Women Engineers at the Forefront of the Green Transition

12 November 2024

Stories

Afifa Tajrin, an Electrical Engineer and green energy enthusiast from Bangladesh embarked on a journey that seamlessly blended her technical expertise with a commitment to sustainability. With a B.Sc. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology and a master’s in Development Studies from the University of Dhaka, Afifa’s academic background set a strong foundation for her future endeavors. During her postgraduate studies,

Afifa conducted research on the challenges young women face in employment, an experience that deepened her understanding of gender disparities and the importance of equitable practices. Her professional path then led her to contribute to development projects aimed at promoting workplace safety in the Ready-Made Garment (RMG) industry, where she gained valuable insights into the intersection of industry practices and social responsibility.  

Afifa’s commitment to advancing green practices was further solidified through her participation in the Green Industry Summer School – 2nd Cohort, organized by UNIDO and PAGE in 2022. This experience led her to enroll in the Green Industry Policy course at UN CC: Learn, where she gained critical insights into the dynamics of green economy and the urgency of addressing climate change. She said,

the course proved to be a pivotal moment in my career, unveiling the crucial role of policy in shaping a sustainable future and highlighting the effectiveness of green industrial policy tools.

In addition, she explained that

this newfound awareness sparked my interest in energy efficiency and ESG principles, ultimately leading to my certification as an ISO 50001:2018 Energy Management Systems Lead Auditor.

This certification not only enhanced her expertise but also inspired her entrepreneurial spirit. In 2021, she co-founded ‘ReGear,’ a startup focused on providing energy management services and promoting green energy solutions.  With a renewed sense of purpose, Afifa’s work with ReGear became a beacon of energy efficiency and innovation. The startup introduced several initiatives, including a mobile app-based energy management system, to enhance energy efficiency in industrial and residential settings. Additionally, Afifa’s dedication to practical solutions led her to conceptualize a solar-powered cold storage solution for marginalized farmers, empowering them to preserve their harvests and secure fair market prices.

Afifa’s achievements did not go unnoticed. She excelled in the ‘Shoktikonna’ green energy transition leadership program for STEM women in Bangladesh, where she emerged as a top performer.

My social media blog, inspired by the knowledge gained from UN CC: Learn, became a platform for advocating climate action and highlighting the urgency of implementing effective strategies to mitigate the climate crisis.

Through her innovative work and advocacy, Afifa Tajrin exemplifies how a blend of technical expertise, entrepreneurial vision, and commitment to sustainability can drive meaningful change. Her journey reflects a deep dedication to advancing green energy solutions. Through her electrical system design and safety training programs, she has been enhancing the technical capabilities of professionals working in the renewable energy sector in Bangladesh. Since last year, she has delivered training to over 100 diploma engineers, electricians, and maintenance personnel who are involved in solar system and utility installation projects.

I am currently working on a gender study aimed at understanding the barriers and possibilities for women in STEM in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, women have very little participation in climate-related development action. I am committed to using this research to identify strategies for increasing their participation in these crucial initiatives.

Start your learning journey:

Join Afifa and hundreds of students and start learning today:

*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.

Energy Saving at Sea

Courses

This course will focus on detailing practical measures that can be taken by the Engine department and Deck department on board ships to save energy in their day-to-day operations.

Enroll
  • Energy

Self-paced course

2 hours

Why take this course?

How can the shipping industry be more energy efficient?  

This course, Energy Saving at Sea, primarily aimed at seafarers, is a complement to the Introductory course on Energy Efficient Ship Operation and covers detailed practical measures that can be taken by the Engine department and Deck department on board ships to save energy in their day-to-day operations.

This course will be of particular interest to:

  • Seafarers interested to understand how international regulations to address emissions can impact their daily tasks
  • Seafarers interested in practical measures to reduce fuel consumption and increase energy efficiency on board
  • Personnel in shipping companies and ports interested to learn more on practical measures for ship energy efficiency and how to support their implementation.

The course at a glance

This course is divided into two modules:

Module 1: Energy saving by the Engine department

Module 2: Energy saving by the Deck department

Each module focuses on actions that seafarers can take to contribute to the improvement of energy efficiency on board. 

