An official accommodation booking portal for COP 24 participants offers a selection of adequate and affordable accommodation options within the city of Katowice and the wider region of Silesia, ranging from five-star hotels to apartments and hostels.

Opening hours

Pre-sessional week

Week 1

Week 2

The business centres are providing services to delegations on commercial basis. One business centre is located in the exhibition area (Area C) and the second one in the media pavilion (Area F).

The following catering services are available at the conference venue:

Food Court (Conference Zone C – Spodek) is open every day from 12:00 to 17:00 hours.

Bistro EMCEK (MCK Level 0, foyer, zone B) and one of the Grab & Gos (MCK Level 1 in front of the plenaries) is open until midnight every day, serving hot meals.

Either Bistro EMCEK (MCK Level 0, foyer, zone B) or one of the Grab & Gos (MCK Level 1 in front of the plenaries) is alternately open 24 h/ day.

More details on catering for events, receptions and offices can be found here.

Food Court, Grab & Gos and Bistro EMCEK: Details on the menus can be found here. Details on opening hours can be found here.

UNFCCC conferences, meetings and events should be professional, respectful and harassment-free environments for all participants. Harassment in any form, including sexual harassment, will not be tolerated. All participants are expected to conduct themselves in a professional and appropriate manner.

The Code of Conduct is available here and contains detailed information on prohibited conduct, complaint and investigation processes as well as possible consequences in case of misbehaviour.

We encourage reporting of any incident either directly to any badged UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) officer, or by calling UNDSS on +48 660 620 225 (United Nations Security Control Centre - 24/7) or +48 32 111 4949 (United Nations Security emergency number - 24/7) at any time.

Two computer centres are available throughout the conference zones offering computer and printing services to all participants. Plug&Play desks are also available in these areas.

Opening hours
Sunday, 2 December to Friday, 14 December: 08:00 - 22:00 hrs.
(Except Sunday, 9 December when the conference premises will be closed all day.)

Please be considerate and allow those who are waiting to use the equipment as well. The equipment is intended for use by all participants.

The Shipping guidelines are available here.

Information on credentials is contained on page 16 of this notification to Parties.

The Daily Programme for the conference will continue to be made available in electronic form only. A PDF version will be posted each morning on this website.

The United Nations Climate Change Secretariat publishes through its communications channels, at the request of various organizers for promotional purposes and on a courtesy basis, events taking place outside the United Nations premises during climate change conferences. These external premises are subject to national and local jurisdiction and the role of the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat, in the event of an incident, will be limited to facilitate contact with national and local authorities.

Medical and security emergencies

First aid and emergency medical services are available from 2 December to 14 December, opening hours from 07:00 to 23:00 hrs.

First aid rooms are located in Area B (Level 1), opposite to Plenary Śląsk and in Area E (Level 0), behind the pavilion of the Government of Poland.

For other emergencies, please approach United Nations Security staff (wearing either a United Nations uniform or an armband), contact the information desk on the ground floor of the main building, or call:
United Nations Security Control Centre (24/7): +48 660 620 225
United Nations Security emergency number (24/7): +48 32 111 4949

In case of emergency outside the conference venue, please call the following Polish emergency number:
112 (dedicated English-speaking staff)

Non-smoking policy

Smoking is not allowed inside the conference premises. Designated smoking areas are available outside.

Disclaimer

Participants are strongly advised to obtain comprehensive international medical insurance for the duration of their stay. The United Nations and the UNFCCC secretariat disclaim all responsibility for medical, accident and travel insurance, for compensation for death or disability, for loss of or damage to personal property and for any other costs or losses that may be incurred during travel or the period of participation.

In the interests of the security and safety of all participants and the smooth running of the sessions, the UNFCCC secretariat reserves the right to deny and/or restrict access to the conference premises, or to request registered participants to leave the premises. The UNFCCC secretariat shall not be responsible for any expenses incurred by nominated participants who are requested to leave the premises or refused registration or access to the sessions for which they have been nominated and/or registered as participants.

