Course | The Paris Agreement on Climate Change as a Development Agenda

? 15 June – 24 July 2020 
Online Course

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.

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.

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 inter-dependencies between the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 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. The 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 which feature valuable 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.

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.

Original source: UNSSC
Published on 05 June 2020