From Local Action to Global Impact: How Subnational and Local Governments Drive Just and Inclusive Climate Ambition and Implementation through Action for Climate Empowerment

Implementation Forum at Climate Week-3

23 Apr. 2026

10:00h - 12:30h

KST/UTC+9

Yeosu, Republic of Korea

Republic of Korea

Seminar Room 4, Yeosu Expo Convention Centre

Yeosu Expo Convention Centre

Education and Youth

English

From Local Action to Global Impact: How Subnational and Local Governments Drive Just and Inclusive Climate Ambition and Implementation through Action for Climate Empowerment

Implementation Forum at Climate Week-3

23 Apr. 2026

10:00h - 12:30h

KST/UTC+9

Yeosu, Republic of Korea

Republic of Korea

Seminar Room 4, Yeosu Expo Convention Centre

Yeosu Expo Convention Centre

Education and Youth

English

Background and Objectives

Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) denotes work under Article 6 of the Convention and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement. The overarching goal of ACE is to empower all members of society to engage in climate action, through the six ACE elements – climate change education and public awareness, training, public participation, public access to information, and international cooperation on these matters.

Ahead of the midterm review of the Glasgow work programme on ACE at SB 64 (June 2026), the secretariat is organizing the ACE Activity Series 2026, under the guidance and authority of the SBI Chair, to enable deeper assessment of ACE implementation since the adoption of the work programme and its action plan, and initiate discussions on the way forward.

As part of the Activity Series, the ACE event at Climate Week Yeosu brought together policymakers, practitioners and partners across levels of governance to showcase good practices of ACE implementation at subnational and local levels and explore how subnational and local governments can advance climate ambition and implementation by integrating the six ACE elements in their efforts to deliver just and inclusive transitions.

The event is organized as part of the ACE Hub, with the support of the German State Government of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Livestreaming

The event was livestreamed on YouTube.

Tentative agenda

🖥️Presentation slides are available here.

Time	Details
10:00–10:20	Opening and Introduction Opening remarks Dr. Tuğba Dinçbaş, Director, Action Agenda, COP 31 Presidency, Türkiye Ingrid Lundberg, Branch Head, Office of the COP 31 Presidency, Australia Dr. Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Secretary-General, United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific What is ACE & Introduction to ACE Hub Fleur Newman, Action Empowerment Unit Lead, UNFCCC
10:20–11:00	Panel discussion on good practices of ACE implementation by cities and regions, covering the six ACE elements Nehmat Kaur, Director, Under2 Coalition, Climate Group Dr. Un Shil Choi, Chair, Advisory Committee for Learning Cities Emani Kumar, Deputy Secretary-General, ICLEI Sarah Queblatin, Inclusive Regenerative Design Specialist, Iswe Foundation
11:00–12:10	Breakout discussion The role of cities and regions in advancing climate ambition and implementation through ACE Groups include: Just transition Health Energy/industry Food security Transport Nature-based solutions (incl. water and forest) Participants was invited to share subnational and local experiences and lessons learned in each area, with guiding questions allowing them to discuss how ACE can help accelerate implementation. The themes aligned with the Implementation Labs to enhance the engagement of the subnational and local governments in subsequent Lab sessions. Special attention was paid to inclusive, gender-responsive and intergenerational approaches.
12:10–12:25	Report back
12:25–12:30	Closing

To attend this event in person, registration for the Implementation Forum is required.