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e-Course on International Environmental Negotiations

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Type:

Course

Date:

19 Mar - 30 Mar 2012

Duration of event:

2 weeks

Location:

web-based

Programme area:

Environment, International Law, Multilateral Diplomacy

Fee:

USD 400

 

This course offers reduced fees for participants from least developed countries, developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Participants from developed countries and internationally recruited staff from the United Nations System must pay the full fee, independent of their nationality.

Website:

http://www.unitar.org/ilp

Event focal point email:

monica.nunez@unitar.org

Event focal point Contact Number:

+41 (0)22 917 88 29

Other events details:

Public – by registration   E-learning    English   open to register/apply   How to register

The registration is closed
Deadline for registration: 20 March 2012
Register/Login to purchase this event.

Background

In the last past three decades over 300 multilateral treaties on environmental topics as diverse as biological diversity, long-range transboundary air pollution, climate change, desertification, etc. have been negotiated and concluded, with many more environmental agreements adopted either at the regional or bilateral levels.

However, States, particularly least developed counties and developing countries, face the challenge of negotiating and implementing these legal instruments with limited technical, financial and human resource capabilities. The lack of trained personnel impedes an effective and efficient participation of least developed countries delegations in environmental agreements negotiations.

Event Objectives

The overall goal of this course is to provide participants with a comprehensive introduction to a specialized topic in the field of international relations which is steadily growing in importance. Thus, the course presents concepts, processes and techniques on negotiation in general and multilateral negotiations in particular before considering the distinctive features of environmental negotiations. In addition, the course offers practical skills development for successful participation in an international environmental negotiation.

Learning Objectives

  • Define intergovernmental negotiation and develop an understanding of the factors shaping the behavior of negotiators.
  • Explain the dynamic nature of international negotiations, describing the tools that negotiators use to achieve their ends.
  • Describe the characteristics of multilateral negotiations and differentiate between the groups of actors involved.
  • Develop an understanding of the institutional context in which multilateral negotiations take place.
  • Distinguish environmental negotiations from other types of international negotiations.
  • Develop an understanding of the importance of the identity and personality of negotiators
  • Identify the best strategy and negotiation skills to be used in an international environmental negotiation.

Content and Structure

The e-Course on International Environmental Negotiations is the fourth course of the UNITAR Series of e-Learning Courses on IEL and it can be taken separately from the other courses of the Series.
The e-Course is composed of following lessons:
Lesson 1: Negotiations in General.
Lesson 2: Multilateral Negotiations.
Lesson 3: Environmental Negotiations.
Lesson 4: Advice to Negotiators.

Methodology

The e-Course will be conducted in English and be delivered over two weeks starting on Monday, 19 March 2012. The successful completion of the course requires an average study-time of 8 hours per week.

The e-courses will be given through UNITAR’s virtual platform. Thus, participants need a minimum hardware and software equipment (nearly all computers fit this) and basic computer skills such as logging into websites, navigating the Internet, using Microsoft Word, uploading/downloading documents, and of course a reliable Internet connection.

Platform: Windows 95, 98, 2000, 2003, 2007, NT, ME or XP; MacOS 9 or MacOS X.
Hardware: 64 MB of RAM, 1 GB of free disk space.
Software: Adobe Acrobat Reader (download for free at http://get.adobe.com/fr/reader/
Browser: Mozila Firefox (download for free at http://www.mozilla-europe.org/fr/) or Internet Explorer (download for free at http://windows.microsoft.com/fr-FR/internet-explorer/products/ie/home). Note JavaScript & Cookies must be enabled.
Modem: 56 K.

The learning activities are based on sound adult learning pedagogical principles. They include, among others, self-assessment activities, case studies, discussion forums, drafting short essays, etc.

In order to assure interactive exchange as well as provide participants with personalized learning assistance the number of participants per moderator will not exceed 30.

Participants who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Participation issued by UNITAR. Participants who successfully complete all four e-courses of the Series will receive a Certificate of Completion (even if the e-courses were taken in different sessions).

Targeted Audience

  • Government officials from ministries of environment and related ministries such as agriculture, forest, water, tourism, foreign affairs;
  • International civil servants and NGO representatives working in the field of environmental law, environmental management, international relations, international politics and other areas relating to sustainable development;
  • Judges, prosecutors and lawyers dealing with environmental issues;
  • Academics, private sector professionals and graduate students who would like to specialize in international environmental law.