Attending sessions 

Article 7, paragraph 6 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) provides that representatives of the United Nations secretariat units and bodies, specialized agencies and related organizations (UN bodies and organizations) may be represented as observers at sessions.

UN bodies and organizations are one of the three categories of observer organizations in the UNFCCC process, along with admitted IGOs and admitted NGOs.

In order to attend sessions, nominations of representatives from UN bodies and organizations, through their Designated Contact Points (DCP), should be conveyed to the secretariat via the Online Registration System. The manual on how to access and use the system is available here. ORS is the only official channel for nominating participants for sessions of the UNFCCC. The secretariat is not in a position to process nominations submitted by any other method.

Mandate for admission: Article 7, paragraph 6 English Español  Français

Designated Contact Points of UN Bodies and Organizations

The UNFCCC secretariat strives to maintain a network of Designated Contact Points (DCP) of UN bodies and organizations for activities pertaining to the UNFCCC. The DCP is the contact point for the organization and is the liaison between the organization and the secretariat. The DCP will be the responsible authority for on-line registration of the organization’s delegation to sessions of the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement and would be able to enter and nominate/confirm delegates in ORS. The DCP would also be the point of communication for all communications regarding changes in registration.

In the interest of consistency and to avoid overlaps, there should be only one contact point for the organization. The DCP should be the same contact point(s) for authorizing applications for side events/exhibits) and for uploading submissions through the online Submission and Statement Portal.

Nominating or Changing Designated Contact Points

To nominate or make changes to the DCP of UN bodies and organizations to the UNFCCC, an official letter should be sent to the secretariat from the head of the organization or their representative, regarding the designation of the new DCP or an additional contact point, together with the designated form to facilitate this change. The completed form and accompanying letter should be returned together to the Protocol and External Relations unit of the secretariat at external-relations@unfccc.int. The Protocol and External Relations unit serves as the liaison of UN organizations with the secretariat.

Once the information is received, the secretariat will make the necessary changes and the information will be updated in the corresponding database.

Input from UN Bodies and Organizations to the Process

Side events and exhibits at UNFCCC COPs

For sessions of the COPs, side events and exhibits of the UN bodies and organizations are coordinated by the UNFCCC secretariat. For other UNFCCC sessions (e.g. SBs), UN bodies and organizations may apply individually.

Please consult the Side Events and Exhibits Online Registration System (SEORS) for further information.

Side Event and Exhibit Focal Points

The secretariat maintains an official list of heads of organizations/agencies and designated contact points (DCPs) from UN bodies and organizations for the purpose of formal communications with the UNFCCC.

The DCP is also the contact point for authorizing applications for side events/exhibits and is responsible for coordinating UN bodies and organizations side events and exhibits at UNFCCC sessions of the COP.

Once the side events are approved, the DCP is responsible for the delivery of the events/exhibits and all related issues/activities.

Submissions in response to calls for information and views

Convention bodies often request written input, called submissions, on views and information on various issues under negotiation. These mandates are extended to observer organizations’, including UN bodies and organizations. Such inputs are channeled through the submission and statement portal. Further information, including on how to set up an account, are available here.