Cities – Knowledge Sharing Platform

Jezabel Azevedo, who has a degree in Environmental Sciences and a PhD in Atmospheric Sciences, has taken up the position of Environmental Educator at the Itatiba City Council’s Department of Environment and Agriculture, and is the coordinator of the Inter-institutional Commission for Environmental Education. Today, she leads the Municipal Environmental Education Program. This program is an initiative that stands out for its strategic approach and for bringing together different actors to solve local environmental problems. A striking example was the reorganization of the local waste collection service at the beginning of the year. The population was informed and made aware of the new collection routes and times, successfully adjusting to the new dynamic.

The courses on the UN CC: Learn platform have also had a profound impact on Jezabel’s work. By taking part in training on climate change, she acquired the tools to integrate different sectors of the municipal government. This has enabled her to create more robust public policies in line with local and global challenges. For example, Jezabel used the knowledge she acquired to propose that the Municipal Environmental Education Program focus on tackling climate change, an idea that was quickly accepted by the inter-institutional commission.

The City Council’s Department of Environment and Agriculture had to update the Municipal Environmental Education Program. When I finished the Introductory Course on Climate Change, I thought this subject could be a central topic of discussion for the new Environmental Education projects.”

In addition, the courses offered insights into strategies implemented in other international contexts, inspiring Jezabel to adapt these solutions to Itatiba’s reality. As a result, she was able to bring together departments such as Social Action, Works and Health to discuss integrated environmental education projects. This has resulted in faster and more effective decisions, based on a shared understanding of environmental challenges.

Flood in the park in Itatiba

The course highlights the relationship between extreme atmospheric phenomena and the public finances or relate to quality of life, social and public health burdens if there isn’t an advance plan for resilience, raising awareness among the population and government managers. They have been very important for thinking about a public policy that involves various departments that at first glance seem far from the activities of the Environment Department.”

Jezabel’s work is twofold. On the one hand, providing up-to-date information to government managers and, on the other, drafting technical and legal documents that reflect the latest scientific knowledge and national and international decisions. Having spent some time learning, she has become more qualified to address and guide the issues discussed at meetings.

I feel much more confident in making decisions based on the knowledge acquired in the high-level courses found on UN CC:e-Learn platform.”

In addition, Jezabel has been guiding the working groups in both the Secretariat and the Environmental Education Commission on the internationally discussed climate policies, which she learned from attending the courses.

With a level playing field, decision-making is faster and more assertive because everyone has the same understanding of the issues.”

Jezabel also stands out for her vision of the future. She plans to continue exploring themes such as environmental justice, carbon credits, and the circular economy to meet the specific needs of Itatiba, a city facing industrial expansion, the conservation of rural areas and the protection of water resources.

Only a healthy environment will guarantee and enable us to live well, have good health and satisfactory work. It would be best if you have constant technical updating, the humility to learn and respect for differences. What we have learned here in Itatiba is that good technical training, good references to keep up to date and good communication between technicians and government managers are very important, they are the basis of good work for the population.”

With her dedication and solid foundation acquired in the UN CC:Learn courses, Jezabel is shaping a program that benefits the environment and promotes quality of life for the population. Her experience is an inspiring example for other municipalities wishing to improve their environmental education programs, showing that technical knowledge, effective communication and coordination between sectors are indispensable pillars for success.

I’m looking forward to increasing my knowledge and developing my negotiation skills with the UM CC:e-Learn platform courses.”

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*The views expressed in this story are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the United Nations or any of its affiliated organizations.

With a robust educational foundation in Architectural Engineering Vathanak Soeun’s journey in architecture, urban planning, community development, and environmental sustainability has spanned over eight years across Cambodia, Australia, and the United States. This diverse experience has equipped him with a unique perspective on the intersection of urban development and environmental sustainability. In 2021, Vathanak took a pivotal step by participating in the Cities and Climate Change e-course offered by UN CC:Learn.

This concise yet insightful course shed light on the profound impacts of climate change on urban areas and provided strategic approaches for urban adaptation.”

Inspired by the course, he felt a compelling urge to share this newfound knowledge with Southeast Asian youth. This led to the creation of his youth community’s social media platform, Sustainable Design 11 (SD11), aimed at educating and empowering the younger generation on climate resilience and sustainable urban development.

The course I learned from UN CC:Learn is a prime example of how digital platforms can globally impact climate change awareness. This knowledge has broadened my understanding of climate action and its broader implications.

