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UN Climate Change has launched a new Capacity-Building for Negotiators (CB4N) initiative to ensure all Party delegates, particularly those from developing countries and youth negotiators, can participate effectively and on equal footing in climate negotiations.
The initiative was officially launched during an online event on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, bringing together nearly 400 participants from around the world, including representatives from Parties, UN agencies, intergovernmental organisations and other partners and experts engaged in the UNFCCC process.
In a video message delivered at the launch event, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell emphasised the importance of investing in negotiation capacity to strengthen inclusive participation.
“Inclusive, effective climate negotiations depend on people, on their knowledge, preparation and confidence to engage meaningfully,” said Stiell. “Through the Capacity-Building for Negotiators initiative, we are investing in negotiation capacity to ensure all Parties, particularly youth delegates, can participate on an equal footing in the UNFCCC process.”
The CB4N initiative provides targeted training and knowledge-sharing opportunities that support delegates’ understanding of UNFCCC procedures, legal frameworks and negotiation techniques. By strengthening these skills, the initiative empowers delegates to engage more confidently and effectively in the intergovernmental process. It will be rolled out through UN Climate Change and its six Regional Collaboration Centres (RCCs), ensuring it responds to local contexts and needs.
During the event, the COP30 Presidency, represented by Ambassador Liliam Chagas, and the incoming COP31 Presidency, represented by deputy minister Fatma Varank, agreed that capacity building for climate negotiators is critical to navigating increasingly complex climate negotiations and ensuring effective, inclusive implementation.
The initiative responds to a mandate from Parties at the sixty-second session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 62), which requested that the secretariat support Party delegates in building their capacity to engage in the negotiation process and make relevant training and materials available on the UN Climate Change website.
CB4N builds on insights from a pilot training delivered in September 2025, which tested key modules and approaches. Lessons learned from the pilot are informing refinement of the programme and the development of future training activities, including online resources.
The secretariat will continue to develop and institutionalise CB4N, working closely with Parties, partners and stakeholders to strengthen inclusive and effective participation in the UNFCCC negotiation process.
