International Relations

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change. It recognizes that the climate system is a shared resource whose stability can be affected by industrial and other emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Under the UNFCCC, governments gather and share information on national policies and best practices, greenhouse gas emissions,; launch national strategies for addressing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to expected impacts, including the provision of financial and technological support to developing countries; cooperate in preparing for adaptation to the impacts of climate change

Article 6 of the Convention seeks to promote action at the national level to provide the education, training and public awareness needed to understand and deal with climate change. As a key element in the implementation of the Convention, the Article is relevant not only to the different sectors but also the civil society engagement.

Audiences throughout the world are increasingly exposed to climate related stories — predominantly negative and inadequately solution oriented.

The Climate Change Unit, Outreach section, headed by a Principal Climate Change Officer (UNFCCC Article 6 Focal Point) therefore is expected to and must play a key role in providing some of the answers and information that wider society expects.

The successful public awareness campaigns of CCU/MWE aim at engaging communities and individuals in the common effort needed to carry out national and international climate change policies.

The underlying aim is to support Article 6 of the Convention, which calls on governments to promote education, training and public awareness on climate change

CCU/MWE activities are undertaken in collaboration with partners to ensure coordination and the highest impact possible, and will both guide and be informed by the Communication Strategy

The focus of CCUs interventions is to:

Education training and public awareness targeting schools to ensure that today’s young people fully understand the challenges their generation is expected to face in the decades ahead

Develop strategic communications, including through mutually reinforcing messages with the UNFCCC Secretariat, to convey a sense of urgency in dealing with climate change;

Use media and outreach activities to help deliver key messages on climate change, especially those derived from CCU/MWE Climate Change publications, to the media and other target groups;

Help communicate successful adaptation and mitigation programmes to key stakeholders to promote replication of best practices and success stories using the Internet and audiovisual tools. This includes among others, promotion of networking and social outreach amongst internet savvy audiences using a variety of tools including Twitter, Facebook and Youtube, trainings for district local governments, Teachers, media and the civil society in a bid t support Public Private Partnerships.