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Welcome to COP23: #Uniting4Climate Further Faster Together

Preparations underway as COP23 opens its doors to the world on Monday Nov 6th to advance the implementation of the Paris Climate Change Agreement. Under the theme of "Uniting for Climate Action - Further Faster Together", delegates, businesses, civil society and regions are gathering in Bonn.

Italy and UN Launch Fellowship Programme for Climate Vulnerable Countries

The Government of Italy and UN Climate Change have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a new Fellowship Programme aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to respond to the challenges arising from climate change.

The new Programme titled “Capacity Award Programme to Advance Capabilities and Institutional Training in one Year" (CAPACITY) will contribute to developing local professional expertise in the countries that are most vulnerable to climate change by:

Supporting innovative analytical work on climate change in the context of sustainable development

Promoting a network of experts who can bring creating and innovative options to bear on questions of climate change

Encouraging the leadership potential of young and promising professionals in the fields

Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, Patricia Espinosa, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, said: "I would like to extend my deep appreciation to the government of Italy for providing support to launch this important fellowship programme. It marks an important step forward in our endeavor to ensure widest possible support to SIDS and LDC countries to combat climate change and help them build institutional capacity to build resilience to climate impacts.”

Patricia Espinosa, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary

Gian Luca Galletti, the Italian Minister of the Environment, Land and Sea, said: “The Italian government firmly believes that enhancing the ability of individuals, organizations and institutions in developing countries to identify, plan and implement ways to mitigate and adapt to climate change is crucial to enabling developing countries to pursue our common objectives for sustainable development in a climate-friendly manner.”

Gian Luca Galletti, Italian Minister of the Environment, Land and Sea

The programme is specifically targeted at mid-career professionals in SIDS and LDC countries who are working in a broad range of national, regional, and local governmental organizations, ranging from educational institutions, research institutes and ministries. Italy has agreed to provide a funding of 2,500,000 euros for the fellowship programme, which will initially be launched for a period for five years.

Annually, up to five one year fellowships will be awarded that can be further extended by one year. Selected fellows will have the opportunity to gain exposure to a wide range of opportunities available the UN Climate Change Secretariat in Bonn, Germany. They will be able to work on projects relating to the Paris Agreement, including Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), global climate action agenda, finance, legal, regulatory and institutional framework.

We Are Uniting for Climate! At COP23

Youth Climate Action Awards Ceremony at COP23

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“Showcasing the power of young people as key players in reaching innovative and ambitious solutions to combat climate change”

Pacific Dancers, Singers and Youth Voices to Connect Virtually with the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23)

This week, on the 15th and 16th of November, local perspectives on climate change and Pacific culture will take centre stage in Suva to be showcased and shared around the world through performances by some of Fiji’s most powerful performers and youth orators.

The events, “Fiji live to COP23: Uniting for Climate Action”, will be streamed through Facebook Live directly into the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23), happening in Bonn. Taking place on two nights – November 15th at 9:30 pm in Fiji (9:30 am in Bonn) and November 16th at 9:15 pm in Fiji (9:15 am in Bonn) from the University of the South Pacific (USP), the events will reach the entire conference as well as a global audience through social media. On Thursday, His Excellency the President of Fiji will also address the audience to introduce and launch the final event.

The events will include performances from the Fiji Conservatorium of Music, Pasifika Voices Choir, and the Oceania Dance Theatre, and speeches from two finalists in the Children’s Forum Oratory Competition, held last month, who will share what it means to unite for climate action. Ms. Anne Dunn, Miss Hibiscus and Miss Pacific Islands 2016, will host the two events upon her return from the COP where she is currently speaking as a youth climate ambassador for Fiji.

"One of our Presidency’s top priorities has always been to make a direct connection between the climate conference and the people of Fiji in order to impress on the global community just how urgent this issue is for us and for all Pacific Islanders. We want people in Bonn and around the world to hear directly from the Pacific why we all need to unite for climate action."

Akini-Qauqau-Cultural-Manager-COP23-Presidency

Akini Qauqau, Cultural Manager for the COP23 Presidency

The live events will showcase how Fiji and the Pacific islands are moving further, faster, and together for climate solutions.

"We’re excited to be bringing the voices and culture of Fiji and the Pacific live to the delegates at COP23. Now is the time for action, to raise ambitions and roll out climate solutions and investments. That is why we have been supporting the “Uniting for Climate Action” campaign for COP23."

Max Thabiso Edkins, Acting Manager, Connect4Climate, World Bank Group

Max Edkins, Program Manager, Connect4Climate, World Bank Group

This year, over 25,000 delegates are attending the COP in Bonn; the Fiji live events will be shown on screens around the entire conference centre and in the main Pavilion.

