In the aftermath of the Cancun climate change negotiations last December, UNITAR is preparing to relaunch its e-learning course on Climate Change Diplomacy, for which applications are already being received and places are being filled-up fast!  The course is due to start on the February 21st and will run for a duration of eight weeks, providing professional training for diplomats, negotiators and other high-level officials prior to the climate change conference in Durban, South Africa, later this year.

Climate Change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Understanding the climate change problem is a work in progress for the scientific community, however the risks that it already poses to global societies mean that mitigation and adaptation efforts command the expertise of economists, development agencies and policy makers alike. The breadth of the range of challenges posed by climate change on a global scale has meant that it has become an international and interdisciplinary concern, and the subject of multilateral negotiations and geopolitical debate.

UNITAR’s e-learning course constitutes eight, one-week modules, to provide a broad and concise training for participants from a variety of backgrounds and professions, in order to develop their understanding and appreciation of the collective action problem of climate change, the risks it poses, as well as the multilateral negotiation process and the framework of international climate change law and compliance mechanisms. The course will cover the pertinent issues crucial to the negotiation of a post-2012 climate change agreement, including lessons on COP15, COP16 and the road to Durban. The course is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and capacities to make important decisions and represent the interests of their respective parties when considering climate change commitments, strategy or policy developments.

UNITAR is delighted to announce that the course moderators will include Dr. Heike Schroeder, of the Tyndall Centre, University of Oxford, Professor Keith Shine, a Leading Author of the IPCC‘s Working Group I and Professor of the University of Reading, Dr. Lawrence Flint of Environmental Development Action (ENDA), Mr Kartikeya Singh of the Postdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Dr. Okereke of the Smith School, University of Oxford, and Dr. Marcelo Rocha of IPÊ (Ecological Research Institute) who co-facilitated the LULUCF Group of the Ad-Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex 1 Parties under the Kyoto Protocol during the most recent round of negotiations (June 2008 - December 2010).

The moderation of each module by leading professionals in the fields of climate change diplomacy, governance and research, will provide participants with exceptional first-hand opportunities to enrich their learning experiences. Along with the core lessons and multimedia resources included in the course, participants will be able to ask questions, discuss queries and share experiences with the course moderators throughout the entire eight weeks of the training.

Register online by clicking here

There are still some places available for anyone wishing to participate in the course, however high-demand has meant that places are becoming limited. Hence, should you wish to be sent any further information regarding the course, please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Emily Fraser at mdp-elearning@unitar.org.