“Accelerating the Implementation of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals”

Time and Location: Wednesday, 20 September 2017, 12:30 - 2:00 pm, UNICEF Headquarters, 3 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY

Background: The critical role of education in the global climate change response was recognized in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as in Article 6 of the UNFCCC and Article 12 of the Paris Climate Change Agreement. These state that “Parties shall cooperate in taking measures to enhance climate change education, training, public awareness, public participation and public access to information”. At COP 22 in Marrakech, Parties adopted a decision calling on governments, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, academia, research institutions, the private sector, state and local governments, and youth to continue to implement policies and activities on climate change education. 

Building on the successful mobilization during Education Day at COP 22 in Marrakech, the COP 22 Presidency, in partnership with the UNFCCC, UNICEF, the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection, and the members of the UN Alliance on Climate Change Education, Training, and Public Awareness hosted a high-level event during Climate Week in New York City. They came together to discuss the key role that education and young people play in the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, to foster the establishment of multi-stakeholder partnerships for climate change education.

Objective: To promote the role of education as a key driver in moving forward the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals; to discuss how children and youth can be empowered to lead climate solutions; and to showcase the role of cities in scaling up climate education.

Methodology: This event was a 90-minute panel and interactive discussion.

Participation: The side event was open to Parties, experts, practitioners, other stakeholders, teachers, youth organizations, and media.

Agenda