25 February 2014, Geneva, Switzerland - More than 50 countries have expressed interest in developing a national climate change learning strategy. In response to this demand the UN CC:Learn Secretariat has released a Guidance Note which provides methodological and organizational suggestions for developing such a strategy. The Guidance Note also responds to the UNFCCC Doha Work Programme which mandates States to prepare a national strategy on Article 6 of the Convention (dealing with climate change education, training and public awareness-raising).

The Note is the product of a three year pilot phase, including five national UN CC:Learn projects to “Strengthen Human Resource Capacities and Skills to Address Climate Change”. The five pilot countries are Benin, the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Malawi, and Uganda. The Note has been developed with valuable input from members of the UN CC:Learn Steering Group and discussions at several international and regional meetings.

In the foreword of the Guidance Note Ms. Sally Fegan-Wyles, UN-Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director, UNITAR notes: "It is my hope that the guidance will help to inspire systematic action on climate change learning in many other countries, and that those countries will share their experiences with yet other countries."

Potential users of the Guidance Note include:

• Decision-makers in government interested in understanding the process and benefits of developing a National Climate Change Learning Strategy;
• Technical staff in Ministries or other institutions responsible for organizing the process of developing a National Climate Change Learning Strategy;
• Representatives of education and training institutions and non-governmental organizations involved in the development and implementation of a National Climate Change Learning Strategy;
• Representatives of the private sector (e.g. employers’ organizations and trade unions);
• Interested citizens.

The Guidance Note can be downloaded for free here.

UN CC:Learn is a partnership of more than 30 multilateral organizations supporting countries to  design and implement systematic, recurrent and results-oriented climate change learning. At the global level, the partnership supports knowledge-sharing, promotes the development of common climate change learning materials, and coordinates learning interventions through a collaboration of UN agencies and other partners. At the national level, UN CC:Learn supports countries in developing and implementing national climate change learning strategies. Through its engagement at the national and global levels, UN CC:Learn contributes to the implementation of Article 6 of the UNFCCC on training, education and public awareness-raising, and the 2012-2020 Doha Work Programme. Funding for UN CC:Learn is provided by the Swiss Government and UN partners. The Secretariat for UN CC:Learn is hosted by the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

Photo 1: Guidance Note for Developing a National Climate Change Learning Strategy