Tag: education

CAN Intervention - Informal consultations on Article 6 of the Convention - May 18

 

Thank you chair for giving us the opportunity to present our views on behalf of CAN international. Public support and engagement at the local and national level is critical to the success of meaningful climate mitigation and adaptation policies and we welcome the opportunity to offer a few concrete proposals. In relation to the timeframe of the next work programme, we would suggest that to established a permanent work program that is fully reviewed and amended every four years.

In order to ensure an in-depth review of the implementation of each of the elements of the amended New Delhi Work Programme we would suggest partial biannual reviews that tackle the thematic areas under two parallel groupings:

(1)  education, public awareness and training in one, and

(2)  public participation and access to information in the second, international cooperation being crosscutting.

These partial reviews should take place every two years on an alternate basis.  These reviews could include workshops as well as submissions made in advance focusing on best practices, challenges and gaps in implementation.

When reporting on implementation of article 6 related activities in their national communications, parties are encouraged to report specifically on actions taken for each of the six thematic areas and along the lines of indicators to be developed by the parties during the first partial review applying to each of the groupings.

We call for a mandate to the secretariat to request submissions and subsequently prepare a synthesis report on best practices related to the engagement of all stakeholders on national actions related to the UNFCCC.  These actions include:  preparation of national negotiating positions and reports to the UNFCCC (including national communications); and efforts to promote public participation in the negotiation process.

Thank you Mr Chair, we look forward to continue contributing to these discussions.

Wanun Permpibul on flooding in Thailand

Wanun Permpibul on flooding in Thailand

Wanun Permpibul from the Renewable Energy Institute of Thailand Foundation speaks about the catastrophic flooding in Thailand. She addresses what is needed in Panamá at the climate negotiations in order to make progress in Durban, at the annual COP, to help locally with adaptation to climate change in Thailand.

Related Event: 

Splendid Progress on Article 6

There is one place this week where we can truly say that Parties have shown high ambition and flexibility.
A draft COP decision has been reached on Article 6, which focuses on public education and raising awareness of climate change.
ECO is delighted to see that all of the youth constituency’s asks were included in the text, particularly non-formal education, youth participation in decision-making and funding for education programmes.
Particular credit goes to the G77+China, and especially the Dominican Republic, for their leadership.  
After a slow start in the contact group, the Dominican Republic, reacting to the large youth presence in the room, intervened to urge more flexibility to give young people the decision they deserved.  As a result, drafting the COP decision was concluded in short order.
The SBI Chair remarked that this is the first contact group ever to achieve a COP decision in 90 minutes, and presented a gold star to the contact group chair.
However, all this hard work could still be lost if the COP does not approve the draft SBI decision.
But ECO senses that Parties have had sufficient education on Article 6 to see it is in their best interests.
When finally approved, the high level of ambition and willingness to compromise in the Article 6 contact group can set a strong marker for other parts of the negotiations over the remainder of this week.

Related Event: 
Related Newsletter : 

Advancing the New Delhi Work Programme

With all the talk of finance gaps and gigatonne gaps, there has been much more progress in closing the climate-education-and-awareness gap.  Now there is an opportunity to go even further in the SBI. The New Delhi Work Programme adopted at COP 8 under Article 6 of the Convention comprises a promising set of commitments. The pillars of education, public participation and awareness-raising help to combat an atmosphere of climate denial and skepticism. Without a critical mass of public understanding and support to address the threats of climate change and the opportunities of clean energy development, the gap between the negotiations today and a fair ambitious, and binding global deal could become a chasm. The upcoming mid-term review of the New Delhi programme is a unique chance to build bridges between governments and citizens. That will only happen if civil society has the opportunity to fully contribute to the review along with Parties. This can best be realized by amending the New Delhi Work Programme to extend beyond 2012 and strengthen it to provide more local and regional climate education. Elements required include creating financial mechanisms specifically to fund Article 6 activities, recognizing and supporting youth organizations as key providers of non-formal and peer education, and supporting the diversity of forms that public awareness building can take, including arts, entertainment and both 'online' and 'real-life' social networks. The SBI should call for civil society as well as Party submissions on the review of the New Delhi Work Programme. Similarly, the Secretariat should receive a broad mandate to conduct its review of the work programme with as much civil society participation as possible. Parties should also provide the financial means to enable the Secretariat to organize regional workshops on the implementation of Article 6 in the SIDS and Africa. Previous workshops have been invaluable in communicating the objectives of Article 6. These regions deserve that resource, too. Because it is less controversial of a gap to cross than finance or emissions commitments, it should be easy for Parties to agree on filling voids in climate awareness as a step toward bigger things.

Related Event: 
Related Newsletter : 
Subscribe to Tag: education