Promoting Public Participation in Climate Policies

The document argues that public participation and access to information are essential for the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, contributing to higher ambition and resilience. It outlines specific entry points for enhancing these procedural rights across several UNFCCC agenda items, including Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Adaptation Communications, the Transparency Framework, the Global Stocktake, and Article 6 mechanisms. It also highlights the importance of regional frameworks like the Aarhus and Escazú Conventions and calls for improved engagement of observer organizations and the operationalization of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform.

• Public participation and access to information are described as essential for the effective implementation of climate action, as involving civil society, indigenous peoples, and communities increases public support, ambition, and the resilience of mitigation and adaptation actions.
• The document suggests that guidance for future Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) should encourage countries to share information on their planning processes, specifically regarding stakeholder consultations and the participation of local communities and indigenous peoples.
• To align with Article 7.5 of the Paris Agreement, the document argues that Adaptation Communications should require governments to report on the meaningful participation of civil society, particularly those most vulnerable to climate change or traditionally excluded from policy-making.
• The proposed Transparency Framework could be strengthened by allowing non-governmental organizations to provide complementary information through reporting mechanisms and by requiring Parties to report on their commitments under Article 12 regarding public awareness, training, and education.
• The Global Stocktake (GST) requires modalities that allow civil society to provide input and participate at all stages to avoid the failures of previous collective ambition review mechanisms and to maximize public scrutiny.
• The document emphasizes that the Sustainable Development Mechanism (SDM) under Article 6 must establish stronger safeguards for the procedural rights of local communities to avoid the failures of the Clean Development Mechanism, where projects were often implemented without full consultation.
• The operationalization of the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform should be based on principles of equal status between indigenous peoples and Parties, self-selection of representatives, and adequate funding.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2018). Promoting Public Participation in Climate Policies. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/PromotingParticipation_EntryPoints_SBs48-final.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Promoting Public Participation in Climate Policies. 2018. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/PromotingParticipation_EntryPoints_SBs48-final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Promoting Public Participation in Climate Policies |date=April 2018 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/PromotingParticipation_EntryPoints_SBs48-final.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2018promoting, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Promoting Public Participation in Climate Policies}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2018}, month = apr, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/PromotingParticipation_EntryPoints_SBs48-final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }