CLIMATE CHANGE DIPLOMACY
Online Learning for Diplomats from Small Island States
Special Event at the United Nations, New York, 9th July 2008
REPORT
Online training in climate change diplomacy as a solution for governments of small island states was one of the resounding messages heard at the UN Special Event on Climate Change Diplomacy held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on July 9, 2008.
Climate change is becoming a key issue in a diverse range of global and regional negotiation processes. In the past, climate change issues could be effectively covered by a few negotiators trained specifically for the Kyoto process, but today officials involved in discussion of an increasing range of fields (energy, human rights, telecommunications, health, etc.) need knowledge about climate change issues as well. Small island states in particular suffer from a lack of trained people who can address climate change issues within their specific fields.
With the support of the governments of Malta and Switzerland, DiploFoundation, a leading provider of online training in diplomacy, has developed an online course on climate change diplomacy. The course will be launched in autumn 2008 with the training of the first 20 officials from small island states. In 2009 Diplo plans to train 100 participants through this course. This programme is a continuation of Malta’s ongoing efforts to share its knowledge with other small island states. As part of this effort, close to 300 diplomats from small island states have already attended various Diplo-organised online learning courses.
The Special Event in New York was co-chaired by Malta’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Saviour Borg, and by Switzerland’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Peter Maurer. The Special Event was honoured by the presence of the President of the 62nd Session of the UN General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Srgjan Kerim.
Ambassador Saviour Borg, in his introductory remarks, said that the Special Event was the first of its kind within the United Nations in dealing jointly with two aspects of our multilateral world: climate change and diplomacy. Diplo had succeeded in bringing together these two issues. Furthermore, Ambassador Borg reminded the audience that later this year the United Nations will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the initiative taken by Malta to put climate change on the international political agenda. It was through this initiative that the UN General Assembly declared Climate Change as a Common Concern of Mankind and started the process which eventually led to the adoption of an effective Framework Convention on Climate Change and then the Kyoto Protocol. He also recalled the leading role Malta has played in raising awareness of the handicaps and vulnerabilities of small states, particularly small island developing countries.
President Srgjan Kerim, in his address at this Special Event, dealt with the role of the diplomat in adding value “by deploying strategic thinking, analytical and negotiating skills to quickly get to grips with the complex and inter-related facets of sustainable development.” He added that “diplomats must learn a new language – one in which climate, carbon, mitigation, adaptation and the complex scientific terminology they each carry, have become core concepts. This is a basic requirement if they want to understand the negotiations; successfully convey their views and interact with other delegations on an equal footing.”
President Kerim pointed out that the most vulnerable countries tend to suffer most from climate change. The same vulnerable countries also often lack the capacity to approach climate negotiations on an equal footing with richer or bigger nations, which have larger pools of experts or better training available for their diplomats. In this regard, President Kerim concluded, it is important that these states are offered the best training possible so they can adequately address the challenges posed by climate change. He therefore commended DiploFoundation and UNITAR for their initiatives.
Mr. Ljupco Gjorgjinski, coordinator of Diplo’s Small State Diplomacy project, said that the diplomacy surrounding climate change will certainly not be easy and straightforward. Diplomats will need to learn a new jargon and a new way of communicating with the stakeholders in the field of climate change. Mr. Gjorgjinski presented an overview of Diplo’s current activities and plans for the coming months in the area of Climate Change Diplomacy.
In explaining the core of Diplo’s learning approach, he quoted the Director of DiploFoundation, Dr. Jovan Kurbalija: “We believe that complex topics and in-depth learning are not well served by mass online learning. A more personal and engaging approach is needed. In our courses participants get individual attention which is often closer to coaching than teaching. This is how we achieve real skill improvement and capacity building.” Mr. Gjorgjinski highlighted that learning does not to stop when a course ends. In this case, training participants will continue using Diplo’s online toolkit for climate change diplomacy after the completion of the course.
Ms. Colleen Thouez, Head of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), presented the courses and programmes which UNITAR offers in the field of enviornment and climate change.
Ambassador Peter Maurer of Switzerland, in concluding the Special Event, said that the presentations made and the active discussion that followed showed the relevance of the work ofDiplo and UNITAR. Switzerland and Malta are not alone in their concern about climate change and its impact, in particular on small island states. Effective diplomacy is particularly important for small and developing states as diplomatic channels are often the only channels of exchange with foreign states and entities, in particular at the multilateral level. It is therefore crucial that small island states have the ability to make themselves heard during the global climate negotiations. Switzerland has supported the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies since 1990 and has been working hand in hand with Diplo since 2002. These substantial contributions are not only a visible sign of the Swiss interest in the Mediterranean area as well as the commitment to the Barcelona Process, but also underline Switzerland’s firm conviction that is it necessary to tackle the issue of climate change.
Many diplomats and international officials who attended the meeting expressed an interest in attending courses run by Diplo as well as taking advantage of the scholarships which Malta will provide for the upcoming course on Climate Change Diplomacy.
» Photos from New York
» Climate Change Diplomacy Conference (Malta, February 2008)
» PowerPoint Presentation of Diplo's Activities in Climate Change Diplomacy (PDF file)
