Harness Your Leadership Potential with the Developing Skills for Women Leadership in Climate Action

19 July 2024

News
Two women smiling, looking at each other, in front of their computers.

Our new e-course, developed in collaboration with C40 and with the support of Fondation L’Oréal, inspires and equips women with the skills needed to lead inclusive and effective climate initiatives.

 

Read on to find out more about the course.

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and women are uniquely positioned to drive the innovative, inclusive solutions needed to address this global crisis. The “Developing Skills for Women Leadership in Climate Action” e-course is a comprehensive 9-hour e-course designed to inspire and equip women and girls with the leadership skills necessary to lead just and effective climate initiatives.

In four modules, the e-course introduces learners to the most up-to-date understanding of climate science while offering practical tools and strategies to help them implement inclusive and equitable climate actions. You’ll learn how to develop, plan, and execute climate projects that prioritize social justice and inclusivity, ensuring that your initiatives benefit all members of the community.

The course was developed by UNITAR and C40 with the exclusive support of the Fondation L’Oréal, and with knowledge contributions from Columbia Climate School and CARE France. It’s available in English, French, and Spanish.

Learn more about it below.

What will you learn?

The ‘Developing Skills for Women Leadership in Climate Action’ online course was created to support women and girls to develop their leadership skills and take on green and just climate actions. After completing the course, learners will be able to:

  • Explain what is climate change and define key elements of inclusive climate action.
  • Discuss the impact of climate change on women and the role they play at the heart of climate action.
  • Identify opportunities and plan effective climate action.
  • Discuss approaches for influencing others and gaining support for your climate actions.

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for everyone, but particularly women and girls, who would like to develop key leadership skills and access a rich base of knowledge on climate action rooted in inclusivity and equity

Will you get a certificate?

Anyone who completes the course will be granted an official UN certificate of completion.

To obtain the certificate, learners need to go through all course videos, readings, and activities, as well as pass all course quizzes with a grade of 70% or higher.

 

Take the course today in English, French, or Spanish.

Benin Celebrates 40 Years of National Tree Day with Landmark Tree-Planting Event

15 July 2024

News

Benin celebrated the 40th National Tree Day with an iconic tree-planting event, supported by UN CC:Learn.

 

Read on to find out more.

Since 1985, the population of Benin has participated in the “National Tree Day” (Journée nationale de l’arbre – JNA, in French), an annual celebration that cherishes nature and puts trees and their role in addressing climate change in the spotlight. In 2024, to celebrate JNA’s 40th edition, the Government of Benin, through the Ministry of the Quality of Life and Transport in charge of Sustainable Development and with the support of UN CC:Learn and the NDC Partnership through a project dedicated to broadly communicate and raise awareness on climate change and the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), invited its population to value the role of trees once again.

The borough of Koudou in the commune of Lokossa, in the southwest of the country, was the main celebratory stage this year. Several high-level government officials, both local and national, were present at the city to take part in an event that culminated in the plantation of 1,500 native species of trees, which were carefully picked per their characteristics and with the support of the members of the Coopérative d’Aménagement Rural (CAR) de Koudo and the Fondation TOZO de Lokossa, who will be the main beneficiaries.

The saplings protected and lined-up, at the JNA in Lokossa, Benin.

To mobilize the community, particularly the youth, the NGO CASAD was charged with selecting 80 youth ambassadors from the region. Before the JNA, these 80 ambassadors learned about the role of plants, particularly the saplings that were identified to be planted at the celebration: teak, eucalyptus, mango, orange, cola, coconut, and avocado.

The CASAD team, in close collaboration with the Lokossa communal forestry session team, trained the young ambassadors on the proper way to plant a tree, covering fundamental aspects such as the monitoring and maintenance techniques needed to ensure successful plant growth. With this new knowledge, they were entrusted with planting saplings during the JNA. Moreover, during six months, these 80 young people will be responsible for the 1,500 plants, making sure they are well taken care of.

