The Dialogues on ACE were launched in June 2013 after the adoption of the 8-year Doha work programme on Article 6 of the Convention (2012-2020) at COP 18, which requested the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) to organize annual in-session Dialogues on Article 6 to enhance work in this area. In doing so, the COP reaffirmed the importance of climate change education and public awareness, training, public participation and access to information and international cooperation on these matters to achieve the ultimate objective of the Convention, and for the effective implementation of adaptation and mitigation actions.

At COP 26, Parties adopted the 10-year Glasgow work programme (Decisions 18/CP.26 and 22/CMA.3), which requested the SBI to continue to hold an annual in-session Action for Climate Empowerment dialogue at its first regular session of each year with the participation of Parties, representatives of relevant constituted bodies, and relevant experts, practitioners and stakeholders that focuses on the progress of implementation of the Glasgow work programme and on its four priority areas - policy coherence; coordinated action; tools and support; and monitoring, evaluation and reporting.