Climate Change Diplomacy
Climate Change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Understanding the climate change problem is a work in progress for the scientific community, governments, private sector and society; however the risks that it already poses to global societies mean that mitigation and adaptation efforts commands the expertise of economists, development agencies and policy makers alike. The breadth of the range of challenges posed by climate change on a global scale has meant that it has become an international and interdisciplinary concern, and the subject of multilateral negotiations and geopolitical debate.
This course aims to provide a broad and concise training for participants from a variety of backgrounds and professions, in order to develop their understanding and appreciation of the collective action problem of climate change, the risks and opportunities it poses, as well as the multilateral negotiation process and the framework of international climate change law and compliance mechanisms. The course is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and capacities to make important decisions and represent the interests of their respective Parties considering climate change commitments, strategy or policy developments.
The overall goal of this training programme is to support the capacities of the UK Cabinet Office UNFCCC negotiations team to prepare effectively for the UNFCCC COP26. The programme will aim to provide participants with training on climate change diplomacy, the structure and functioning of the UNFCCC, the key outcomes of negotiations to-date, and will build practical and in-depth understanding of negotiation skills and dynamics in the context of United Nations conferences and the UNFCCC process. The programme will also cover the skills and knowledge needed to effectively support the COP President and work with the UNFCCC Secretariat, including how to build consensus and overcome negotiation deadlocks.
The overall goal of this training programme is to support the capacities of the UK Cabinet Office UNFCCC negotiations team to prepare effectively for the UNFCCC COP26.
At the end of the course participants should be able to:
- Understand key elements of the international climate change negotiation process, including the structure and functioning of the UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement;
- Recognise and recall the high-level outcomes of UNFCCC negotiations to-date;
- Analyse and appraise key issues to be negotiated at COP26.
Module 1: Introduction to the UNFCCC and the road to the Paris Agreement
1.1. What is Climate Change?
1.2. The UNFCCC
1.3. Key milestones of the UNFCCC process
1.4. Paris Agreement
Module 2: COP25 outcomes and the roadmap to COP26
2.1. Overview main decisions taken at COP25
2.2. Article 6 of the Paris Agreement
The course will take place online, consisting of approximately 3hrs self-paced study each week. The course will include 2 modules covering the UNFCCC negotiation process, structure and conference outcomes to-date, and will be an important precursor to the e-workshop.
The online course will be designed for up to 35 participants from the UK Cabinet Office COP26 negotiations team.