The JNA that took place in Koudou, in Lokossa, had a festive ambiance that engaged a broad number of people, regardless of their age. From government officials to local residents, many people bought into the idea of planting trees. Given the number of trees, the efforts continued on 2nd and 3rd June, extending what was supposed to be a one-day celebration into a three-day one.

The Coordinator of the communication project and follow-up of the NDC at the JNA 2024.

The Coordinator of the communication project and follow-up of the NDC at the JNA 2024.

The tree-planting campaign organized in Lokossa to mark National Tree Day 2024 was a success, demonstrating the collective commitment of the local community, authorities, and partner organizations to environmental protection. The 1500 trees planted represent a concrete contribution to the fight against climate change.

Watch interviews with officials at the JNA (in french):

 

Tuning In to Climate Action: Engaging African Youth in Climate Issues via Radio

1 July 2024

News
African farmer man with retro radio broadcast receiver on shoulder stands happy smiling outdoor on old tractor background

Southern African youth tuned in to climate action through an innovative radio series that educated and empowered them to tackle environmental challenges in their communities.

 

Read on to find out more!

Radio makes waves in Africa. This media is one of the most effective ways to raise awareness of important issues, such as climate change, among young people in the continent given its wide reach, accessibility, adaptability, cost-effectiveness, and ability to tap into various linguistic groups.

According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), for instance, radio remains the main mass communication medium in Africa.

Moreover, the UN CC:Learn experience has shown that leveraging the widespread use and influence of radio in Africa, particularly in Southern Africa, is a useful approach to educating and mobilizing African communities on climate change.

Against this backdrop and building on a partnership that started in 2020, UN CC:Learn and MIET Africa joined forces once again to organize the “Youth Talk – Climate Action” radio series targeting youth in four Southern African countries – Lesotho, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. This series ran from September to November 2023 and had a total of 112 episodes in seven languages and on seven different radio stations (full list at the end of the article).

Over three months, “Youth Talk – Climate Action” covered important topics, such as water security, the impact of climate change on youth’s health, the role of forests and trees, and infrastructure for disaster management and planning. The live radio programmes benefitted from experienced and highly committed radio hosts and dedicated teams from MIET’s FutureLife Now!, who were responsible for producing each episode.

This time around, UN CC:Learn and MIET introduced new features to the series that made it more engaging and interactive. In addition to the live radio programmes, WhatsApp and SMS messaging, phone-ins, competitions, and radio clubs complemented the series.

“My guest came from a school outside Lusaka and explained how community leaders are helping youths with projects to mitigate climate change and to be self-sustained in food security.” – Youth Talk – Climate Action listener.

At the end of the series, a listenership survey was conducted with 565 listeners in the four countries. It provided important insights into the series’ success, as well as the audience’s listening habits and things to consider in the future.

Some of the key findings:

  • Most listeners listened to the radio at home, with almost half of them streaming the radio programmes.
  • 68% percent said they listened to one or more “Youth Talk – Climate Action” episodes.
  • 75% were youth between 18-35 years old, which was the series’ target group.
  • Most respondents felt that they had gained new knowledge about the environment and ways of taking action to protect it, with as many as 95% in Malawi.

image of african lady and a kid with smart phone and laptop

“Forests and vegetation could be the best ways to mitigate climate change and global warming, so it is advisable to plant as many trees as possible.” – “Youth Talk – Climate Action” listener and survey respondent.

The very positive feedback received through the survey confirms the success of the radio series as an impactful way of reaching youth audiences. UN CC:Learn and MIET Africa will delve into lessons learned from this experience to consider another collaboration in the future.

Radio and Languages

Zimbabwe:

Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, Power FM (English)

Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Zimbabwe (Shona/Ndebele mix)

Zambia:

Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, ZNBC– English, Bemba and Nyanja

Malawi:

Malawi Broadcasting Corporation ZODIAK (English/Chichewa mix)

Lesotho:

Ministry of Communications Science and Technology- Radio Lesotho (English /Sesotho mix)

UN CC:Learn Promotes Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) at SB60

28 June 2024

News
Plenary session during SB60.