The modules are stand-alone and participants may opt to study only the module related to their department. However, in order to gain the Certificate of Completion, participants must complete both modules. As a result, some duplication of content across the two modules can be noticed.

Get your Certificate

A short quiz at the end of each module allows you to verify if you have achieved the learning objectives.  To successfully complete the course and gain a Certificate of Completion, participants have to obtain a passing grade of 70% or above to both assessment quizzes (3 attempts are allowed for each quiz).

 

New Affiliated Course Shows How Energy Can be Saved Onboard Ships

5 December 2022

News

How can the shipping industry be more energy efficient?  That’s what our latest affiliated e-course aims to answer.

 

Find out today how to make operations onboard ships less energy consuming.

Most industries are looking for ways to become more energy efficient. The climate crisis has shed a light on the importance of resource efficiency, particularly regarding energy consumption, as means of minimizing industries’ contributions to climate change and environmental degradation. Against this backdrop, UN CC:Learn has recently affiliated the new “Energy Saving at Sea” e-course, developed by the Global Industry Alliance to Support Low Carbon Shipping (Low Carbon GIA), an initiative of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The newly affiliated e-course takes an average of 2 hours to be completed and covers detailed practical measures that can be taken onboard ships to save energy in their day-to-day operations. It builds on the “Introductory Course on Energy Efficient Ship Operation” e-course, which was affiliated in 2021.

The course consists of two modules, each with nine lessons and a quiz at the end. The first module focuses on how energy can be saved by a ship’s engine department and the second one walks users through what a ship’s deck department can do to reduce energy consumption and, as a result, reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Who should take this course?

“Energy Saving at Sea” is open to everyone, but it will of particular interest to:

  • Seafarers interested in understanding how international regulations to address emissions can impact their daily tasks
  • Seafarers interested in practical measures to reduce fuel consumption and increase energy efficiency on board
  • Personnel in shipping companies and ports interested to learn more on practical measures for ship energy efficiency and how to support their implementation

What will you learn?

At the end of the course, you will be able to:

  • Identify which aspects of ship handling, ship operations and engine room operations can have an impact on energy saving;
  • Describe how ship’s fuel consumption can be reduced;
  • Outline the different measures that can improve ship energy efficiency; and
  • Discuss how practical measures could be implemented on board your ship.

Certification

As previously mentioned, each module has a short quiz at the end to assess whether users have achieved the proposed learning objectives. To successfully complete the course and gain a Certificate of Completion, participants must obtain a passing grade of 70% or above in both assessment quizzes (3 attempts are allowed for each quiz).

Take the course today!

The 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. 

New e-Course Addresses the Interlinkages Between Gender Equality, Human Rights, Climate Change and Renewable Energy

18 January 2022

News

How are gender equality and human rights interlinked with climate change and renewable energy?

 

The new “Gender Equality and Human Rights in Climate Action and Renewable Energy” e-course aims to answer this question while unpacking these critical issues in a 6-hour learning experience.

 

Read on to find out more about it.

 

Climate change effects are far-reaching and concern every aspect of society, from economic development to the realization of human rights. By multiplying existing threats, climate change disproportionally affects vulnerable groups – such as women, youth, the elderly, and persons with disabilities, reduce their ability to adapt and respond to its challenges, and enhances inequalities. 

In this context, UN CC:Learn has partnered up with EmPower, an initiative led by UN Environment and UN Women with support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), to develop the “Gender Equality and Human Rights in Climate Action and Renewable Energy” e-course. This new free, self-paced e-course aims to equip decision-makers with the tools and knowledge to integrate gender and human rights into climate policies and commitments while explaining how to develop inclusive climate mitigation and adaptation actions, with a particular focus on the renewable energy sector.

At the end of the course, participants will be able to: 

  • Describe the nexus between gender equality, human rights, renewable energy, and climate change
  • Explain how a gender-responsive and human rights-based approach in climate action leads to economic, social, and environmental benefits
  • Recognize international and sectoral commitments on gender equality, human rights, and climate change and their relationship with national priorities and policies
  • Identify entry points for gender and human rights in renewable energy and climate policy and action
  • Select and apply tools and approaches for the promotion of human rights-based and gender-responsive climate action
  • Discuss targeted opportunities for women in climate change and renewable energy, with a particular focus on multi-stakeholder collaboration, renewable energy entrepreneurship, and access to finance.