After completing his master’s degree, Vathanak gained invaluable experience working on a future green urban project with Gehl Architects. He also worked as the Communications and Outreach Coordinator at Conservation International for the Central Cardamom Mountain Landscape Program. These roles allowed him to apply his expertise in sustainable urban planning and community engagement to create climate-resilient communities.

He has been contributing as a university instructor, teaching urban planning and design, architecture, land management, interior design, and research methodology at both private and public universities in Cambodia, including the Institute of Technology of Cambodia. These academic roles further strengthened his commitment to fostering sustainable development and climate resilience through the next generations of architects and urbanists.

Students graduated from Climate Actions class with Cambodian youths

Vathanak’s passion for building a sustainable future extends beyond his professional roles. He has actively participated in various impactful volunteer roles, including serving as a Youth Jury member for AIPH’s World Green City Awards 2024, promoting biodiversity as a Young Biodiversity Leader for ACB’s ASEAN Youth Biodiversity Program, and advocating for climate action as a Climate Ambassador for the Global Youth Climate Network. These roles have honed his analytical, communication, and operational skills while deepening his understanding of environmental and climate change issues, biodiversity planning, and urban and rural development.

Driven by a passion for working with young people to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Vathanak has initiated and participated in numerous youth projects. These include Future Climate Heroes, the Sustainable Cities and Communities Leadership Program, Xploratory Lab for Future Cities, Eco-Inspire-Ers, Borapoit Project, and Sustainable Design Academy. Collectively, these initiatives have directly reached over 1,000 Cambodian youths.

Study Tour about Mangrove Forest for Climate Actions

A prime example of Vathanak’s project implementation is the Future Climate Heroes initiative, launched in 2022 and ongoing. This project received the prestigious Generation Future’s Grant from UNICEF Cambodia. In collaboration with the Global Youth Climate Network and FXB Climate Advocates, they empowered 20 Cambodian youths (aged 18-35) as Future Climate Heroes through three training sessions held in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The project’s impact extends beyond these heroes. They have delivered climate change education to 385 high school students in Kampot Province and spearheaded six impactful social media campaigns covering various climate action topics. These campaigns have garnered over one million social media engagements. Additionally, their site visit activities have resulted in the planting of 500 trees across Cambodia, including 50 mangrove trees, 200 houseplants, and 250 native trees.

Further amplifying their project’s reach, they showcased the Future Climate Heroes initiative at the 2024 World Wildlife Day Regional Youth Symposium in Singapore. This engagement allowed them to connect with over 300 attendees from national and international organizations and communities, furthering their mission of climate education and action.

I firmly believe that climate education is a fundamental tool for creating a more sustainable, livable, and inclusive community. Through our personal and community climate actions, we’ve seen firsthand the power of knowledge in driving positive change.

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*The views expressed in this story are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the United Nations or any of its affiliated organizations.

This self-paced e-course seeks to increase knowledge of the causes and effect of air pollution as well as the international protocols and frameworks on cleaner air.

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Cities

Self-paced course

3.5 hours

English

Why take this course?

Air pollution impacts our health, environment and economy. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution causes 7 million deaths every year. Air pollution also causes acidification and eutrophication of ecosystems and leads to global crop losses. In addition, air pollutants can also further exacerbate climate change, and a warmer climate, in turn, also affects air quality and impacts of air pollution.

To improve air quality, UNECE member States have been working successfully since 1979 to reduce air pollution in the region through the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution.

This self-paced online course aims to raise awareness about air pollution and its effects, ways to prevent and reduce harmful emissions and the Convention and its protocols as an international framework for cooperation on cleaner air.

The course at a glance

The course includes 4 modules:

Module 1: The Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution
Module 2: The Protocol to Abate Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground-Level Ozone (Gothenburg Protocol)
Module 3: The Protocol on Heavy Metals
Module 4: The Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants

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At the end of the course, learners can take an assessment to receive a certificate of successful completion. Once the certification criteria have been met (passing score 70%) and after filling in a course evaluation form, participants will be able to download their certificate from the course’s webpage.

This se-course aims to explain the importance of emission inventories for clean air policy development, the requirements for emission inventory reporting and methods for emission estimation.

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Cities

Self-paced course

1.5 hours

English

Why take this course?

Air pollution impacts our health, environment and economy. Air pollutants come from multiple sources, such as traffic, industry and agriculture, and are transported over large distances and across borders. It is therefore paramount that we take action together — across sectors and national boundaries.

UNECE member States have been working successfully for cleaner air in the region since 1979 through the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution.