UN CC:Learn was present at the Climate Conference, in Bonn, Germany, organized by UN Climate Change, to advance the Action for Climate Empowerment Agenda along with several key partners.

 

Read on to find out more!

Photo credit: UN Climate Change / Flickr

The Bonn Climate Conference 2024 (SB60), held from June 3 to 13 in Bonn, Germany, provided an opportunity for countries and stakeholders to advance Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) while exchanging knowledge and experiences.

In an effort to enhance youth capacities, UN CC:Learn joined forces with Youth4Capacity and Rio Impact to co-organize a Climate Classroom on the Rio Conventions. This one-and-a-half-hour session focused on the synergies between the three Rio Conventions (the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – UNFCCC, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification – CCD, and the Convention on Biological Diversity – CBD). The focus of the class was on young people’s engagement and interventions across the conventions. The session included expert presentations, opportunities for Q&A, and an interactive group work segment where participants exchanged ideas and identified opportunities for action.

UN CC:Learn also actively participated in the Dialogue on Action for Climate Empowerment, held on 8 and 10 June 2024, and the ACE Focal Points Academy,  held on 10 and 11 June 204. These two events, organized by UN Climate Change, zoomed in on the tools and support required for the implementation of ACE as per the Glasgow Work Programme.

Lisa Maina, from the UN CC:Learn Secretariat, moderating a session in the ACE Academy.

Lisa Maina, from the UN CC:Learn Secretariat, moderating a session in the ACE Academy.

Since 2013, the ACE Dialogues have provided a regular forum for Parties to the UNFCCC and other stakeholders to share their experiences, and exchange ideas, good practices, and lessons learned regarding the implementation of Article 6 of the Convention and Article 12 of the Paris Agreement. At the 2024 ACE Dialogue, Mr. Angus Mackay, Director, Division for Planet, UNITAR and Head of the UN CC:Learn Secretariat, moderated and facilitated different exchanges, which reflected opportunities in accessing tools and support for the implementation of ACE, while providing a space to share good practice examples. Mr. Mackay highlighted the experience of two UN CC:Learn partner countries: the Dominican Republic and Ethiopia.

Following the ACE Dialogue, the ACE Focal Points Academy offered practical discussions and applications related to the tools and support for ACE implementation. Held annually since 2022, the Academy aims to strengthen the network of national ACE focal points at both international and regional levels. It facilitates regular exchanges of views, good practices, and lessons learned to build and enhance capacity and skills, promoting peer support for ACE implementation.

In a session titled “Approaches of engagement: Raising the visibility of ACE in NDC implementation”, Ms. Lisa Maina, from the UN CC:Learn secretariat, presented UN CC:Learn’s experience in supporting Ethiopia in developing an NDC Implementation Plan for Climate Change Education as an example of an approach for fostering joint action within governments and increasing political support in raising the visibility of ACE in NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions). The session featured the presentation of the Ethiopian case study and Q&A with the audience.

In addition to UN CC:Learn, FAO, UNFCCC, UNICEF, Climate & Development Knowledge Network, the Green Environment Facility, Education Cannot Wait, Euroclima+, Youth Climate Justice Fund, as well as several national ACE focal points, and the Governments of Chile and Quebec (Canada), contributed to the Academy’s programme.

Simultaneously, the second edition of the ACE Gallery provided a platform for over 30 exhibitors to showcase their activities aimed at enhancing the implementation of ACE through a series of posters. Featured posters included the Face-NDC project in Zambia and initiatives promoting climate change education in Ghana, which were presented to a wide range of SB60 delegates.

More information about the Gallery and the other exhibitors can be found here.

The UN CC:Learn poster in the ACE Gallery.

The UN CC:Learn poster in the ACE Gallery.

Lastly, SB60 served as a networking hub for UN CC:Learn and like-minded partners. Various bilateral discussions have created valuable opportunities moving forward. These discussions have allowed UN CC:Learn and partners to explore synergies to further invest in climate change education initiatives. Such collaborations are essential for advancing global climate change efforts.