A Message to Parties regarding the high-level segment was communicated to all Parties on 18 October 2018 and a Message to Parties regarding the resumed high-level segment on 12 November 2018.

The high-level segment of COP 24/CMP 14/CMA 1.3 will be held in two parts. The delivery of national statements from Heads of State and Government during the high-level segment will be on Monday, 3 December 2018, and will resume on Tuesday, 11 December 2018 and Wednesday, 12 December 2018 with ministers and heads of delegation delivering national statements for those Parties that did not deliver a statement on 3 December.

The high-level segment will be open to all Parties and observer States, United Nations organizations and intergovernmental organizations and will be broadcast via live webcast and social media channels. A limited number of other observer organizations will be able to attend the event.

The schedule of the events for Heads of State and Government on Monday, 3 December 2018, can be found here.

The opening ceremony of the high-level segment will be presided over by officials from the host country and the United Nations.

Additional information on the high-level segment is available here.

Please visit this website for information on the logo.

Information for members of the press

Meeting rooms may be booked free of charge, availability permitting, for a maximum duration of one hour per Party, regional group or observer organization (UN, IGO, NGO). Meetings booked through the Meeting Room Assignment (MRA) team are categorized as closed, and no side events (which are open to the public) can be organized in any of these rooms.

Meeting rooms are available every day as of 3 December from 08:00 to 21:00 hrs.

MRA forms can be downloaded here and may be sent by email to meetingrequest@unfccc.int. The MRA team will track your request and issue notifications/confirmation by the last week of November.

As of 2 December 2018, (the official start of COP 24), MRA forms will no longer be accepted by email and should instead be submitted in paper format at the MRA counter, located on the second floor of the International Congress Centre (MCK). The availability and location of your meeting room will be confirmed in the evening of the day before your meeting at the MRA counter. Once confirmed, it is advisable to frequently check your email inbox for potential changes to your confirmed meeting booking.

MRA counter opening hours
Sunday, 2 December to Friday, 14 December: 08:00 - 20:00 hrs.

MRA guidelines

• Please carefully read and acknowledge the MRA guidelines stated on the form. By signing, you are confirming that you have read, understood and agreed to the conditions set out in these guidelines.

Further information on conference rules and regulations is available via the following links:

• Guidelines on the use of cameras and audio/video recording devices;
• United Nations Security guidelines related to media actions, distribution of publicity materials, etc.;
• Guidelines for the participation of non-governmental organization representatives.

A nursing room is located at the main conference entrance (Area A) on the left side of the registration counter. No accreditation is required to access the nursing room.

Observer engagement at COP 24

Side events and exhibits

Climate Action Studio

The Climate Action Studio is a platform for showcasing action by non-Party stakeholders in the UN climate change process. The studio operates during COPs and subsidiary body sessions by invitation, providing a space to highlight that action through interviews with observers admitted to the UNFCCC around specific themes linked to the negotiation process. The interviews are shared through the Climate Action Studio YouTube channel.

Delegation offices and pavilion spaces can be rented on a commercial basis. A booking system is available on the official COP 24 website. Please note that the registration closed on 30 September 2018. Further information is available here.

In case of any queries, please send an email to COP24@mos.gov.pl.

In order to minimize the consumption of resources, participants are encouraged to rely on digital versions of official documents which can be downloaded from the UNFCCC website, and to abstain from requesting printed copies. A printed copy of an official document can nonetheless be requested at the Documents Counter.

Documents counter opening hours
Sunday, 2 December to Friday, 14 December: 09:00 - 19:00 hrs.

Information on UNFCCC partnerships

Delegation offices and pavilion spaces can be rented on a commercial basis. A booking system is available on the official COP 24 website. Please note that the registration closed on 30 September 2018. Further information is available here.

In case of any queries, please send an email to COP24@mos.gov.pl.

Prayer and meditation rooms are located on level 0 of Area C. Please follow the signs starting from the information counter.

Presidency website

Information on press briefings

Further information for the press is available here.

