Action for Climate Empowerment under the UNFCCC: Implications for Global Climate Governance

Leidescher, Susanne

4. term

Development and International Relations, Master

2016

2016-07-31

106

Internationalt samarbejde om at håndtere klimaændringer er blevet mere presserende, især siden vedtagelsen af Paris-aftalen i 2015. FN’s rammekonvention om klimaændringer (UNFCCC) er den centrale arena for disse forhandlinger. Artikel 6 i konventionen – Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) – omfatter uddannelse, træning, offentlig oplysning, adgang til information, offentlig deltagelse og internationalt samarbejde. Dette speciale analyserer ACE’s rolle under UNFCCC og dens betydning for global klimastyring. I en fragmenteret styringsstruktur kan ACE hjælpe med at samle aktører og støtte klimaløsninger på lokalt, nationalt og internationalt niveau. Studiet gennemgår tidligere udvikling, aktuelle forhold og anbefalinger for fremtiden. Der anvendes kvalitative metoder med både primære og sekundære kilder, herunder bøger, akademiske tidsskrifter, UNFCCC’s hjemmeside, lovgivningsdokumenter som Doha-arbejdsprogrammet om artikel 6, rapporter fra UNFCCC-sekretariatet og parternes tilsigtede nationale bidrag (INDC’er). Derudover er der gennemført fem semistrukturerede ansigt-til-ansigt-interviews for at styrke den praktiske gyldighed af resultaterne. Evalueringen af INDC’er identificerer begrænsninger, huller og barrierer for ACE’s internationale gennemførelse. På trods af voksende opmærksomhed bliver ACE ofte ikke tilstrækkeligt prioriteret på nationalt og subnationalt niveau, og der er fortsat udfordringer i lokalsamfund. Implementeringen hæmmes særligt i nogle udviklingslande af begrænset finansiering og teknologi, utilstrækkelig uddannelseskapacitet, politisk ustabilitet og svag koordinering på tværs af ministerier. Specialet konkluderer, at ACE-sekretariatet bør styrke både top-down og bottom-up tilgange og sikre effektiv teknisk og finansiel støtte for at fremme udveksling og samarbejde mellem udviklede og udviklingslande.

International cooperation to address climate change has become more urgent, especially since the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the main venue for these negotiations. Article 6 of the Convention—Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE)—covers education, training, public awareness, access to information, public participation, and international cooperation. This thesis analyzes ACE’s role within the UNFCCC and its implications for global climate governance. In a fragmented governance landscape, ACE can help align actors and support climate solutions across local, national, and international levels. The study reviews past developments, current practice, and future recommendations. It uses qualitative methods and draws on primary and secondary sources, including books, academic journals, the UNFCCC website, legislative documents such as the Doha Work Programme on Article 6, reports by the UNFCCC secretariat, and Parties’ Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). In addition, five semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted to strengthen the practical validity of the findings. By evaluating the INDCs, the thesis identifies constraints, gaps, and barriers to the international implementation of ACE. Despite growing attention, ACE is not consistently prioritized at national and sub-national levels, and challenges remain at the community level. Implementation is particularly hindered in some developing countries by limited funding and technology, insufficient educational capacity, political instability, and weak coordination across ministries. The thesis concludes that the ACE secretariat should intensify both top-down and bottom-up approaches and ensure effective technical and financial support to facilitate exchange and cooperation between developed and developing countries.

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Leidescher, Susanne:

• Action for Climate Empowerment under the UNFCCC:: Implications for Global Climate Empowerment (2016)