A Participant Guide of the UN Climate Change Process

Courses

This course was developed by the UN Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat to give a broad overview of the legal basis, structure, rules and workings of the UNFCCC process.

Enroll
  • Climate Change

Self-paced course

2 hours

Welcome!

In 1992, countries agreed on an international treaty, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), as a framework for international cooperation to combat climate change by limiting average global temperature increases and the resulting climate change and coping with its impacts. There are 198 countries that have ratified the Convention, called Parties to the Convention, and every year, they hold a Conference of the Parties (COP).

This course introduces the international climate change regime, its three key instruments (The UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement), and the institutional arrangements for the climate change intergovernmental process. This course focuses on UNFCCC rules of procedure regarding the negotiation process as well as the mechanism for convening the Parties through various forums and working groups, including the presidency and bureau, observers and elections, and the decision making and reporting processes.

What will you learn?

After completing this course, you will be able to:

Present the international climate change regime, including:

  • the three instruments of the UN climate change regime – the UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement.
  • how the UNFCCC operates through the COP process and major COP accomplishments.
  • the organization and administration of the annual COPs.
  • The institutional arrangements for the climate change intergovernmental process

Describe and analyse the draft Rules of Procedure of the Conference on the Parties, including:

  • responsibilities and operating procedures of governing, subsidiary, and other decision-making bodies.
  • the process for Parties to come to a consensus on the issues under negotiations.

Course at a glance

This online course includes one online lesson with two learning modules and a quiz that take an average of two hours to be completed.

Module 1: Overview of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Process

Module 2: The Negotiations and Rules of Procedure of the Intergovernmental Climate Change Process

Who is this course for?

This course is open to everyone who wishes to learn more about the UNFCCC process, including Party and non-Party stakeholders and the civil society.

Certification

Participants who successfully pass the quiz with a minimum grade of 70% within three attempts will get an official UN Climate Change certificate.

The Paris Agreement Implementation and Compliance Committee

Courses

This course will introduce you to the Paris Agreement Implementation and Compliance Committee (PAICC). It will provide you with a detailed description of the function, nature, and operation of the Committee.

Enroll
  • Climate Change

Self-paced course

3 hours

Welcome!

The Paris Agreement Implementation and Compliance Committee (PAICC), established under Article 15 of the Paris Agreement, facilitates the implementation of and promotes the compliance with the Paris Agreement.

This course will introduce you to the Paris Agreement Implementation and Compliance Committee (PAICC). It will provide you with a detailed description of the function, nature, and operation of the Committee.

What will you learn?

By completing this course, learners will be able to:

  • Define the operating context of the Committee in the reporting and review process under the Paris Agreement.
  • Summarize the role, key features, and conduct of meetings of the Committee.
  • Identify and categorize the four modes of initiation of the work of the Committee and enumerate  the measures the Committee can take to facilitate Party’s implementation and compliance with the Paris Agreement.

Course at a glance

This online course includes one online lesson with two learning modules and a quiz that take an average of two hours to be completed.

Module 1: Operating context of the Paris Agreement Implementation and Compliance Committee (PAICC).

Module 2: Facilitation of implementation and promotion of compliance with the Paris Agreement.

Who is this course for?

This course caters to both Party and non-Party stakeholders, including members of civil society, policymakers, advisors, government officials and parliamentarians.

Certification

Participants who successfully pass the quiz with a minimum grade of 70% within three attempts will get an official UN Climate Change certificate.

Introduction to Sustainable Development in Practice

Courses

This introductory course teaches learners WHAT is an integrated approach to sustainable development and WHY is it needed. The course explains the rationale, drivers, challenges, and opportunities for an integrated approach to tackling poverty-environment issues. The course lays the foundations for an advanced course focused on HOW to apply the integrated approach in practice.

Enroll
  • Climate Change

Self-paced course

2 hours

Why take this course?

