The Paris Agreement on Climate Change as a Development Agenda
This joint UN Climate Change - UNSSC online course offers a holistic and integrated approach to climate change and demonstrates the interlinkages and interdependencies between sustainable development and climate change to make informed policy choices towards low-carbon and climate-resilient sustainable development.
ONLINE 31 May - 09 Jul 2021
Introduction Registrations open from 1 March to 30 April
Climate change is a cross-cutting development issue that affects every aspect of sustainable development and the entire 2030 Agenda. The Paris Agreement on Climate Change, along with the 2030 Agenda, including the Sustainable Development Goals, forms the most comprehensive blueprint to date for eliminating extreme poverty, reducing inequality, and protecting the planet. Together with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, these documents constitute an integral plan of action for people, planet, and prosperity, which requires all countries and stakeholders to act together. Sustainable development and climate action are deeply interconnected and interdependent. For example:
Achieving zero-hunger is not possible without protecting food systems from the negative impacts of climate change;
Cities and communities cannot be sustainable without adequate protection from extreme weather events;
Ensuring children’s health is not possible without addressing air pollution and the increase in climate change-driven, vector-borne diseases;
Economic development cannot be sustainable without reversing over-reliance on carbon-intensive energy sources.
Objectives Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:
Explain key elements of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the 2030 Agenda and the role of climate action in the broader context of sustainable development;
Identify and articulate the interrelations and interdependencies between the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the five critical dimensions of sustainable development: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership;
Identify and articulate best practices to ensure coherence and mutual reinforcement between the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
Explain existing tools and instruments to mainstream sustainable development and climate action into national development policies and planning
Course Methodology UNSSC online courses are designed to deliver maximum learning outcomes through carefully chosen high-quality learning materials. Our highly facilitated online courses combine self-paced study modules with applied learning components, such as case studies, interactive exercises, and collaborative group work, specially tailored to the needs of the professional interested in deepening their knowledge on a particular subject matter.
Participants will also benefit from live moderated webinars that feature inputs from renowned subject-matter experts and allow real-time dialogue with high-level speakers. Webinar recordings are also made available to ensure that participants have a flexible and seamless learning experience.
An expert facilitator guides and assists the participants all along the course, and provides real-time feedback on activities and exercises. Our user-friendly social online learning platform provides participants with the opportunity to connect with peers from diverse organizational backgrounds, fostering peer-to-peer learning.
UNSSC online courses give learners the opportunity to complete activities when it best fits their schedule. Participants are largely free to determine their own weekly study plan. Lasting six weeks and demanding six hours of study per week, UNSSC online courses incorporate the same high academic rigour as any UNSSC face-to-face programme.
Course Contents The course frames climate change and climate action around the five core cornerstones of the 2030 Agenda: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership.
Week 1: Introduction: sustainable development, climate change and climate action.
Week 2: The social dimension of sustainable development, climate change and climate action (People).
Week 3: The environmental dimension of sustainable development, climate change and climate action (Planet).
Week 4: The economic dimension of sustainable development, climate change and climate action (Prosperity).
Week 5: Climate change and peace, justice and strong institutions (Peace).
Week 6: Partnerships and means of implementation for climate action and sustainable development (Partnership).
Target Audience Development practitioners from the UN system, governments, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, civil society and academia.
Cost of participation UNSSC fosters collaborative peer-to-peer learning among its course participants. To achieve this, UNSSC adopts a rigorous methodology in its selection process that considers the course's scope, objectives and expected outcomes. UNSSC utilizes specific selection criteria for its course participants to promote cohort-based learning and increase course impact. Interested individuals are encouraged to sign up for the moderated online course and be ready to complete an additional comprehensive selection survey after the course registration closes.
Selection criteria: The selection criteria include quality of motivation, professional experience and knowledge, commitment, diversity (gender, geographic region, sector, etc.), and willingness to contribute to the course.
Selection process: Register for the course by clicking on the sign-up button. Please provide a clear motivation statement and a short explanation of the benefit you can derive from the course as well as your possible contribution to enriching it. Course registration opens on 1 March 2021 and closes on 30 April 2021.
After the deadline for registration, you will receive a link to a survey to confirm the necessary conditions for course completion (technical requirements and time availability), as well as to answer course specific questions.
This online course is offered free-of-charge.
Participants will enjoy the following benefits from the free online course: Three-month's access to course materials (including exclusive video material and key readings), recording of webinars and speakers’ presentations. Participation in live webinars with renowned subject matter experts. Exclusive access to the UNSSC online social learning environment with training and supporting background materials, and the opportunity to stay connected with colleagues.
Joint certificates from the United Nations System Staff College and UN Climate Change will be awarded to participants upon completion of the course.