Overview of the registration process

In accordance with Article 7, paragraph 6 of the Convention, Parties to the Convention, United Nations and related organizations and agencies, media and non-profit observer organizations with observer status may attend the sessions of the Convention. Consequently, everyone wishing to attend the conference must be registered accordingly and in possession of a conference badge. Organizations without observer status and individuals can find further information here.

Registration is managed through the Online Registration System (ORS). The secretariat’s usual practice is to post official information for upcoming sessions, including registration timelines, on the UNFCCC website well in advance of the start date of the sessions. You can find current information on the Notifications page of the UNFCCC website.

ORS will open upon issuance of the notification/information note which contains the nomination and confirmation deadlines. Designated Contact Points (DCP) of admitted NGOs must nominate and confirm representatives through ORS by the given deadlines. Late nomination and confirmation of representatives after these deadlines will not be accepted.

For further information and guidance on the nominations and confirmation process and using the system, please refer to the ORS User Manual.

For technical assistance when using the system, please contact the UNFCCC support team using the ORS Support Form.

Registration on-site (for duly registered observers)

Duly confirmed delegates through ORS must obtain a conference badge at registration counters on-site. Further details are published in the information for participants for the respective sessions.

Further information on registration for COP 31

Information for COP 31 participants (A-Z)/Registration

UNFCCC events are guided by the highest ethical and professional standards, and all participants are expected to behave with integrity and respect towards each other while attending or being involved with any UNFCCC event.

Code of conduct for UNFCCC events

The Code of Conduct applies to all participants at a UNFCCC event, that is, all persons attending (regardless whether in person or virtually) or involved in any capacity at a UNFCCC event, including in its set up or delivery. By attending or being involved in any capacity at a UNFCCC event, participants agree to abide by the UNFCCC Code of Conduct.

Further, the below guidelines and regulations are set in place to promote a harmonious atmosphere supportive of discussions and negotiations at intergovernmental meetings and to encourage the effective participation of observers in the process:

• Guidelines for participation
• Minor Participant Release and Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk and Indemnity Form
• Use of cameras and audio/video recording devices
• UN security guidelines
• UN Administrative instruction on Authority of United Nations security officer

Letters from the COP 31 President are available on the COP 31 Presidency's website here. 

*This table is a selection of communications on COP 31 to observer organizations. Please also consult the full list of communications to observer organizations here.

The Observer Forums are an initiative of the COP 31 Presidency to facilitate targeted dialogue  between Parties and observer organizations that can help unlock implementation priorities and support robust COP31 outcomes. The Observer Forums fall under the SBI Arrangements for Intergovernmental Meetings mandate “recommending current and incoming COP Presidencies to continue to increase the engagement of observer organizations, …, in Presidency initiatives and events" (FCCC/SBI/2024/13, para. 201(a)(ii)).

The first Observer Forum with Parties and NGO Constituencies will focus on ‘Improving Access to Climate Finance, particularly for SIDS and LDCs’, taking place virtually on 30 September, 12-2pm CEST. This Observer Forum is an opportunity for NGO Constituencies and other expert observer organizations to engage directly with Parties and the Presidency on one of the most significant challenges to implementing the Paris Agreement: access to climate finance. Participants will be invited to share practical experience, identify barriers and opportunities for reform, and contribute stakeholder perspectives that can help inform COP31 priorities and support more effective delivery of climate action, particularly for SIDS and LDCs.

Please see the programme for details, and follow the live-stream here.

The process to strengthen observer engagement in the UNFCCC, which began in 2022, identified the need for capacity building so observer participants can be better informed about, and better engaged in, the UNFCCC process. The UNFCCC values the rich discussions and resources that observer organizations bring to the table, which contribute to the legitimacy and transparency of the process.

In response to this, and recognizing the challenges posed by expansive observer participation, the secretariat organizes briefing sessions prior to each conference. These sessions provide practical guidance on logistics and highlight opportunities for in-session engagement for IGOs and NGOs registered for the respective session.

Each session will be informative and interactive, featuring a Q&A segment for further clarification. To cover time zones around the world, the sessions will be organized in two different time slots.

All sessions will be conducted virtually via MS Teams and will be recorded for future reference. Information on the briefing sessions has also been communicated directly to the designated contact points (DCPs) of observer organizations registered for COP 31. Recordings, presentations and summaries of the Q&A discussions will be made available on this webpage following the briefing sessions.

The sessions will take place as follows:

• Logistics, Security, and Code of Conduct:
  • Tuesday, 13 October, 9:00 – 10:30 CEST
    • Join here
  • Tuesday, 13 October, 18:00 – 19:30 CEST
    • Join here
• Advocacy Actions:
  • Wednesday, 14 October, 9:00 – 10:00 CEST
    • Join here
  • Wednesday, 14 October, 18:00 – 19:00 CEST
    • Join here
• Navigating the Process as an Observer:
  • Thursday, 15 October, 9:00 – 10:00 CEST
    • Join here
  • Thursday, 15 October, 18:00 – 19:00 CEST
    • Join here

Within the UNFCCC conference venue (Blue Zone), the secretariat, in close cooperation with UN Department of Safety and Security, facilitates advocacy actions to ensure that diverse perspectives are heard during the climate change conference while maintaining that the UNFCCC process remains conducive to intergovernmental dialogues.

There is a well established process for obtaining clearance from UNFCCC to organize an advocacy action. Further information on advocacy actions, including the application and clearance process, can be found in the Observers’ Guide to Advocacy Actions.

Information on applying for advocacy actions at COP 31 will be available here in due course.

The secretariat facilitates side events and exhibits within the UNFCCC conference venue (Blue Zone). Side events and exhibits are a platform for admitted observer organizations, which have limited speaking opportunities in the formal negotiations, to engage with Parties and other participants for knowledge sharing, capacity building, networking, and exploring actionable options for meeting the climate challenge.

For further information on side events and exhibits, please consult the Side Events and Exhibits information page on the official UNFCCC website.