UNITAR Online Catalogue
Climate Change Adaptation, Loss and Damage
Background
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of 21st century diplomacy and international governance. Given the many different stakeholders and communities who have roles to play, it is a contemporary challenge with regard to its demand on interdisciplinary knowledge, skills and languages, and the personal capacities needed to combine these so as to make diplomatic sense and success. Competing interests, political tensions, and challenges of the world today, such as the economic recession and competing development priorities, mean that negotiation deadlocks are rife and ways to overcome them are becoming more and more challenging to find.
Event Objectives
This online course aims to facilitate international negotiations, public sector work, and diplomatic engagement in relation to climate change impacts and adaptation measures through an enhanced understanding of its science, the international policy framework, and the key negotiation issues pertinent to the UNFCCC process.
Learning Objectives
At the end of the course, participants should be able to: -Comprehend climate change science and the observed and projected impacts of climate change; -Track and explain the international adaptation and loss and damage policy framework, in particular the negotiations under the UNFCCC; -Define and understand adaptation, loss and damage from climate change impacts and its links to mitigation; -Appreciate international considerations for climate change decision-making; -Appraise the key issues in the ongoing international climate change negotiations, and how to build and move forward from the outcomes of COP18
Content and Structure
The course content is to be confirmed but will tentatively include the following one-week modules: 1.Climate change: impacts, vulnerability and adaptation 2.Adaptation in the Convention process 3.Loss and Damage associated with climate change impacts 4.Adaptation action and cooperation in practice 5.Adaptation and loss and damage agenda in Doha (COP18)
Methodology
The course will be conducted in English over a period of five weeks, each week consisting of a module focusing on a different topic. The course will be delivered via UNITAR’s e-Learning platform. This pedagogical tool will help the student meet the course’s learning objectives through a self-paced study routine supported by multimedia, optional and required readings, discussion forums, assessment quizzes, and a wealth of other information.
Targeted Audience
The course targets mid to senior-level government officers in ministries preparing for and/or taking part in conferences in relation to climate change as well as staff of intergovernmental / nongovernmental organizations. It also targets entry-level and mid-career diplomats working in a multilateral setting. Private sector specialists and students whose work or studies are related to this subject are also encouraged to apply.
Additional Information
We highly encourage credit card payments.
The course participation fee is 800 USD. You will receive an invoice by email after registration. Participants from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are eligible to apply for a fellowship. Please click here for more details. Registration will be closed as soon as the course is full and your place will be secured once your payment is confirmed. The course has been prepard by Germanwatch in the context of the "Loss and Damage Vulnerable Countries Initiative".The Initiative is supplied by a consortium of organisations including Germanwatch, Munich Climate Insurance Initiative, United Nations University – Institute for Human and Environment Security, International Centre for Climate Change and Development. Kindly supported by the Climate Development and Knowledge Network (CDKN).