Attending sessions
United Nations (UN) organizations and Specialized Agencies
Article 7, paragraph 6 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) provides that the United Nations, its specialized agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency, may be represented at sessions as observers.
Related organizations of the United Nations may also be represented as observers at sessions.
United Nations (UN) and related organizations and specialized agencies are one of the three categories of observer organizations in the UNFCCC process, along with admitted IGOs and admitted NGOs.
In order to attend sessions, nominations of representatives from UN and related organizations and specialized agencies, through their Designated Contact Points (DCP), should be conveyed to the secretariat via the Online Registration System. The manual on how to access and use the system is available here. ORS is the only official channel for nominating participants for sessions of the UNFCCC. The secretariat is not in a position to process nominations submitted by any other method.
Mandate for admission: Article 7, paragraph 6 English Español Français
Designated Contact Points of UN and related organizations and specialized agencies
The UNFCCC secretariat strives to maintain a network of Designated Contact Points (DCP) of UN and related organizations and specialized agencies for activities pertaining to the UNFCCC. The DCP is the contact point for the organization and is the liaison between the organization and the secretariat. The DCP will be the responsible authority for on-line registration of the organization’s delegation to sessions of the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement and would be able to enter and nominate/confirm delegates in ORS. The DCP would also be the point of communication for all communications regarding changes in registration.
In the interest of consistency and to avoid overlaps, there should be only one contact point for the organization. The DCP should be the same contact point(s) for authorizing applications for side events/exhibits) and for uploading submissions through the online Submission and Statement Portal.
Nominating or Changing Designated Contact Points
To nominate or make changes to the DCP of UN and related organizations and specialized agencies to the UNFCCC, an official letter should be sent to the secretariat from the head of the organization or their representative, regarding the designation of the new DCP or an additional contact point, together with the designated form to facilitate this change. Kindly contact the Protocol and External Relations unit of the secretariat at external-relations@unfccc.int to request the form. Once completed, the form and accompanying letter should be returned together to the Protocol and External Relations unit. The secretariat will then make the necessary changes and the information will be updated in the corresponding database.
The Protocol and External Relations unit serves as the liaison of UN and related organizations and specialized agencies with the secretariat.
Input from UN and related organizations and specialized agencies to the Process
Side events and exhibits at UNFCCC COPs
For sessions of the COPs, side events of UN and related organizations and specialized agencies are coordinated by the UNFCCC secretariat. For other UNFCCC sessions (e.g. SBs), UN and related organizations and specialized agencies may apply individually via the Side Events and Exhibits Online Registration System (SEORS).
Please note that there is no separate application process for UN and related organizations and specialized agencies exhibits for the COP. Applications from UN organizations and specialized agencies for COP exhibits are received via SEORS.
Please consult the home page of the Side Events and Exhibits Online Registration System (SEORS) and this section of the Side Events and Exhibits Overview webpage on the official UNFCCC website for further information.
Side Event and Exhibit Focal Points (SEORS DCP)
The secretariat maintains an official list of designated contact points (DCPs) and heads of UN and related organizations and specialized agencies for the purpose of formal communications with the UNFCCC.
The DCP is also the contact point for authorizing an application for side events/exhibits in the Side Events and Exhibits Online Registration System (SEORS) for UNFCCC SB sessions and is responsible for representing the organization during the coordination of UN and related organizations and specialized agencies side events and exhibits at UNFCCC COPs.
Submissions in response to calls for information and views
Convention bodies often request written input, called submissions, on views and information on various issues under negotiation. These mandates are extended to observer organizations’, including UN and related organizations and specialized agencies. Such inputs are channeled through the submission and statement portal. Further information, including on how to set up an account, are available here.
