Article 6 of the Convention An overview Laurence Pollier, Programme Officer – Article 6 Sustainable Development Programme Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC)

Article 6 of the Convention Title – Education, training and public awareness  broader scope From AI national communications. FCCC/SBI/2003/7/Add.4: Emerging as a significant policy tool to respond to climate change Activities under article 6 : Generate support to policies and measures Strengthen institutional and legal frameworks Increase skills and knowledge - Enhance capacity building Bridge the gap researchers/policy makers Facilitate information exchange Promote international cooperation in context of sustainable development

New Delhi work programme (Decision 11/CP.8) Enhance climate focused education and training programmes Increase the availability and dissemination of information on climate change Improve public understanding and participation in addressing climate change issues At COP 8 (New Delhi, October/November 2002), a five-year work programme on Article 6 was adopted and named the “New Delhi Work Programme” (decision 11/CP.8). Within this five-year framework, Parties have agreed on a list of activities that could be undertaken at the national level in order to enhance climate focussed education and training programmes, increase the availability and dissemination of information on climate change, thereby improving public understanding and participation in addressing climate change issues. Support the implementation of Article 6 - Set out the scope of activities - Provide basis for action - Serve as flexible framework Promote international cooperation Recognize the role of IGOs and NGOs Encourage partnerships and synergy

The use of electronic tools Facilitate provision of and access to information Major opportunity to build up information resources Enhance partnerships and networking Coming back to the national communications, Most Parties placed strong emphasis on facilitating access to information, since effective public participation in decision-making depends on full, accurate, up-to-date information. The emerging use of electronic tools to facilitate this process was reported by many Parties, and was identified as a major opportunity to build up information resources and enhance partnerships and networking in this area. Almost all Parties noted the development of web sites (from government, as well as NGOs)

Article 6 Information Network Clearing House (Proposal contained in FCCC/SBI/2003/4) Facilitate the provision of increased access to information Focus on the 6 key areas of Article 6 Based on broad participation Database driven specialized web site Because of the large scope of activities relating to Article 6, and the broader context of sustainable development to which Article 6 can apply, many organizations can contribute to providing a wide range of information and to responding to the needs of their clients, through the development of their own information systems. This tends to happen independently in each of the organizations, and information on cross-cutting issues cannot always be managed and accessed in a streamlined and coherent manner. The clearing house will concentrate on facilitating and promoting the exchange of information, knowledge, experience and best practices. It will establish a common home for partnerships and encourage stakeholders to cooperate by pooling resources and sharing work. It is expected that the secretariat will continue work on the development of the clearing house project and develop by SBI 21 (end 2004) a prototye.

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