Background: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Change Agreement unanimously recognize the importance of education and public awareness in the drive towards sustainable development.

Article 6 of the UNFCCC, Article 10 of the Kyoto Protocol, and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement stipulate the promotion of education, training and public awareness on climate change. Parties are encouraged to promote and facilitate climate change–related educational programmes, public awareness campaigns, public access to relevant information, public participation, the training of experts, and the enhancement of international cooperation at the national level and, as appropriate, sub-regional and regional levels.

Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) is a term adopted by the UNFCCC. It refers to Article 6, focusing on six priority areas: education, training, public awareness, public participation, public access to information, and international cooperation on these issues. The implementation of all six areas has been identified in recent years as a pivotal factor to enhance public understanding and participation in solving the complex challenges presented by climate change. As the implementation of ACE is a long-term process that requires a framework to support national efforts, national focal points have been established in different regions.

By its decision 17/CP.22 the Conference of the Parties (COP) requested the secretariat to organize workshops, videoconferences and activities at the international and regional levels to build and strengthen the existing skills and capacity of the national ACE focal points, taking into account opportunities to integrate such efforts into workshops held by relevant bodies under the Convention.

Objective: The objective of the workshop is to provide a forum for ACE national focal points and other relevant Party representatives to share their experiences, exchange ideas, good practices and lessons learned in implementing the Doha work programme on Article 6 of the Convention. The workshop will contribute to strengthen the existing skills and capacities of national focal points for ACE. Besides, taking advantage of the participation of ACE national focal points from different countries as well as representatives of the UNFCCC secretariat and distinguished speakers, the Italian Ministry for the Environment will also support the secretariat in the organization of a public event, in order to raise awareness among the civil society on ACE and the Paris Agreements goals.