21 June 2012: The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat organized a workshop on implementing Article 6 on education, training and public awareness in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) during which participants identified the need for dedicated financing, national plans and strategies to implement Article 6.

Participants from LDCs, as well as representatives from the EU, the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)/UN CC:Learn, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), heard presentations on and participated in discussions on initial lessons learnt from five UNITAR/UN CC:Learn pilot projects to develop national strategies for strengthening human resources and skills to address climate change. Article 6 focal points also presented a number of activities taking place at the country level.

A number of participants highlighted that, while many country level activities are underway, these are not part of a national strategy or action plan, which has made assessing their effectiveness and impact difficult to quantify. LDCs in particular stressed that a lack of financing remains a key barrier, requesting that financing institutions provide dedicated financing for implementing Article 6. Participants also noted the importance of cross-sectoral cooperation, as well as including national learning institutions when developing national strategies.

Held in Bonn, Germany, from 19-21 June 2012, the workshop aimed to: share good practices and lessons learned; assess the status of the implementation of the New Delhi Work Programme on Article 6 to the Convention and identify gaps and barriers; and define emerging needs and priorities for a successor work programme on Article 6 to be adopted at the 18th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 18) to the UNFCCC. [UNITAR/ UN CC:Learn Press Release] [Workshop Website]