The 2020 regional climate weeks are expected to take place in 2021. The organizing partners and host governments will discuss a possible schedule of regional climate week meetings for 2021, keeping in mind uncertainties around the further development of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic worldwide. In order to keep momentum and advance preparations for 2021, organizing partners have developed a set of virtual activities or events that will take place in 2020.

Will the 2020 regional climate weeks go virtual?

The answer is no. The virtual activities delivered by organizing partners will not replace the regional climate weeks events in 2020, but rather serve as pathways towards the preparation of the events that will take place in 2021. The virtual events in fact will help to gather information on the topics that will be addressed in the 2021 climate weeks and to raise attention about the climate weeks themselves.

What is the focus of the 2020 virtual activities?

The focus for the regional climate weeks is to mobilize and enhance the required partnerships and collaborative approaches, including:

• the urgent need to understand the risks and impacts of climate change and integrate this knowledge in planning at all levels and in all sectors;
• the urgency of delivering on existing commitments; and
• the urgency of giving all stakeholders clarity on the low-carbon development pathways and means of implementation for achieving carbon neutrality by mid-century or even before and thus the objectives and long-term goals of the Convention and Paris Agreement is advanced.

The following three core tracks are design to achieve this:

Track 1: National actions and economy wide approaches

This track demystifies the various provisions of the UNFCCC and turning them into tangible/actionable items for actors in the regions. This track also enables an assessment of the best practice in society-wide and economy-wide approaches to cutting greenhouse gases and building resilience. These events aim to generate groundswell momentum amongst the governments, in partnership with the non-States actors, for timely implementation of the UNFCCC commitments and economy-wide approaches, including the provisions of the enhanced transparency framework.

Track 2: Managing climate risks

This track allows deeper collaboration between all actors on scoping the extent of the climate risks faced in the different regions across the dimensions of hazards faced, including extreme weather events and slow onset events, sectors impacted, and levels of governance involved. This track focuses on the development and implementation of solutions for and enhanced partnerships related to these risks.

Track 3: Seizing transformation opportunities

This track provides a platform to explore solutions to deliver climate action and support at a scale that puts the regions on a low-emission development pathway, focusing on key sectors of the economy that need speedy recovery in a low carbon climate-resilient way. Related events under this focus area provide a basis for partnership, engagement and capacity development on best practice policy, resource mobilization and technology development and deployment. The discussions on the solutions also has in sight social and economic aspects.

Where can I find the list of 2020 virtual activities?

The virtual activities are listed by track and by region, and can be accessed below: