The role of the UN system in addressing Climate Change (complementing Katharina's response to Souhila) --- Dear Katharina, you provided a very good summarized response to Souhila comment/question. In addition to that, I add three other very important ones: raising public awareness (for example through impactful media campaigns); promoting and supporting multi-stakeholder engagement at all levels, nationally, regionally and globally; and promoting the mobilization of domestic and international resources. Therefore, I think that the power of the UN system as regards addressing climate change is very strong, especially in terms of steering and influencing collective global action.

As mentioned by you, there are several UN agencies, programmes and funds working directly and/or indirectly on the several aspects and implications of climate change. UNESCO is one of those. UNESCO deals with CC in a multi/inter-disciplinary manner, engaging a wide range of stakeholders, at all levels, through its five thematic sectors (Education, Natural Sciences, Social and Human Sciences, Culture, Communication and Information). Furthermore, it is the only UN agency which also works specifically on the cultural and ethical aspects of climate change. In this regard, UNESCO promoted the development of the Declaration of Ethical Principles in relation to Climate Change (see my comment further below in the class reading).

Source author: Massimiliano Lombardo m.lombardo@unesco.org