Multilateral diplomacy is undergoing a fundamental transformation, the environment is increasingly being recognized as a crucial pillar of concern as negotiations on human rights, trade, security, macro-economics and development (including negotiations on the UN Millennium Development Goals) increasingly pivot around issues concerning the sustainability of the environment. Protecting the quality and availability of natural resources which provide us with fuel, food and water, is vital since it is often the threat of their depletion that reduces the possibility of reaching more long-lasting effective agreements on other matters such as trade, development and human rights for example.  Sustainable development is gaining traction on the international scale, but this concept is once again broadening and becoming entwined in the upholding of all other values whether they be social, economic, political or otherwise.

The interlinkages that exist between the environment and other fields such as trade or human rights, are essential in order to breakdown negotiation deadlocks, overcome substantive concerns and to breakdown complex barriers to consensus.  To achieve progress on the multilateral scale it is therefore vital to find solutions to problems which encompass an appreciation of the environment, its value and vulnerability.

Green Diplomacy is therefore the key concept necessary for those working in diplomatic spheres.  It has been argued by many in the diplomatic sphere that green diplomacy is in fact the new paradigm into which our diplomatic tracks are moving and will need to move in the future.  In order that International Civil Servants, diplomats and other key stakeholders are able to effectively engage in UN negotiations on all topics or fields, it is important that green concerns are increasingly put at the heart of our priorities and recognised as key tools for progressing on other seemingly unrelated agendas.  

This e-learning course which has been developed by UNITAR’s Multilateral Diplomacy Programme will enhance participants’ appreciation of how, through upholding environmental integrity, we can protect and enhance progress under key UN negotiation tracks.  The course will run over 6 weeks, each week introducing the key facts, gaps in the current policy framework, current issues in negotiations, and concrete tools for effective negotiation to overcome these challenges, in the fields of human rights, trade, the economy, development and security.  The course lesson materials will be complemented by online negotiation exercises, discussion forums, video links, readings and other dynamic and interactive activities to enhance the participants’ learning experience.

The course aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of mid to senior level diplomats working in a wide range of spheres, but will also be of interest to those working in the private sector, NGOs or academia whose work or interests overlap with any of the above subject areas. 

UNITAR’s Multilateral Diplomacy Programme is committed to enhancing the knowledge and skills of those working in fields related to multilateral diplomacy and negotiations.  This Green Diplomacy course will complement those who are preparing for the Rio+20 conference next year, the UNFCCC COP17 conference at the end of this year, as well as those who are involved in the UN Human Rights Council sessions, WTO and UNCTAD processes, and UN Security Council meetings.

UNITAR warmly welcomes you to register for this course online at http://www.unitar.org/event/green-diplomacy, or for further information please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Emily Fraser at ccdiplomacy@unitar.org.  There are still some spaces left on this course beginning on 16 May 2011, however due to high-demand we encourage you to register as soon as possible.

If you are interested in this course, then our summer course on breakthrough strategies for decision makers may also be of interest to you, for more information on this course please see the programme webpage at http://www.unitar.org/event/breakthrough-strategies-decision-makers-public-and-private-sectors.