United Nations Alliance on Action for Climate Empowerment

Background

In response to the increasing impact of climate change on development and security issues, a growing number of United Nations organizations are working closely with governments to help build green and climate-resilient societies. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) assembled in Doha at COP 18/CMP 8 in 2012 to launch the Alliance with a view to promote meaningful, result-oriented and effective international cooperation in support of action on climate change education, training, public awareness, public participation and access to information.

Objectives

  The objectives of the Alliance are to:     

  • maximize synergies and coherence of activities, avoid duplication of effort and utilize available expertise and resources in an efficient manner through enhanced coordination;
  • support Parties to the UNFCCC in their efforts to design, initiate and undertake activities related to climate change education and public awareness, training, public participation and access to information;
  • establish a clear link between the work of the member organizations and the UNFCCC process.

Members

The UN Alliance currently comprises 13 members. Most recently the International Labour Organization (ILO) joined the UN Alliance on Climate Change Education, Training and Public Awareness. More information about the members of the UN Alliance and its activities can be found here.  

 

Events of the UN Alliance

Each year, the UN Alliance organizes a special side event during the COP, at which individual and joint events of the UN Alliance members are showcased. Furthermore, the UN Alliance is active throughout the year in organizing activities to enhance cooperation in addressing climate change issues related to education, training and public awareness

.     COP 22 / CMP 12, Marrakech, November 2016

During the COP22 / CMP12 in Marrakech in November, the Alliance co-organized a side event on climate change education. The side event on "Leaving No One Behind in Climate Change Education" held discussion on how climate change education can be made more inclusive and relevant to a larger variety of stakeholders. The Alliance also held the "High-Level Event: Climate Education as a Driver of Change", which discussed the role of education as key driver in moving forward with the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. More>>                 

    COP 21 / CMP 11, Paris, December 2015

During the COP21 / CMP11 in Paris in December the UN Alliance on Climate Change Education, Training and Public Awareness organized a variety of side events on climate change education. Two separate events were hosted on identifying innovative means of scaling up non-formal and formal education. Furthermore, there was a Ministerial event on Climate Change Education and Sustainable Development. More >> 

    SB 42, Bonn, June 2015

The UN Alliance met during an informal meeting at the Bonn Climate Change Conference in June. During the meeting, they discussed an exciting suite of plans for the near future which were revealed during a side event at COP 21 in Paris.

   COP 20 / CMP 10, Lima, December 2014

During the COP 20 / CMP 10 the UN Alliance jointly prepared and organized a side event in collaboration with partner organizations on education and communication as cornerstones for effective climate action. The event showcased how education and communication are at the core of climate change solutions by advancing knowledge on effective mitigation and adaptation actions.

Photos: UNITAR, UNFCCC, UN Photo/JC McIlwaine   

 
Content