The starting point for addressing climate change is to understand its causes, its immediate and future impacts on our lives and livelihoods, and necessary actions at the individual, local, national, regional and international levels to mitigate climate change and adapt to its adverse effects. As climate change action always starts at the individual level, it is crucial to build the capacity of individuals through climate change education and training, but also to create public awareness on climate change and enable the public to access information on and participate in climate change decision-making. Equally important, capacities of education and training institutions in Member States need to be strengthened to support action in this area.

As climate change increasingly impacts development and security issues, a growing number of UN organizations work closely with Parties to carry out various activities on climate change education, training and public awareness, public participation and public access to information. In this context the United Nations Alliance on Climate Change Education, Training and Public Awareness is being launched as an innovative coordination mechanism for action on, and the joint mobilization of support for, the work programme under Article 6 of the Convention. The Alliance will maximize synergies among diverse UN organizations and support the efficient use of expertise and available resources.