A basic obligation under the Convention is to report emission inventories. An emission inventory quantifies air pollutants and/or greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere in a defined geographical area and time span. Inventories are used to study trends in major air pollution sources and evaluate the impact of air pollution abatement measures. For example, Governments can use emission data to develop sustainable national and local policies, evaluate their effectiveness and impact on populations and ecosystems, demonstrate compliance with emission reduction targets, and provide information to the public.

This self-paced e-course aims to explain the importance of emission inventories for clean air policy development, the requirements for emission inventory reporting and methods for emission estimation.

The course at a glance

The course is divided into 3 modules:

Module 1: Purpose and Scope of Emission Inventories

Module 2: Reporting Process and Templates

Module 3: Emission Estimation Methods

Final Assessment

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The Government of Rwanda, UNEP and UNITAR partnered up to deliver a training on sustainable and resilient infrastructure to 29 participants from 5 African countries.

Read on to find out how capacity building is shaping up the transition to a more sustainable future, supported by resilient and sustainable infrastructure.

Infrastructure underpins economic growth and enables access to basic services and transformative economic opportunities. However, if infrastructure development is not properly done, it can have negative consequences for people, the economy, the climate, and nature. To help unpack this complex topic and shed light on its importance, the Government of Rwanda, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) partnered up to organize the first edition of the “Environmental Leadership Programme on Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure” training.

The fully online training took place between 30^th November 2021 and 8^th December 2021 and aimed at enhancing capacity and improving the knowledge of policy makers in Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and Zambia on the importance and role that well-planned, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure plays in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In total, 29 participants from the 5 African countries, representing various governmental institutions involved in infrastructure development and planning in their respective countries, took part in the training.

The training focused on various areas of infrastructure, ranging from international good practice principles for sustainable infrastructure; green finance; nature-based infrastructure solutions; sustainable and resilient housing; digitalization of transport; and how green digital technology can be incorporated into strategic infrastructure policymaking and plans; as well as climate data and digital infrastructure for enhanced forecasting and early warning systems.

This inspiring event positions training and skills development at the centre of the shift towards the low carbon economy and the achievement of the SDGs. As highlighted by Mr. Angus Mackay, Director for Planet Division, in his opening remarks.

“It very often comes down to a very simple equation: How many people does a country need to train, and where should those trained individuals need to be located, in order to ensure that a new policy direction actually takes root and makes a lasting difference? And this is precisely the intent behind this environmental leadership programme… to build up a cadre of national experts in resilient infrastructure development, involving all branches of government and beyond. Too often we’ve seen well-meaning policies not achieving much impact because they are the brain child of the few rather than the many.” – Angus Mackay – Director, UNITAR

Overall, the feedback from participants was very positive, with over 90% of them reporting that the training workshop was very useful for their jobs. Additionally, many would be interested in further trainings on sustainable infrastructure. Future plans in this recurring capacity development programme include training of trainers and other specialized trainings tailored to the region’s priorities and practical needs in the field.

Food waste is a problem that can no longer be ignored because every bit of food that ends up in the garbage also means a waste of resources such as water, farmland, and energy needed to produce food. Some developers have taken it upon themselves to find ways to connect people to food that would go to waste, and so helping to reduce the amount of food thrown out every day. Here are six apps that will change the way you buy food.

In a world where one in nine people on earth (about 795 million people) don’t have food to eat, we continuously waste 1.3 billion tons of edible food each year, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization. This means that one-third of all the food produced for human consumption is lost.

Selecting flawless vegetables and fruits has become a habit for many consumers. Bright yellow bananas without any brown spots, perfectly shaped orange bell peppers, and apples that have an impeccable red glow sans bruises. In reality, this “harmless” habit contributes to perfectly edible food getting thrown out because of how it looks. Ultimately, food waste is responsible for over seven percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), making it a key challenge in tackling climate change.

Did you know that in the United Kingdom, 1.4 million bananas are thrown away every day?

Food waste is a problem that can no longer be ignored because every bit of food that ends up in the garbage also means a waste of resources such as water, farmland, and energy needed to produce food in the first place. Some developers have taken it upon themselves to find ways to connect people to food that would otherwise go to waste, and so helping to reduce the amount of food thrown out every day.

YourLocal: To fight food waste in Denmark, two friends came up with the idea to link consumers to local shops that have leftover food. Given its success, in 2015 YourLocal became the first app to help small businesses and supermarkets sell surplus food that would otherwise go to waste.
The app is available for iPhone and Android.

