7 February 2012: The National Workshop for the UN CC:Learn Project to Strengthen Human Resources and Skills to Address Climate Change in the Dominican Republic concluded with a recognition of the need for climate change education and training to be mainstreamed into various sectors, and linked to sustainable development strategies and objectives.
The workshop, which took place on 7 February 2012, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, was organized by the Dominican Republic’s National Climate Change Council (CNCCMDL) with support from UN CC:Learn. It aimed to contribute to the development of a national strategy to strengthen human resources and skills to advance green, low-emission and climate-resilient development in the Dominican Republic over the next six months. The workshop included sessions on: international experiences in the area of climate change education; stock taking of national climate change priorities, initiatives and capacity development challenges; the creation of linkages with international development partners; and the development of a national strategy to strengthen human resource capacities.
The session on international experiences in the area of climate change education provided an opportunity for international participants to share their perspectives and included presentations on: case studies on education and climate change in the Maldives, Madagascar, Philippines, Albania and Nigeria; Colombia’s National Strategy for Education, Training and Public Awareness on Climate Change and linkages with the National Climate Change Adaptation and Low Carbon Development Strategy; perspectives on Article 6 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on education, training and public awareness, and related implementation challenges; and the consequences of climate change for the sustainable management of resources in Puerto Rico.
In the session on “Development of a national strategy to strengthen human resource capacities,” the process for the development of the national strategy in Colombia was outlined, including the proposed methodology, terms of reference and work plan for developing the strategy, as well as the National Coordination Structure that includes 23 organizations.
The One UN Training Service Platform on Climate Change (UN CC:Learn) is a collaborative initiative involving 32 UN agencies that supports Member States, UN agencies and other development partners in designing and implementing country-driven, results-oriented and sustainable learning to address climate change. UN CC:Learn is a partnership of 32 multilateral organizations. The UN CC:Learn Secretariat is serviced by the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). [UN CC:Learn Press Release]