UN Climate Change News, 12 November 2019 – Will you be at COP25? Join us at the 2^nd Capacity-building Hub and help us raise awareness on the importance of capacity-building for climate action and as a key tool for raising ambition!

This year, capacity-building will be in the spotlight at the UN Climate Change Conference COP25. The need to build the capacity of countries to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and at the same time, raise climate ambition, has long been highlighted by governments all around the world. “There can be no collective climate ambition—true participation by all nations—unless we first build capacity, " said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Patricia Espinosa.

In recognition of this, the Paris Committee on Capacity-building (PCCB) opened a Call for Expression of Interest to organize dedicated capacity-building sessions at the 2^nd Capacity-building Hub, which will take place from 4-11 December during COP25 in Madrid.  A total of 73 submissions were received, carefully reviewed, assessed, and allocated to 7 thematic days, focused on capacity-building aspects relevant for the different selected themes, which will be organized in collaboration with several leading partners:

• 4 December - Capacity-building Day: Together with the International Centre for Climate Change and Development and the Least Developed Countries Universities Consortium on Climate Change, this thematic day aims to showcase innovative examples of climate-related capacity-building at different levels, also highlighting multi-stakeholder partnerships to enhance the effectiveness of climate action, raise climate ambition, and yield lasting results at the local, subnational, national and regional levels.
   
• 5 December – Transparency Day: In collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, the Transparency Day, composed of seven different, but interrelated events, will be an opportunity for an in-depth discussion on the steps and challenges ahead, as countries move to implement their national Enhanced Transparency Frameworks. These require Parties to report regularly on their GHG emissions and on progress in achieving their mitigation and adaptation actions, as included in their NDCs.
   
• 6 December - Capacity-building Knowledge to Action Day:  The purpose of this Action Day is to strengthen collaboration at regional, national and subnational levels, building on the knowledge and experience of various actors in developed and developing countries in designing and implementing national climate change mitigation and adaptation policies.  The key partners for this thematic day are the Institute for Environment and Human Security from the United Nations University and the International Development Research Center.
   
•  7 December – Local Governments and Cities Day: Joining efforts with UN-Habitat and ICLEI, this Day aims at providing an overview of important capacity-building activities undertaken at subnational, local and city level. It will highlight the importance of cities in leading the process of transformation and adaption to climate change, emphasizing the role of individuals and communities.
   
• 9 December – Means of Implementation Day: Working with the Climate Technology Centre & Network, this thematic day will present 7 events spanning essential aspects of the wide range of capacities needed for implementing climate action, from creating supportive legislation for accessing climate finance to identifying and utilizing the right technologies.
   
• 10 December – Raising Ambition Day: As 2020 marks a historical milestone for implementing climate pledges under the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals set by Agenda 2030, we need to build the capacities of developing countries in order to raise ambition. The Raising Ambition Day will be organized by UN Climate Change. Co-organizers of the day are representatives of international coalitions and networks who believe in collective action for effective change, who will present concrete examples of their actions, as well as pathways for higher ambition.
   
• 11 December – Loss and Damage block: the Paris Committee on Capacity-building and the Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism will work together to organize a thematic block on loss and damage.
   
• 11 December – Marketplace/Capacity-building Talks: Offering a space for dialogue with capacity-building actors and stakeholders both on- and off-site, the Paris Committee on Capacity-building will dedicate the last day of the Hub to innovative stand-up talks to share innovative capacity-building initiatives, projects and methodologies for climate action. These dialogues will be broadcast live through the PCCB’s Facebook to allow engagement with actors  not attending COP25.

Participate in the 2^nd Capacity-building Hub and join efforts with other like-minded organizations working on capacity-building for climate action!