Too Good To Go: The concept is simple: through a free smartphone app, Too Good To Go helps food stores sell their surplus food instead of throwing it away. The best part? People get to enjoy good food at a fraction of the price. This free smartphone app is available in Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and the UK, with plans to expand to other countries. If you live in one of these countries, start saving on food today.
The app is available for iPhone and Android.

In 2017, Too Good To Go users saved over 2 million meals that would probably have ended in the garbage.

Olio: Next time you are going on a long weekend getaway, think about sharing your vegetables and fruits with your neighbor. This app allows users to connect with neighbors or local shops that have surplus food. You can also browse for food that’s available nearby (all products are free or for donation to charity) and arrange for a pick-up.
The app is available for iPhone and Android.

No Food Wasted: This app allows people in the Netherlands to know when products that are close to their “best-before” date go on sale at their local supermarket. This means you can quickly change your shopping list, buy products that are marked down, and save money.
The app is available for iPhone and Android.

In developing countries, 40 percent of losses occur during the harvest and processing level. In industrialized countries, 40 percent of losses happen at the retail or consumer level. Source: FAO.

We Save Eat: To tackle food waste in Barcelona, stores post their surplus food on We Save Eat and users are able to purchase products at a reduced price. If you own a food shop in Barcelona, you can sign up to be part of the We Save Eat community.
The app is available for iPhone and Android.

Flashfood: Available in the United States and Canada, Flashfood allows people to immediately browse food deals near them. This not only saves money for shoppers, but it increases revenues for vendors while contributing to diminishing environmental impacts.
The app is available for download here.

Become conscious about your food consumption is the first step toward a sustainable lifestyle. However, you can take a further step and learn in-depth on how your diet impacts the environment and our planet by taking our e-course on Sustainable Diet, currently available in English and Portuguese.

Are you using one of these apps? If so, how has it changed your daily habits? Tell us on Facebook or Instagram, we want to know!

Trade can power a greener economic recovery from the pandemic. Global demand for environmental goods and services is set to rise, as countries roll out rescue packages with large provisions for climate-friendly solutions. This course introduces participants to key approaches to harness green trade opportunities.

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Green Economy
Finance
Cities
Energy

Self-paced course

2 hours

English

Welcome

World trade patterns show that while many developing countries are now playing an increasing role in trade, many other—and particularly least developed countries who account for less than 1% of all global trade—remain stranded on the margins. Still heavily reliant on natural resource-based products and raw materials for their exports, these countries are highly vulnerable to economic and environmental shocks.

The transition to an inclusive green economy represents many significant opportunities. By harnessing the increasing global demand for environmental goods and services, as well as consumer demand for more sustainable products, countries can diversify their economies, reduce their commodity dependence and boost their competitiveness. Thus, societies promote long-term, sustainable development while also strengthening their capacity to tackle the manifold environmental challenges lying ahead.

Trade can also power a green economic recovery from COVID-19. Global demand for environmental goods and services is expected to rise as countries roll out economic stimuli with larger earmarks for climate-friendly solutions. While this course was developed prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, its contents therefore remain relevant to current policy discussions.

One practical challenge lies in ensuring that countries are both aware of these opportunities and that they possess the knowledge and skills to take advantage of them. To address this challenge, the course sets out to provide interested participants from government, business, and civil society with an introduction to the various approaches that may be taken to harness green trade opportunities.

If you encounter any difficulty or if you have any questions, please consult our help page.

What will you learn?

Participants completing the course will be able to:

Outline the evolution of legal and governance frameworks underpinning the trade and green economy interface
Identify perceived challenges and potential opportunities related to trade in the transition to a green economy
Describe enabling policy conditions to foster green trade practices
Highlight sectoral case studies of green trade in action

Course structure at a glance

The course aims to provide participants with a solid understanding of the policy instruments and enabling conditions needed for countries to advance the green economy transition via green trade, and vice-versa. It contains four lessons, each taking approximately 20 minutes to complete:

The trade and environment interface
Perceived tensions and synergies between trade liberalization and the green economy
Enabling conditions and policy design for green trade
Seizing sectoral opportunities

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A final quiz composed of ten multiple choice questions serves to assess learners’ achievement of the course’s learning objectives. The quiz can be taken at any time and attempted up to three times. Learners need to pass the quiz with a score of at least 70%. Once the quiz is successfully passed, a Certificate of Completion will be available for download on the course’s Certification page.