After completing the introductory course, learners will be able to:

  • Discuss the poverty and environment nexus and related concepts.
  • Identify related international developments, as well as global and regional trends.
  • Explain the rationale and drivers behind integrating policy planning.
  • Identify challenges and opportunities for advancing an integrated approach.
  • Give examples of enabling policy conditions for integrating poverty and environment issues.

This course is based on Chapter 1 of the publication “Sustainable Development in Practice: A Handbook for Integrating Environment, Climate and Poverty Reduction” (Bass et al., 2023).

The course at a glance

  • 1. Introducing the integrated approach

    Module 1 provides an overview of the poverty and environment nexus and the rationale behind adopting an integrated approach to sustainable development.

  • 2. Drivers of integration

    Module 2 looks at the main drivers for adopting an integrated approach to sustainable development at the international, national and sub-national levels.

  • 3. Challenges and opportunities

    Module 3 explores challenges for adopting an integrated approach to sustainable development, as well as the opportunities presented by tackling poverty and environment issues simultaneously.

  • 4. Applying the integrated approach

    Module 4 focuses on the application of the integrated approach and development of an overarching strategic framework to enable the same.

  • 5. Wrap-up

    The final wrap-up section of the course contain additional readings and the course final quiz.

Get your Certificate

After completing the course, you will get a certificate of completion. Once you complete all videos, lessons, and activities in each module, you will need to complete the final quiz at the end of the course before the certificate becomes automatically available for download.

You can keep track of your progress and download your certificate under the “Certification” tab on the main course page.

Partners and contributors

This course is a collaboration between UN CC:Learn and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-UN Environment (UNEP) Poverty-Environment Action (PEA) programme.

If you liked this course and other trainings on the platform, why not making a donation? Every little bit helps to improve the platform, add more courses, and reach new learners! Thank you!

Net Zero 101: Your Guide to Understanding and Achieving Zero Emissions

6 June 2024

News

The “Net Zero 101: What, Why and How” e-course, developed by UNU-IAS and affiliated by UN CC:Learm, offers a foundational understanding of climate change, its impacts, and actionable steps towards achieving a net-zero society.

 

Read on to find out more about the course.

You have probably heard about “net zero”. These two words can be found everywhere lately, from the news to social media and company reports.

But, what does “net zero” actually mean?

To unpack this concept in an easy-to-understand way, the United Nations University Institute for Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) has developed the “Net Zero 101: What, Why and How” e-course.

“Net Zero 101: What, Why and How” has been affiliated by UN CC:Learn and consists of three free and self-paced modules that take an average of 1:30h to complete. It provides a foundational understanding of climate change, the science behind it, and its impacts, while showcasing actionable steps one can take as a responsible citizen to contribute to climate action and achieve a net-zero society.

Here’s a few key information about the course.

What will you learn?

After completing the course, participants will be able to:

  • Define what anthropogenic climate change is and link it with the concept of net zero.
  • Identify UN organizations, key milestones and international treaties relevant to climate action.
  • Analyze the environmental and socio-economic impacts of climate change. Explain the importance of a whole-of-society approach and the roles of different actors in achieving net zero.
  • Describe the importance of contextualized measures to achieve net zero and determine sustainable and practical ways to reduce one’s carbon footprint.
  • Select the most effective and viable renewable energy solutions considering their cost-effectiveness and sustainability given different contexts.

Who is this course for?

This e-course is meant for anyone who wishes to develop a foundational level of understanding of the basic sciences behind climate change, its environmental, social and economic impacts, and actions we can take as responsible citizens to achieve a net-zero society. You do not need a technical background in climate science to complete the course.

Will you get a certificate?

You will receive a certificate of completion from UNU-IAS once all of the following conditions have been met:

  • Complete the three online lessons; and
  • Score at least 75% on the quiz of each module.

UN CC:Learn Affiliation Programme

The course is made available on UN CC:e-Learn through the new UN CC:Learn affiliation programme, which highlights high-quality e-learning products on climate change developed by recognised institutions outside the framework of the UN CC:Learn programme / without support from the UN CC:Learn Secretariat, in accordance with specific affiliation criteria. The objective of the UN CC:Learn affiliation programme is to enhance global climate literacy through dissemination of high-level learning products that complement UN CC:Learn resources.

