COP 15
There are an estimated one million species at risk of extinction worldwide and this extinction crisis has critical implications for humanity. From the collapse of food supplies, to direct threats to health, to the disruption of supply chains, the loss of nature is a loss for us all.
Bringing the world together for the sake of nature, Canada will welcome the world to Montréal in December 2022 for the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. This global convening is expected to result in the adoption of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, the ‘Paris agreement for Nature’.
In the words of the Government of Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, “This important international conference will be a landmark event for Canada, with thousands of delegates from around the world gathered in Montréal to take action on protecting nature”.
To support COP15, hundreds of volunteers are needed in Montreal to support delegates with everything from registration to media support. The United Nations Association in Canada is pleased to be working with Environment and Climate Change Canada to open the application process for interested volunteers aged sixteen or older.
Volunteers are needed from November 29th – December 19th although dates will vary according to the job description and will not normally cover the whole period.
If you are interested in being a volunteer at COP15 please submit your applicate no later than October 24th, 2022. Successfully submitted applications will receive an email after the application is submitted.
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Who is eligible to volunteer at COP15?Volunteers must: Be a resident of Canada (including Canadians, Permanent Residents, international students, Refugees, persons holding work visas) Commit to volunteering for a minimum of 6 hours per day for a minimum of 6 days during one or more of the periods from November 29th – December 4th; December 3rd – December 12th and / or December 10th – December 19th, 2022 Be 16 years of age or older as of November 29th, 2022.
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What will volunteers do at COP15?The types of tasks volunteers will support include: Conference services Assist with general conference needs including in negotiations, around the exhibition area, and in meeting rooms. This role requires problem-solvers, issues are difficult to predict and solutions may not be obvious. This post involves a great deal of interaction with Secretariat staff and requires volunteers with a high degree of professionalism. Media centre Service the welcome counter of the media center, guiding and providing information. News moves fast and this role requires volunteers who can move quickly as well. This post involves a great deal of interaction with local, national and international media and requires volunteers who know how to support diplomatically. Plenary/ Working Group sessions Attend to issues and challenges that may arise in the main negotiating rooms, help delegates find their seat, support audio issues. Long days and tough negotiations keep stress levels high in plenary and working group sessions. This role requires volunteers with a strong service etiquette and experience supporting people from many different cultures. This post involves a high level of interaction with delegates. First welcome line Working on the ground floor beside registration this role involves directing delegates and checking that they have all the needed document to register before entering the line. This includes checking the priority pass, vaccine certificate, passport, and guide delegates to administer their first COVID test. This role is one of the first points of engagement for delegates with volunteers. Line ups are often long and excitement levels are high. This role requires highly organized volunteers with excellent people skills. This post involves a high level of interaction with delegates. Registration Help to register delegates. Preparing badges for delegates is critical to ensuring access and security for all delegates. This role requires quick volunteers with a good grasp of computers. This post involves a high level of interaction with delegates. Badge scanning Scan the validity of the badges and welcome delegates. The venue will operate 24 hours and volunteers are needed for shifts that will occur from 7:00am to 23:00. This role is best suited for volunteers with excellent people skills. This post involves a high level of interaction with delegates. In addition to the above, volunteers are needed for two special segments. The High-Level Segment and the Communication, Education and Public Awareness and Rio Convention Pavilions. Both of these special segments require a high level of diplomacy when interacting with senior officials. Note that volunteers for the High-Level Segment will require additional screening.
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I don’t live in Montreal, will my travel and accommodation costs be covered?Unfortunately, no funding is available to cover any travel-related costs associated with volunteering at COP15.
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Will I receive training?Yes, all volunteers must attend mandatory training on November 29th, either in person or virtually.
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What are the benefits of this volunteer experience?Volunteers will have the opportunity to gain a valuable, unique experience and learn new skills. Volunteers will be exposed to informative sessions and able to connect to a global network while helping to make an international conference run well!
