The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), the UK sustainability consultancy Ricardo-AEA and the Multilateral Diplomacy Programme (MDP) of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) are running a two-day negotiator training workshop in Peru on 7th and 8th April 2014. The aim of the workshop is to equip climate change negotiators in Peru with skills and knowledge so that they are better able to navigate international climate change processes and positively influence the outcomes of the climate change negotiations.

CDKN has been working closely with the Government of Peru in the design of this workshop, and have invited several eminent Latin American figures, who have been involved in the negotiations, to share their experiences and insights. The workshop also incorporates contributions from a range of stakeholders including Avina, CAN-Latin America, CDKN/ Fundación Futuro Latino Americano (FFLA), Latin American Climate Platform (PCL), Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Ambiental (SPDA) and Libelula.

The workshop is particularly critical as this year, the Government of Peru holds the presidency for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Conference of Parties 20 (COP20). Parties to the Convention will meet in Lima, Peru in December 2014 to negotiate a global legally binding agreement to limit dangerous climate change. The workshop is part of a wider package of support that CDKN is funding in Peru and in support of COP20.

Dan Hamza-Goodacre, CDKN's Deputy Chief Executive, said: "Peru has shown real leadership in offering to host COP20. It needs to be a productive negotiation in order for 2015 to deliver the climate deal the world needs. I am pleased to see our partnership with Ricardo-AEA and Unitar will once again be supporting developing country policy makers to better understand climate negotiations and diplomacy. This is a critical building block towards the climate deal."

CDKN has been supporting the UK in building the capacity of climate change negotiators from the poorest and most climate vulnerable countries through e-learning courses and face-to-face workshops.

Image courtesy of Iniciativa para la Conservación en la Amazonía Andina.