Role of business and civil society

Civil society engages with the UNFCCC process through representative non-governmental observer organizations. Since the early days of the UNFCCC, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been actively involved, attending sessions and exchanging views with other participants, including government negotiators and delegates.

The role of ICC as BINGO focal point for coordination

As the business and industry focal point with the UNFCCC secretariat, BINGO:

• Interacts with UNFCCC Secretariat
• Facilitates business interventions
• Coordinates bilateral meetings and meetings with key players
• Holds daily morning briefings ("BINGO meetings") for informal exchange amongst the business community
• Coordinates the BINGO Day.

“Usual” BINGO activities at UNFCCC meetings

• BINGO daily briefings

BINGOs are assigned their own meeting room in which to hold meetings and discuss developments. BINGOs hold a daily briefing, usually at 9:00 each day throughout the negotiating session, to discuss the previous days’ development and present the day’s agenda as well as other topics. The BINGO briefing is organized by ICC, and chaired by rotation, and facilitated by staff from the ICC International Secretariat. Often during Conference of the Parties (COP) meetings, there is often a rotation of the chair among business participants knowledgeable in the UNFCCC process. The BINGO briefing may also include outside speakers, e.g. from government or intergovernmental organisations (IPCC, World Bank, IEA, etc) delegations.

• BINGO interventions

Business and industry is typically given several opportunities at each UNFCCC session to provide input to the formal process by making a brief prepared statement from the floor, known as interventions. Opportunities are provided by invitation of and at the discretion of Chairs of the UNFCCC sessions and are not guaranteed. Business and industry uses these opportunities to make, where possible, coordinated statements which can be on behalf of certain constituencies within the diverse business and industry community, or can be broader consensus statements reflecting the views of the business community as a whole. ICC, as BINGO focal point, works with the UNFCCC secretariat in determining the number and nature of interventions available for each particular negotiating session. The actual delivery of an invited intervention remains completely at the discretion of the Chair of the particular UNFCCC negotiating body and is often subject to last-minute changes and cancellations. Interventions are usually severely time restricted (2 to 3 minutes) and are typically given after Parties have taken the floor.

• BINGO office

During large meetings such as COPs and subsidiary bodies meeting, a small office is made available to BINGOs. The ICC international secretariat utilizes this office to coordinate business activities but it is open to all business observers. Your understanding is appreciated in order to allow all or as many people as possible to utilize the office.

Meeting documentation

Useful information and documentation for the negotiations is provided in both print and electronic platforms via:

- UNFCCC Secretariat: through a document desk and is usually available on the UNFCCC website, often before it is available in hard copy. The daily programme, which lets you know the times and locations of all negotiating sessions and side events that day, is also available at the document desk and on the website.

- The Earth Negotiation Bulletin (ENB): a daily report on the outcomes of the previous day's meetings published by the IISD (International Institute for Sustainable Development). IISD also publishes Earth Negotiation Bulletin on the Side (ENBOTS), a daily summary of the highlights of the previous day's side bar events. These are available around the conference venue and from the IISD website.

- The Climate Action Network (CAN): a worldwide network of more than 340 ENGOs, produces a widely read daily advocacy paper called ECO. This is also available at the conference venue or on CAN's website.

How to participate as business and industry representative?

Private sector representatives seeking to attend UNFCCC meetings as observers must be registered in advance through an accredited business and industry NGO such as the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Only representatives whose names have been communicated to the UNFCCC Secretariat through the designated NGO will be admitted to sessions. Notifications to register along with dates for submission appear on the UNFCCC website (www.unfccc.int). Badges issued at registration must be worn visibly at all times in the meeting area as security at UNFCCC meetings is tight. United Nations security staff checks badges against their computerized database before allowing access to the meeting area and individuals and their belongings must undergo an airport-type screening procedure. Categories of participants can be recognized by the colour of their badge.

Join BINGO

As the business and industry focal point with the UNFCCC secretariat, ICC provides up-to-date information about the work and activities of the BINGO.

If you would like to join the BINGO distribution list, please click here.

For more information, please write us at Business and Industry