ecbi hosted a Caribbean Regional Training Workshop for novice climate negotiators to gain a better understanding of the climate process, the main issues being addressed in the climate negotiations, and the mechanics of negotiations so that can more effectively participate in meetings under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement.
The workshop, held from 16-18 April 2024 at the Mount Irvine Bay Resort in Tobago, was attended by 22 participants from 18 countries, including ten AOSIS Fellows participating virtually from New York. The Workshop covered key issues relevant to the multilateral climate change negotiations, as well as key priorities for AOSIS. It also provided hands-on training during a mock negotiating session.
Presentations were made on the Science of Climate Change, Climate Geopolitics and the International Governance Framework, Mitigation, Adaptation and Loss and Damage, Climate Finance and Loss and Damage Finance, Key Priorities for AOSIS, and Mechanics of and Preparing for the Negotiations. During a mock negotiating session on the third day of the Workshop, trainees came prepared to negotiate on a fictional agenda item: an AOSIS proposal for a specialised window or sub-goal for loss and damage funding under the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG).
Following the conclusion of the Workshop, participants commented positively on the substance, information provided, and format, saying it was engaging, well-structured, and well-managed. Specifically, participants felt that:
- Based on the breadth of information on climate change, “the facilitators did a commendable job in their presentations”.
- Providing an overview of the negotiating process and “dos and don'ts” prior to the mock negotiating session was very helpful.
- The workshop sessions helped to “demystify the process and procedure of climate negotiations”.
- The in-person setting provided a relaxed atmosphere and made it easier to communicate with the presenters and peers and "forge meaningful connections".
- "The knowledge and skills gained under the guidance ... have been truly transformative."[LinkedIn post by Nafesha Richardson, see below]
Participants pointed to the utility of the mock negotiations, which, in their opinion: provided a “real-life view of how the COP negotiations are formatted and conducted”; instilled confidence to be more engaged in the process; and enabled the application of the theoretical knowledge gained in a practical environment. One said they the mock negotiations were “eye opening and extremely useful, especially heading into COP, as I was never exposed to the intricacies of the process and I now have a better appreciation for it”.
Looking forward, and based on the experience that the training afforded them, participants looked forward to follow-up trainings where “a cohort can be adequately groomed for active participation in negotiations on behalf of our respective countries.
