I. Article 6: Education, Training, and Public Awareness

More effort must be invested in the implementation of Article 6 of the UNFCCC. People need to be involved in the processes of adaptation and mitigation, and they need to be equipped with the knowledge and capacity needed to make the process effective. As Article 6a states, Parties to the Convention must “promote and facilitate…the development and implementation of programs for public awareness and education about climate change, access to information on climate change and its effects, public participation in addressing climate change, and the training of scientific, technical, and managerial personnel.” Article 6b(ii) recognizes the importance of implementing education, training, and public awareness activities, specifically in developing countries. Addressing poverty and the subsequent need for capacity-building in developing countries is imperative in facilitating the implementation of Article 6. Developing countries are most affected by climate change. It is therefore crucial that the COP make training of personnel, access to information, and most importantly, civic participation a priority in addressing climate change in developing countries. This is climate justice.

In communities all over the world, more people need to be engaged in gathering scientific data and making decisions on adaptation and mitigation activities. To achieve this, greater emphasis must be put on education at the local level to empower communities and individuals . In the United States, communities, individuals and NGOs have carried out most of the action on climate change at the local level. The FCCC supports this “as appropriate” in article 6(a). More attention must be paid to local actions. Consequently, parties to the convention must recognize their responsibility, facilitate these actions at the local level, form strategy, and offer support for accomplishing these goals. The IPCC needs to make findings as clear and accessible as possible, and it is crucial that the COP facilitate the distribution and exchange of scientific and educational information and materials. Existing and potential organizations and networks need to be strengthened to facilitate education, training, and public awareness globally and locally.