27 May 2011 – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - With the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNITAR’s Multilateral Diplomacy Programme (MDP) has successfully implemented a five day training course for African diplomats and officials on Climate Change Diplomacy. The training took place from 25 – 27 May, in Addis Ababa and focused on the road map of climate change negotiations. “This workshop will help me make meaningful contributions to the complex negotiations on climate change”, said one of the participants at the end of the course and another stated that such workshop are the most useful way to build capacities of diplomats on climate change.

The road of climate change negotiations

The participants were introduced to the most important decisions that have been made in the fight against climate change but also to the challenges that are yet to be faced on the road to COP17 in Durban next December. The workshop also provided the diplomats with techniques needed to break down negotiation deadlocks and facilitate progress under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

A deeper understanding of the UNFCCC

Thanks to the interactive and dynamic methodology of the workshop, including role plays, videos and practical exercises, the participants got an idea of the realities of a climate change negotiation such as the COP17 will be. After the workshop the participants had a deeper understanding of the UNFCCC framework, structure and processes. They had learned to appreciate what has been achieved under these processes so far, and what is yet to be achieved and remains the subject of ongoing negotiations.

This workshop on climate change diplomacy was implemented with the support of UNDP and will be a part of a series of training programmes on climate change diplomacy which will take place throughout 2011, specifically for the benefit of African diplomats and officials involved in the UNFCCC negotiation process or preparations therefore.  

For more information about MDPs Climate Change courses please contact the Multilateral Diplomacy Programme at ccdiplomacy<a>unitar.org. Please replace <a> by @ in the email address.