Partners

This course has been developed under the umbrella of the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE). PAGE brings together five UN agencies – UN Environment, International Labour Organization, UN Development Programme, UN Industrial Development Organization, and UN Institute for Training and Research – whose mandates, expertises and networks combined can offer integrated and holistic support to countries on inclusive green economy.

Green fiscal policies can help make public expenditures more efficient. This is key as the world strives to ‘build back better’ after the COVID-19 pandemic. This course introduces participants to the fiscal policy instruments and reform strategies available to policymakers to transition to a green economy.

“I love the course. It touches the real-life activities” – Learner from Ecuador

Enroll

Green Economy
Cities
Finance
Energy

Self-paced course

2 hours

English

Welcome

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed many fragilities of our economies and deepened existing inequalities and imbalances. However, long before the pandemic hit nations across the world, many economies were marked by harmful and inefficient use of public and private resources, reinforcing environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, global warming and vulnerabilities linked to health and social exclusion. In the wake of the health and economic crisis, citizens are increasingly demanding a departure from business-as-usual approaches in favour of truly innovative and green policies. Similarly, many governments recognize that the transformative potential of this circumstance must not be wasted.

Greening recovery efforts can help nations build forward better after the pandemic to increase the well-being of people and resilience of countries to future crises. Green fiscal policies in particular can play a key role in countries’ recovery efforts by removing inefficiencies in public expenditures and raising additional fiscal revenues which can be directed towards immediate COVID-19 relief measures while supporting longer-term investments. While this course was developed prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, its contents therefore remain relevant to current policy discussions.

One practical challenge lies in ensuring that countries are both aware of these opportunities and that they possess the knowledge and skills to take advantage of them. To address this challenge, the course sets out to provide interested participants from government, business, and civil society with an introduction to the green fiscal policy tools and approaches to foster a more sustainable future

If you encounter any difficulty or if you have any questions, please consult our help page.

What will you learn?

Participants completing the course will be able to:

Explain the rationale for greater use of green fiscal policy
List different fiscal instruments to promote desirable economic, social and environmental outcomes
Describe the key stages of the policy cycle
Highlight the main opportunities and challenges presented by the energy, transport and waste management sectors
Outline how international collaboration enhances fiscal policy action taken at the national level

Course structure at a glance

The course aims to provide participants with a solid understanding of fiscal policy instruments and reform strategies available to policymakers to advance the green economy transition. It contains five lessons, each taking approximately 20 minutes to complete:

The need for green fiscal policy
Fiscal instruments for greening the economy
Effective strategies for fiscal reform
Applying green fiscal policy in key sectors
Collaborating for impact

Get a certificate!

Partners

Young activists and researchers from Argentina participated in a tailored workshop on climate change mitigation. They discussed ways on how to prepare cities for the context of climate change and how a local cooperative can play a key role in raising awareness at the community level.

The countries of the Southern Cone are no exception to the greater frequency and intensity of extreme events due to climate change. According to the National Meteorological Service, 2017 was the warmest recorded year in the history of Argentina, both in the summer and winter, with an average annual temperature of 16.66°C. In addition to the progressive rise in temperature, variations in precipitation have resulted in more intense rains and longer periods of drought throughout the country.

Poster of the workshop, disseminated through the channels of CEVA, FECOOTRA, CECOOP, the Secretary of Extension of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and the Museum of the UNLP.

For the first time, the Center for Education and Cooperative Training (CECOOP) of the Federation of Cooperatives of Labor of the Argentine Republic (FECOOTRA), together with the José María Arizmendiarrieta Study Center, held a workshop focused on climate change. Following UN CC:Learn’s premise of “leaving no one behind” in its goal of disseminating knowledge on climate change, CECOOP organized the workshop so that any interested person could attend, without any registration costs for participants.

According to Guillermo Villate, the workshop was carried out within the framework of the principles of commitment to the community and to the environment, from which the CECOOP proposes to raise awareness at the community level, with regard to taking care of the environment.

Introduction to Climate Change Adaptation of the UN CC:e-Learn course. Photo: UN Environment

CECOOP based the training on the material of the UN CC:Learn Introductory e-Course on Climate Change, which provides the foundations of climate change, covering topics from climate science to governance. Over the past three years, thousands of people around the world have learned about climate change and its threats through this online course. In terms of education on climate change, this is the United Nations initiative with greatest reach, since it is a free course and is currently available in five languages.

