Hub is a platform for non-governmental organizations, intergovernmental organizations, youth organizations and educational institutions to showcase their work in a pre-recorded video format only, which should be dynamic and entertaining. Submit the form to present your short video and bring a big announcement, new case-study or great interview to APCW 2021.

All Action Hub videos must contribute to the Regional Climate Week’s discourse and align to one of the three themes. Action Hub videos  up to 30 minutes long will be streamed in a dedicated virtual room. Organizing partners will conduct a selection process based on the following: 

  • Commitment to strive to limit warming to 1.5°C and achieve a climate-neutral and resilient world 
  • Representation and ability to mobilize a wide range of actors, stakeholders and sectors in the region 
  • Balanced geographical representation of regions 
  • Transformational collaboration within or across sectors 
  • Level and type of expertise in the topics related to the three thematic tracks 
  • Experience in showcasing cross-cutting issues like gender, just transition, health and education 

Organizations with shortlisted proposals will be contacted and selected applicants will be informed as early as possible.  

Application deadline: 6 June

APPLICATION FORM

This section contains more information on each of the three thematic tracks, the core partner supporting each track and the principles that should guide session curation.


Thematic Track Details

Track 1 – National actions and economy wide approaches

Organizing partner:  World Bank


This track will assist all stakeholders in better understanding the cycle of the Paris Agreement – ambition of NDCs and LTLEDS; implementation of action, including with support; and transparent reporting, including on progress and impact.

This track will enable discussion on long-term national planning and integrated national policy making, including whole-of-government and society approaches, enhanced engagement of all stakeholders and the redirection of financial flows. In this context, discussion will cover ambitious actions in key sectors, including nature-based solutions, and how these actions integrate in national planning and contribute to long-term climate ambition.

The track will also enable an assessment of the best practice in society-wide and economy-wide approaches to cutting greenhouse gases and building resilience and how broad economic packages to enable recovery from the COVID19 pandemic can support the achievement of the Paris goal. The impact of these approaches on other SDGs, in particular gender equality, decent work and reducing inequalities can be identified and synergies identified.

 

Track 2 – Integrated approaches for climate-resilient development

Organizing partner: United Nations Development Programme


The pandemic exemplifies the complexity and interconnectivity of risks. It has also exacerbated existing vulnerabilities, which underscores the need for greater attention to coherent, coordinated approaches to adapting to climate change. Emerging risks also strengthen the case for averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage associated with climate change impacts.

This track will explore collaboration between all actors on the extent of climate risks faced in different hazards across the region, including extreme weather events and slow onset events, key systems impacted, and structuring support systems. 

Focus will center on development and implementation of solutions for enabling risk-based approaches to adaptation and resilience building, as well as the partnerships that bring these solutions to bear.

 

Track 3 – Seizing transformation opportunities

Organizing partner: UN Environment


This track will provide a platform to explore breakthrough solutions to deliver climate action and support at a scale that puts regions on a low-emission and resilient development pathway. Discussions will focus on key sectors of the economy that need deep transformation and promote a speedy, healthy and sustainable recovery. 

Related events under this track will enable an all-of-society approach to developing a common vision for the future in key sectors to promote job creation and enhance human welfare. Track events will elaborate the policy and resource mobilization approaches needed today to achieve this future.

 

Session Curation Principles

Curations of the sessions must follow these principles:

  1. Urgency and ambition – Catalytic events that drive outcomes towards a 1.5-degree net-zero, resilient world ASAP and aligned with science
  2. Impact focused on 2030 – Evidence-based, action-oriented, and building a lasting legacy towards COP26 and beyond
  3. Radical collaboration – Deep listening to diverse perspectives, reshaping multilateralism and driving convergence towards shared goals
  4. Diversity & inclusion – Raising the bar on what diversity and inclusion truly means and demonstrating how it contributes to better outcomes
  5. Human – Generating a sense of solidarity through meaningful conversations and interactive formats that inspire creativity, shared learning and collective problem solving
  6. Digital – Harnessing the best of technology to showcase innovative solutions and broaden both reach and inclusion
  7. Systems leadership – Actors across sectors achieving exponential progress together on mitigation and resilience
  8. Ambition loop – Showcasing the positive feedback loop between non-Party stakeholder leadership and bold government policy through active participation and cocreation
  9. Disruptors & incumbents – Holding a generous space for disrupters and incumbents that inspires constructive challenge, shared learning and collective action
  10. Amplify science & indigenous knowledge – Drawing on proven, diverse sources of climate information to chart the way forward