I. Background and Objective

The Glasgow work programme on ACE encourages Parties “to designate, assign responsibilities to, and provide support, including technical and financial support, and access to information and materials to national Action for Climate Empowerment focal points” (Decisions 18/CP.26, para. 8 and 22/CMA.3, para. 8), also known as national ACE focal points. The responsibilities of national ACE focal points “could include identifying areas for possible international cooperation and opportunities for strengthening synergies with action under other conventions, and coordinating the preparation of the chapter on ACE in national communications, ensuring that relevant contact information, including weblinks, is provided therein.”

The informal virtual networking meeting responds to the request to the secretariat to support “Increased peer-to-peer exchange among national ACE focal points about ACE activities carried out at the national level through, inter alia, the ACE Dialogues, the regional climate weeks and informal virtual networking meetings organized by the secretariat.” (Action Plan of the Glasgow work programme on ACE Activity B.2, priority area coordinated action)

The informal virtual networking meeting is supported by the Action for Climate Empowerment Hub (ACE Hub). The ACE Hub is a collaboration between the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Action and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and UN Climate Change. The overarching goal of the project is to foster the implementation of ACE, as well as to enhance the cooperation between national governments, non-Party stakeholders and organizations, experts and companies within and outside NRW in addressing climate change.

II. Description

The informal virtual networking meeting will be organized as a one and a half-hour online event. Interpretation will be available via the ZOOM in-built functions.  

In 2026, the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) will conduct the midterm review of the Glasgow work programme on Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE), presenting a critical moment to revitalize the ACE agenda and accelerate its implementation at all levels. Recognizing the opportunity and the significant workload ahead, national ACE focal points and ACE negotiators can benefit from additional informal opportunities to deliberate on progress in ACE implementation and equip them to map the way forward.

The ACE 2025 annual summary report records show, as of 31 July 2025, 144 Parties had appointed one or more national ACE focal points, 18 of which were nominated during the reporting period (with 2 being the first such focal point and 16 replacing an existing focal point). The informal virtual networking event therefore presents an opportunity as part of the 2026 ACE Activity series to build a common understanding in preparation for the mid-term review of the Glasgow work programme among national ACE FPs and negotiators. This will be achieved through providing capacity building (ACE 101) to focal points, especially newly nominated focal points and ACE negotiators. Additionally, the informal networking will provide an opportunity for national ACE focal points to enhance their roles at the national and international levels through peer learning.

NB The meeting is open to national ACE Focal Points, ACE negotiators or any other Party representatives interested or working in the subject matter.

NB The discussions at these activities will be informal in nature and will not prejudge the consideration of relevant matters at SB 64, including at the ACE Dialogue and the technical workshop, nor the outcome of the midterm review.

III. Tentative Agenda