The workshop motivated the exchange of ideas and experiences, generating debates and making the learning experience more enriching on what to do to face climate change and the activities that produce CO2. In addition to the content of the UN CC:Learn course, complementary activities were carried out with access to other documentary materials, videos and a closing Interdisciplinary Lecture on Climate Change with researchers from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and the National University of La Plata Museum.

Activity among the participants during one of the workshop sessions. Photo: CECOOP

The delivery of the workshop was approached from the perspective of the city of La Plata, where the case of mitigation to climate change was exposed particularly in Argentina, through the experiences of the cooperative “Creando Conciencia”. The mission of this Cooperative is to take care of the environment through the differentiated collection of waste with final disposal of each of them according to their characteristics. It also classifies, conditions and reinserts recyclable waste.

Among the participants of the workshop was a victim of the floods that occurred in 2013. Since then, Francisca Pinto has set out to register indicators, which she seeks to transfer to a digital format in the future, so that these serve as a source of information to benefit society in the legislative, administrative and training fields.

Participants during one of the workshop sessions. Photo: CECOOP

I could understand an issue that is not how it should be discussed within society and at the political level. I thought it was an interesting initiative that would be good to replicate in other places to continue to reach more people to generate collective awareness and allows to put on the world’s agenda the solution to the challenge of climate change.“ – Manuel María De Arrieta, participant of the workshop on climate change.

Upon the positive experience and good reception of the workshop, CECOOP intends to continue replicating the course in different regions of the country and include other fields of study among them, for example, how to prepare cities for the context of climate change through infrastructure. They also intend to continue raising awareness among communities about climate change and generate a collective interest in this important issue that threatens the entire world.

Nura Jib, founder of the African Climate Change Research Centre based in Nigeria explains how the ‘Cities and Climate Change’ e-course has enriched his CV and added advantage over his peers.

A graduate from the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria, Nura Jibo works as a Quantity Surveyor. He has nine years of experience in the financial management of institutional, residential and commercial buildings and properties. He successfully manages mega projects by making sure that the energy used in construction employs modern technology. He also aims to create efficient buildings through visionary designs, all without compromising the highest standards of comfort and health.

Founder of the African Climate Change Research Centre, a United Nations climate observer organization based in Jigawa state, Nigeria, is an expert in cities, eco-mobility and climate change. Since 2010, Nura has led the Research and Independent Non-Governmental Organization (RINGO) delegates that work on climate-smart buildings and technologies for the United Nations Conference of Parties (COP).

In 2017, while scrolling his Facebook feed, Nura found out about UN CC:e-Learn courses. He visited the website and found a course that was very much in line with his professional track of work: Cities and Climate Change.

I took the course and got my first UN certificate! The course really boosted my morale and enriched my CV because it gave me an added academic advantage over my peers,” he says.

Not everyone in his network has knowledge of how cities cause or contribute to climate change. For Nura, taking the course on cities “improved his career goal as a climate change solution enthusiast.”

Hungry to learn more, Nura decided to enroll in other courses offered by UN CC:e-Learn. He took the Children and Climate Change course and the REDD+ Academy e-course. He completed and received certificates for these courses too.

The three courses really enhanced my career goals and aspirations as a UN Designated Contact Point on climate change in Nigeria. It also rekindled a ray of hope in me because I never thought that I would find such important courses online and for free!” he says.

I am really happy to be obtaining formal training certificates on climate change and its impact on our societies through UN CC:e-Learn,” he adds.

Nura encourages others to visit the UN CC:e-Learn platform and register for any of the courses available.

Any of these courses will change one’s point of view on how climate change is affecting our cosmopolitan planet. I encourage all to do it, because climate change is everybody’s business.”

Find out more of his projects here:

Nura teaching a primary school student how to plant a tree and care for it. The African Climate Change Research Centre’s Going Green at Grassroots (3Gs) is a tree planting project in northern Nigeria which started in 2010 to help minimize deforestation and desertification problems in the area./©Nura Jibo

Environmental Education for a Sustainable Future at Local Level

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Youth-Driven Urban Sustainability: Bridging Climate Change and Urban Development

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Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution

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The course at a glance

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How to Report Emissions under the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution

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Shifting Towards a Low Carbon Economy through Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure

These 6 Apps Will Change the Way You Buy Food

Green Economy and Trade

Welcome

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Course structure at a glance

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Partners

Green Fiscal Policy

Welcome

What will you learn?

Course structure at a glance

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Partners

Learning About Climate Change in Argentina

Climate Change is Everybody’s Business