Take the course!

Global Impact: UN CC:Learn Surpasses 400,000 Certificates Milestone

7 May 2024

News

UN CC:e-Learn marks an important milestone with 400,000 certificates awarded globally, showcasing the programme’s commitment to climate education.

 

Read on to find out more about this important achievement.

Last week, the UN CC:e-Learn platform reached the important milestone of 400,000 certificates of completion issued to learners from all over the world.

This achievement would not have been possible without the full support of people globally who have continually believed in the UN CC:Learn mission and are committed to building a better and more sustainable future by building their capacities on climate change, green economy, and circular economy.

UN CC:Learn offers a range of courses within these three key topics catering to everyone, from people without any prior knowledge of these topics to experts working on these issues day-to-day. The relevance and diversity of the content proposed, which builds on the most up-to-date knowledge in each area, combined with an engaging user experience, contribute to the success of the free, self-paced, online courses offered by UN CC:Learn. 

Screenshot of the www.unccelearn.org main page.

Multilingualism, tailoring, and accessibility are cornerstones of UN CC:Learn work. The e-learning platform is currently available in Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian , and Spanish, and users who register on UN CC:e-Learn currently have an array of 120 courses to choose from, many of which are offered in two or more languages. This enhances user experience by allowing them to complete the courses in their native language. The flagship “Climate Change: From Learning to Action” e-course, for instance, can be done in English, Spanish, French, Russian, and Chinese.

UN CC:Learn resources also offer region-specific content, for instance through the “Circular Economy in South Africa” e-course, and can be accessed by individuals with impairments and on different supports.

Moreover, as part of UN CC:Learn’s alumni network, the alumni are invited to participate in events, such as the Fireside Chats, and challenges, like the 2024 UN CC:Learn Champions, which provide a platform for them to learn more about course topics and inspire others.

Moving forward, UN CC:Learn will keep increasing and improving its course catalogue while exploring other ways of promoting climate literacy. 

Learning about climate change in Chinese

25 April 2024

News

More than 75,000 students from worldwide have enrolled in the e-course Climate Change: From Learning to Action. Now, this course has been translated into a fifth language, Chinese, and was launched in celebration of the UN Chinese Language Day. Check out what will you learn in this course.

It gives us a comprehensive insight into the overall process of climate change and how we can collectively make a difference. – learner’s testimonial

More than 20,000 students worldwide have already completed our Climate Change: From Learning to Action e-course. This e-course aims to demystify key concepts about climate change such as mitigation, adaptation, and low-carbon emissions, as well as address the social, economic, and financial aspects that are essential for implementing climate change projects. In addition to the theoretical part, the e-course also encourages its students to share their perceptions of climate change in their countries and develop a concrete action plan or project to tackle climate change. The estimated 8-hour e-course is divided into six modules and includes interactive lessons, interviews with experts in the field, extra activities, and formative exercises. At the end of the course, the student must complete the final test to receive the certificate of completion.

The interviews with each facilitator were most insightful to me. Their personal stories added a realistic touch to the whole concept of Climate Change. They are inspiring and made it clearer to me that you can come from any professional path and still be a climate champion. – learner’s testimonial

The e-course is free of charge and is available in five languages, the most recent being Chinese. It was launched in celebration of the official Chinese language day celebrated by the United Nations on Saturday, April 20, 2024. The e-course in Chinese is made available through collaboration with Tongji University and the Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development (IESD). Our sincere thanks for this partnership, without which the Chinese course would not have been possible.

To register for the course, simply click on the button below and register. If you’re not already a UN CC:Learn student, you should register on the platform first.

If you know a friend or colleague who might be interested in this course, please recommend it!

Enroll here

“I have been impressed by the information and specific and/or real data presented in this course. I have been able to understand how some countries effectively adapt to the phenomena of climate change, social activism, business commitment, and other aspects. I have been impressed by the quality of professionalism and climate commitment of each instructor.” – learner’s testimonial