A “One conference, two zones” concept has been developed to manage the expected level of participation and events in an inclusive manner.

The “Bula Zone” will include plenary halls, meeting rooms for negotiations, delegation offices and media facilities in the World Conference Center Bonn (WCCB). This will be complemented by UN Campus facilities and temporary structures built in the immediate surrounding areas.

The “Bonn Zone” will be located in the adjacent “Rheinaue Park” and will accommodate climate action events including high-level events, side events, exhibits and media activities as well as delegation pavilions. Both zones will be well-connected through regular bus lines with reinforced service. A 1.4 km connection road will be enhanced with a special shuttle service. In addition, bicycles will be available free of charge.

Further information, including venue maps are available here.

Parties to the Convention, United Nations and related organizations and agencies, media and non-profit organizations with observer status may attend the sessions of the Convention, in accordance with Article 7, paragraph 6 of the Convention. Consequently, all participants wishing to attend the conference have to be registered accordingly.

Other organizations, companies and general public:

• Only Parties and organizations with observer status can register to enter the Bula Zone. More information on options for participation is available here.
• For the Bonn Zone, participation will take place through nomination by a Party or an already admitted organization via the ORS. Please find the list of admitted organizations here.

United Nations and related organizations and agencies

Please see the section "Attending sessions" here.

IGOs and NGOs with observer status

Please note that the nomination period for Bula Zone badges has closed on 7 July 2017 and the nomination period for "Bonn Zone only" badges closed on 31 August 2017. Please see the registration timelines below.

• Registration for both zones is managed through the Online Registration System.
• Badge allocation is on a weekly basis:
• • When registering delegates, an organization's Designated Contact Point chooses for each delegate the attendance period (week 1, week 2, or both);
  • Week 1: 6 - 12 November. Week 2: 13 - 17 November.
• There is no "side events badge", daily accreditation or the like. Just like other delegates, all speakers and participants who wish to take part in a side event must be duly registered and in possession of a conference badge in order to access the premises.
• The zone for which a delegate is registered is determined by the badge type which is chosen from the drop down box in the ORS:

All delegates of admitted observer organizations have to be registered within the deadlines:

Important information:

Notification/Information note	Published
Information Note - Registration and possible access limitations - United Nations Climate Change Conference - Bonn, Germany, 6 - 17 November 2017 (595 kB)	2 November 2017
Information Note to admitted NGOs - Revision of guidelines for participation of representatives of NGOs at meetings of the bodies of the UNFCCC (153 kB)	6 October 2017
Notification to admitted IGOs and NGOs - United Nations Climate Change Conference, 6-17 November, Bonn, Germany (274 kB)	10 August 2017
Information note to admitted IGOs and NGOs - Capacity for observer organizations - United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 23/CMP 13/CMA 1.2), 6–17 November 2017, Bonn, Germany (190 kB)	1 August 2017
Information Note to admitted non-governmental organizations - Opening of the Online Registration System – Bonn Zone, United Nations Climate Change Conference, 6–17 November 2017, Bonn, Germany (260 kB)	12 June 2017
Information Note to admitted intergovernmental organizations - Opening of the Online Registration System – Bonn Zone, United Nations Climate Change Conference, 6–17 November 2017, Bonn, Germany (259 kB)	12 June 2017
Information Note to admitted IGOs and NGOs - opening of the Online Registration System - United Nations Climate Change Conference, 6 - 17 November 2017, Bonn, Germany (214 kB)	17 May 2017

Important guidelines:

Guidelines for participation: (170 kB)

Use of cameras and audio/video recording devices: (118 kB)

UN security guidelines: (129 kB)

Disclaimer

The UNFCCC secretariat has become aware that certain admitted observer organizations are using commercial business model packages to solicit business. As an inducement to sell these packages, potential clients are assured participation at UNFCCC conferences, sessions and meetings through quotas of admitted observer organizations. The UNFCCC secretariat would like to make clear that it does not endorse such practices nor does it charge any fees to anyone for participating in the UNFCCC process. Eligible participants are accredited only by the UNFCCC secretariat who upon issue of badges by the UNFCCC secretariat can enter conference, sessions and meetings venue and participate, subject to the relevant rules and regulations, in the activities organized by the UNFCCC secretariat including the UNFCCC side events and exhibits and UNFCCC Climate Change Studio.

Agendas

Detailed information (including agendas, official documents, decisions, Daily Programme and schedule of meetings) can be accessed through the following web pages:

• COP 23 conference website
  • COP 23
  • CMP 13
  • CMA 1-2
  • SBI 47
  • SBSTA 47
  • APA 1-4

Access to negotiation meetings Changes to in-session access to informal meetings are announced on CCTV screens in the conference venue as well as through Twitter: @UNFCCCObservers

Webcast Webcast will be available through the COP 23 conference website during the conference.

Submissions

Convention bodies often request written input, called submissions, on views and information on various issues under negotiation. These mandates are extended to observer organizations. Information on how to make submissions is available here.

Side events and exhibits, the Climate Action Studio and the delegation pavilions will be located in the Bonn Zone:

• Side events and exhibits
• Climate Action Studio
• Delegation pavilions on a commercial basis

Presiding officers and the UNFCCC Executive Secretary provide updates on the negotiations and opportunities to exchange views in briefings and dialogues with observer organizations. These meetings are facilitated by one of the Constituency Focal Points (301 kB) . During the conference, information on such meetings will be published in the Daily Programme and on the CCTV screens.

Presidency’s Open Dialogue

The Presidency’s Open Dialogue at COP 23 offers a unique opportunity for Parties and NGO Constituencies to directly interact with each other in the formal UNFCCC process. In a collaborative Talanoa spirit, Parties and NGOs will discuss what is needed to implement and enhance NDCs; and how observer access and participation in the UNFCCC process can be further improved. Further information is available here

HLS opening on 15 November 2017

The opening of the joint high-level segment of COP 23/CMP 13/CMA 1.2, to be attended by approximately 30 Heads of State and Government, will be held in Plenary New York on Wednesday, 15 November 2017. The opening will be presided over by His Excellency Mr. Frank Bainimarama, President of COP 23/CMP 13/CMA 1.2, and will be attended by His Excellency Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, His Excellency Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, His Excellency Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, President of the UN General Assembly and Ms. Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, UNFCCC Executive Secretary.

Owing to the exceptional number of participants and the capacity limitations of the plenary, and taking into consideration the safety and security of all participants, the United Nations Department of Safety and Security will need to restrict access to Plenary New York.

However, a limited number of tickets for the Gallery are available for NGOs. Tickets will be distributed through the Constituency Focal Points (301 kB) . Those ENGOs that do not belong to one of the ENGO networks (ENGO CAN or ENGO CJN), please note that your organization's Designated Contact Point has been informed about a lottery system for a limited number of tickets.

Observer part of the HLS

Statements by heads of IGOs and Constituency representatives during the HLS were delivered on Thursday, 16 November 2017. Further information including the list of speakers and copies of the statements are accessible here. The webcast of the observer statements is available here.