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The Capacity-building Knowledge to Action Days event series were held at the 2019-2020 Regional Climate Weeks and at COP 25, (PCCB/2019/5.) and aimed at identifying context-driven responses to capacity gaps and needs at the local and national level. The Paris Committee on Capacity-building (PCCB) endorsed the K2A concept note at their third meeting in June 2019, highlighting the importance of the events in supporting their work to strengthen the engagement of academia and research institutions in building capacity for the preparation and implementation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPS) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and thus bridge the gap between theory and practice of climate action. |
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Scope
To enhance climate action and ambition, the continuous participation of local, national and regional stakeholders, including research institutions and universities, in climate change mitigation and adaptation is considered crucial. This is regardless of the great variety of institutional arrangements in every country. A recurring issue in capacity-building discussions within the UNFCCC process is the lack of engagement of and insufficient coordination among these relevant actors. Better ways must be found to mobilize local and policy-relevant knowledge to address climate change issues and to make informed decisions.
Universities and research institutions in developing countries (including the least developed countries) have a central role to play in the preparation and implementation of NAPs and NDCs. To close the gap between knowledge and action, however, it is important for them to think across boundaries (geographic, disciplinary, interest-based, etc). While universities in developing countries are already building local capacities, the promotion of South-South and South-North knowledge-sharing among universities and inclusion of relevant stakeholders involved in the design and implementation of NAPs and NDCs could yield great benefits.