“We see the world through the stories we make to define who we are and where we are going. Singers and dancers, from time before history, help us change our story to meet new challenges and climate change is telling us that we need to change our story fast. Good luck and thank you to all the performers of Fiji!”

Patricia Espinosa, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary

The Facebook Live stream will be hosted on the Fijian COP23 Presidency Facebook page, open to everyone across the world to watch and experience first-hand the voices and culture of the Pacific Islands. The events will be seen in Bonn during the critical high-level segment of the conference when the negotiations are finalised and actions to be taken are confirmed. It is hoped these messages, direct from Fiji, will help inspire strong commitment and action by delegates in Bonn.

“Fiji live to COP23: Uniting for Climate Action” initiative is a partnership between the Fijian COP23 Presidency, Connect4Climate program of the World Bank Group, and UNFCCC. It is supported by the University of the South Pacific (USP), Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and Italy’s Ministry for Environment, Land and Sea and implemented by Apidae Development Innovations, Australia. The live broadcast is a part of the “Uniting for Climate Action – Further Faster Together” communication campaign for COP23.

Key facts

WHEN

Wednesday, 15th November, 9:30 pm in Fiji / 9:30 am in Bonn

Thursday, 16th November, 9:15 pm in Fiji / 9:15 am in Bonn

WHERE

For those in the Bonn Zone: The event will be streamed on the large screen in the exhibition area, as well as on screens throughout the Bonn Zone.

For those in the Bula Zone: The event will be streamed on the screens on the New York plenary meeting room.

For those around the world: The event will be streamed live on the COP23 Presidency’s Facebook page.

Green Shanghai’s Connect4Climate Competition: Winner Announcement

During the Green Shanghai’s Connect4Climate Competition, NYU Shanghai received more than 160 amazing photos, which show the attitude and thoughts towards climate. Thanks to all the participants!

The winners will be contacted in the next two days for receiving their prizes. The first 50 people who submitted their photos will receive a ¥50 voucher for FIELDS tomorrow!

Here are the six winners picked by the jury:

Prize: Ginger 500 RMB voucher, and a feature on Connect4Climate social media

“This is a shoot of China’s urban jungle. Slowly seeing less and less of this city as the years and pollution gets worse.”

By Killian Hauser

Second Prize, Green Shanghai’s Connect4Climate Competition

Wang Zixin, 2nd Winner, Green Shanghai’s Connect4Climate Competition

Prize: Ginger 300 RMB voucher

“Taken in northern Xinjiang, this pictures precisely epitomizes how two key factors of climate-light (temperature) and wind (rainfall)-shape the world. From right to left, on every hill, there is a sharp distinction of vegetation between the windward slope (the right side) and the leeward slope (the left side) because of different light and rainfall. From bottom to the top, we can also see the differentiation of plants due to the change of altitude. It's a precious moment when a grand concept -- "climate" manifests itself through a single picture."

By Wang Zixin

Yifei Li, 2nd Place, Green Shanghai’s Connect4Climate Competition

Prize: FIELDS 200 RMB gift card

“The human mark is but a punctuation. Photo was taken in Zhangye on Oct 1.”

By Yifei Li

Third Prize, Green Shanghai’s Connect4Climate Competition

市井少年, 3rd Place, Green Shanghai’s Connect4Climate Competition

Prize: Happy Buddha 100 RMB gift card

By 市井少年

Justin Scholar ,3rd Place, Green Shanghai’s Connect4Climate Competition

Prize: Miss Bon Bon pineapple cakes and mushroom chips

“水墨 West Lake, Hangzhou My best effort to recreate the ancient ink paintings of ancient china, I traveled to Hangzhou after studying the legend of Lady Bai for years, only to find the same timeless beauty one foggy morning.”

By Justin Scholar

Jean Baptiste White 3rd Place Green Shanghai's Connect4Climate Competition

Prize: Heike-Mate case of bottles

“Dun Huang."

By Jean Baptiste White

Sustainable Innovation Forum at COP23

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The 8th Sustainable Innovation Forum (SIF) takes place steps away from the COP23 ‘Bula Zone’. The event will be hosted on DHL’s lawn, in the shadow of the 162.5 meter Post Tower - a building powered by 100% certified renewable energy, with a cooling system that uses natural, local sources of wind and water, allowing it to consume 30% less energy.

International Federation (IF) Forum 2017

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This year’s IF Forum theme is "International Federation Impact - Leading the Way Towards a Sustainable Agenda." The 11th edition of the IF Forum will offer three days of targeted thematic sessions designed to be of specific value to the International Sport Federations' in attendance. In a collaboration between the International Olympic Committee, GAISF, ASOIF, AIOWF, ARISF, AIMS, and Associate Members.

Sustainable Energy For All at COP23

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Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) will be at the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP23), the UN Climate Change Conference taking place in Bonn, Germany, Nov. 6 – 17, 2017.