The 62nd session of the UNFCCC Bonn Climate Conference 2025 (SB62), held from June 16 to 26 in Bonn, Germany, provided an opportunity for Parties and non-party stakeholders to advance discussions and recommendations on enhancing the implementation of Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE).
Kicking off the ACE events this year was the ACE Focal Points Academy. Held annually since 2022, the Academy aims to strengthen the network of national ACE focal points at both international and regional levels. This year’s session took a modular approach and focused on enhancing understanding of the role of children and youth and indigenous peoples in accelerating ACE implementation and promoting intergenerational knowledge-sharing in an inclusive, gender-responsive approach in the context of their work. UN CC:Learn moderated the first module of the ACE Focal Points Academy on 20 June 2025 that was led by experts from Women’s Environment & Development Organization (WEDO), Out for Sustainability and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) that unpacked applying intersectional approaches in accelerating ACE implementation.
UN CC:Learn also actively participated in the Action for Climate Empowerment Dialogue, held on 21 and 23June 2025. Since 2013, the ACE Dialogues have provided a regular forum for Parties to the UNFCCC and other stakeholders to share their experiences, and exchange ideas, good practices, and lessons learned regarding the implementation of Article 6 of the Convention and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement.
The UN CC:Learn Secretariat facilitated different interactive exchanges, which reflected on policy coherence and coordinated action for ACE, while providing an open forum to share good practice examples. In addition to experts from WEDO, UNICEF and ILO, UNITAR/UN CC:Learn presented the development of National Climate Change Learning Strategies as an example of a dedicate national strategy on ACE. Alongside the ACE National Focal Point from the Dominican Republic, UN CC:Learn co-facilitated a subsequent interactive workshop on collaborative monitoring, evaluation and reporting for ACE.
The June Climate Talks are a bustling with discussions and activities which served as a networking hub for UN CC:Learn and like-minded partners. Various bilateral discussions have created valuable opportunities moving forward. These discussions have allowed UN CC:Learn and partners to explore synergies to further invest in climate change education initiatives. Such collaborations are essential for advancing global climate change efforts.