UNSCC 2020 Online Course on The Paris Agreement on Climate Change as a Development Agenda

Introduction

The UNSSC Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Development collaborates with the UNFCCC in delivering this joint free online course. Climate change is a crosscutting 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.

Target Audience

Development practitioners from the UN system, governments, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, civil society and academia.

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 to sustainable development, climate change and climate action.

• Week 2: The social dimension of sustainable development, climate change and action (People).

• Week 3: The environmental dimension of sustainable development, climate change and action (Planet).

• Week 4: The economic dimension of sustainable development, climate change and 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).

Objectives

• 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.

Selection Criteria

Interested individuals are encouraged to sign up for the course and provide a clear and well-crafted motivation statement in the online application form, with a short explanation of the benefit they can derive from the course as well as their possible contribution to enriching the course. 

This online course is offered free-of-charge.

Sign up by via this link: sign-up