Capacity development and systematically strengthening the skills of individuals is a prerequisite for achieving other important climate change objectives, for example in the area of climate change financing and adaptation. This message was one of the key conclusions of the One UN COP-15 Side Event on Climate Change Capacity Development, co-convened by UNDP, UNEP, UNITAR and the UNFCCC on 10 December 2009 in the margins of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference.

 

 

Welcoming more than 400 participants, Olav Kjorven, UNDP Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Bureau for Development Policy and Silvie Lemmet, Director of UNEP’s Division of Technology, Industry, and Economics both referred to the One UN Training Service Platform on Climate Change – also known as UN CC:Learn – as a model example how the UN System can work together as One in supporting capacity development in Member States. UN CC:Learn is a recent initiative involving more than 20 UN agencies to date that seeks to foster knowledge sharing and strengthening of climate change learning and skills development in Member States, through One UN collaboration. UNITAR is serving as the host agency for UN CC:Learn on behalf of participating agencies. Other collaborative UN programmes featured at the side event included UN REDD and Technology Needs Assessment programmes.

 

In discussing climate change related learning and skills development in South Africa, Zaheer Fakir, Chief Director, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, emphasized the importance of country-driven and proactive approaches in developing national capacity, quoting the Chinese philosopher Confucius who said that "man who stand on hill with mouth open will wait long time for roast duck to drop in." Ultimately, effective capacity development requires a common vision, commitment, and empowerment of concerned actors, Fakir stated.

 

Within the framework of UN CC:Learn, plans are under way to support interested countries in developing a country-driven strategy to strengthen human resources, learning and skills development on climate change. As a first step, a draft guidance methodology will be developed in early 2010 through collaboration of UN agencies and other interested partners in support of pilot projects envisaged to start later in the year, resources permitting. The pilot projects have the objective to support a strategic and results-oriented approach to learning and skills development at the national level, consistent with the individual level pillar of the UNFCCC Capacity Development Framework.

 

For further information on UN CC:Learn, please visit www.uncclearn.org

 

To view the official webcast of the side-event please click here