All formalities regarding registration, including issuance of badges to duly nominated participants to attend the sessions, are free of charge.

Who can register

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 and must register accordingly. More information on options for participation is available here.

When to register on site

Upon arrival at the venue, you will be requested to proceed to the registration desk to collect your badge for access to the conference premises.

Registration times

Friday, 30 November, until Saturday, 8 December 2018, from 08:00 to 19:00 hrs.
On Monday, 3 December 2018, the registration for NGOs and IGOs will be closed in the morning and open at 14:00 hrs.
The conference venue, including registration, will be closed on Sunday, 9 December 2018.
Monday, 10 December, until Friday, 14 December 2018, from 08:00 to 19:00 hrs.

Early registration – before Sunday, 2 December 2018 – is highly recommended to avoid delays on the first day of the conference.

How to register

Registration for the conference is managed through the UNFCCC Online Registration System (ORS).

The notification on COP 24 to Parties and observer States was sent on 11 October and can be found here.

Please note that there is no online registration system for United Nations organizations. Procedures on how to register delegations from United Nations organizations will be included in the communication to Heads of UN Agencies regarding COP 24.

Multiple registration for the conference is not permitted (i.e. registration as an observer organization representative and a Party or State representative and/or press/media representative).

The COP 24 side events and exhibits schedules are now publicly available via the following links: COP 24 Side Events, COP 24 Exhibits. 

Further information on side events and exhibits is available here.

https://www.facebook.com/COP24Poland/
https://twitter.com/COP24

Please visit this webpage for comprehensive information on the sustainable organization and climate neutrality of COP 24.

Travelling to Katowice from abroad

Information on travelling to Katowice is available here.

Transportation to Katowice and the venue

Katowice Airport is situated 34 km away from the city centre. Upon arrival, participants can easily reach the city centre using shuttle buses operated by PKM Katowice that can be found outside the terminal building and will drop passengers off near the main railway station (Katowice Dworzec).

Krakow Airport is located 70 km from Katowice. Upon arrival, participants can take a train from Krakow to Katowice (travel time approx. 1 hour).

Further information, including on free transportation from any city in the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Area to Katowice and the conference venue, is available here.

Mazurkas Travel Transport offers transportation services including from/ to the airports of Katowice and Krakow, between hotels and the conference venue, to and from restaurants etc.

Pricelist for rental of chauffeured vehicles (exchange rates can be obtained here)

* Depends on year of manufacturing

Please send your requests or any queries to transport@cop24accommodation.pl.

Opening hours
Sunday, 2 December to Friday, 14 December: 08:00 - 19:00 hrs.

Information on the venue is available here.

Additional information on the International Conference Centre (MCK) is available here.

Maps of the venue are available here.

Please visit this website for information on virtual participation.

All foreign delegates entering the Republic of Poland must have a valid passport.

Information on the visa application process is included in the Information for Participants section of the notification to Parties for the sessions and also on the web pages of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland here and here and the website of the Polish mission where you are planning to apply for your visa.

Additional information on visas is available here.

Participants are invited to pass by the Information Desk at Area B to pick up their free welcome pack. Each pack includes the following items:

- Cotton bag
- Reusable BPA-free water bottle (for use with water dispensers available throughout the conference venue)
- Pair of gloves, scarf and hat
- Power bank

“COP 24 Friendly” is an initiative of the City of Katowice and local businesses to present COP participants with a unique and interesting gastronomic and shopping experience, as well as a hospitable atmosphere of the changing city of Katowice.

The 120 entrepreneurs who participate in the programme have prepared interesting special offers for the two-week sessional period. All participating businesses offer English-speaking service and accept payment in Euros and Zloty.

The objective of this initiative is to showcase the richness and uniqueness of the food, shopping and entertainment in the Silesian region. “We hope that our programme will help COP 24 participants to get to know and experience true Silesian hospitality”, says the Mayor of Katowice, Marcin Krupa.

The list of businesses that are part of COP 24 Friendly may be found here.