The climate crisis is no longer a distant threat—it’s here, causing devastating impacts on communities around the globe. Addressing this urgent challenge demands bold climate action supported by significant financial investments. While the need for climate finance is immense, the good news is that opportunities to mobilize resources have never been greater. To help unlock these opportunities, UNITAR and UNDP’s Asia-PacificClimate Finance Network, with support from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and the Government of Sweden, have launched the Scaling Climate Finance e-learning course.
This free, self-paced course aims to equip professionals from governments, the private sector, civil society, and beyond with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the intricate world of climate finance. Structured into four interactive modules, it helps learners identify key climate finance sources, instruments, and mechanisms while exploring innovative approaches to accessing new capital for climate action, including from the private sector.
In just five hours, participants will gain practical insights into mobilizing both public and private finance, applying innovative tools, and promoting inclusive, gender-responsive climate investments. Upon completion, learners will receive an official UN Certificate, showcasing their expertise in scaling climate finance—a critical skill set for driving climate action.
Find out more about the course below.
What Will You Learn?
This 5-hour, self-paced e-learning course aims to enhance participants’ knowledge and understanding of the climate finance system. By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Identify key climate finance sources, instruments, and mechanisms, and explain how these interact to support climate action for mitigation and adaptation
- Explain the roles and responsibilities of different actors and stakeholders within the climate finance system
- Outline measures, tools, and approaches to coordinate public climate finance more efficiently and effectively
- List innovative sources, mechanisms, and instruments that can unlock new pools of capital for climate action, including from the private sector
- Explain how applying a gender equality and social inclusion lens to climate finance ensures investments reach at-risk and vulnerable populations
The course is designed with a strong focus on gender equality and social inclusion. Through real-world case studies, examples, and stories, learners will see how these principles can be embedded into climate finance planning, budgeting, and decision-making for both mitigation and adaptation efforts.
Who Should Take This Course?
Many actors play a role in scaling finance for climate action. While the course presents tools and approaches primarily through a government or public sector lens, it is relevant to a wide range of stakeholders, including:
- Policy, planning, and technical staff managing or mobilizing climate finance at national and sub-national levels (e.g., from central finance or planning ministries, line ministries, sub-national governments, and parliamentarians)
- Individuals from quasi-governmental organizations, including state or central banks, state-owned enterprises, parastatals, supreme audit institutions, and securities or exchange commissions
- Private sector stakeholders and market facilitators involved in climate-aligned investments
- Practitioners from non-governmental organizations, civil society groups, think tanks, and educational institutions focused on climate-related issues
- Citizens interested in understanding how finance drives climate action and holding relevant actors accountable
While many case studies are drawn from the Asia-Pacific region, the tools, instruments, and approaches presented are applicable to individuals and organizations worldwide.
Will You Get a Certificate?
Yes! To earn a certificate of completion, participants must pass the final quiz with a score of 70% or higher within three attempts.