The course consists of an introductory module and two specialized ones. The former introduces the interconnections between gender equality and human rights in climate action and renewable energy. Module 2 focuses on how to develop and implement gender-responsive renewable energy policies and programmes, with the goal of creating more opportunities for women to access and benefits from renewable energy. It pays particular attention to the promotion on women’s renewable energy entrepreneurship. Module 3 delves into how to develop and implement gender-responsive and human rights-inclusive climate change policies and frameworks at national level, including in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).

Learners are invited to complete the first introductory module and then choose one of the two specialized modules according to the selected pathway. Pathway 1 is particularly intended for renewable energy experts and professionals of financial institutions. Pathway 2 is designed specifically for climate change and green economy policymakers. Participants can also opt to take all three modules. 

Each module has four lessons, a final quiz and takes an estimated 2 hours to be completed. To succeed, participants must score 70% or higher within three attempts for each final quiz. Upon successful completion of each, participants will receive a badge. After completing the quizzes for the chosen pathway, participants will be able to download their certificate from the “Certification” section of the course’s webpage.

Take the course here.

Disclaimer

Cover picture credit: Abbie Trayler-Smith/Panos Pictures

Gender Equality and Human Rights in Climate Action and Renewable Energy

Courses

This self-paced e-course provides an overview of the interlinkages between gender, human rights, climate change, and renewable energy. It provides participants with the specific knowledge and tools to integrate and implement gender equality in renewable energy access and entrepreneurship, as well as related gender-responsive and human rights-based approaches in climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.

Enroll
  • Gender
  • Energy
  • Climate Change
  • Education

Self-paced course

6 hours

Key Results

  • 16200 learners
  • 14100 certificates issued

Welcome!

The deep-rooted and far-reaching impacts of climate change make it one of the most defining challenges in the world today. The impacts of climate change manifest in primary effects such as increased frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events like droughts, storms and floods. However, it is the negative secondary effects that often go overlooked, especially for those who already experience inequalities, including women, youth, the elderly, persons with disabilities and minority groups.

Multiple and intersecting social inequalities affect the ability of marginalized groups to adapt to a changing climate, excluding these groups from decision-making processes at household, community, and national levels. They also prevent them from taking hold of the opportunities that low-emissions, climate-resilient development brings towards improved livelihoods, particularly in sectors like renewable energy that also have the potential to improve the socio-economic wellbeing of women.

This self-paced e-course provides an overview of the interlinkages between gender, human rights, climate change, and renewable energy. It provides participants with the specific knowledge and tools to integrate and implement gender equality in renewable energy access and entrepreneurship, as well as related gender-responsive and human rights-based approaches in climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.

What Will You Learn?

After completing the course, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the nexus between gender equality, human rights, renewable energy, and climate change
  • Explain how a gender-responsive and human rights-based approach in climate action leads to economic, social, and environmental benefits
  • Recognize international and sectoral commitments on gender equality, human rights, and climate change and their relationship with national priorities and policies
  • Identify entry points for gender and human rights in renewable energy and climate policy and action
  • Select and apply tools and approaches for the promotion of human rights-based and gender-responsive climate action
  • Discuss targeted opportunities for women in climate change and renewable energy, with a particular focus on multi-stakeholder collaboration, renewable energy entrepreneurship, and access to finance.

The Course at a Glance

The course includes 3 modules. These have specific learning objectives and contain a broad range of features such as videos, case studies and exercises. Each module is divided into 4 lessons of around 30 minutes each.

The course provides learners with the option to choose and combine different thematic modules. There are two main learning pathways available that participants can select based on their interests. Pathway 1 is particularly intended for renewable energy experts and professionals of financial institutions. Pathway 2 is designed specifically for climate change and green economy policymakers. Both learning pathways have a common introductory module. Participants can also opt to take all three modules.

Who Should Take This Course?

The course is of particular interest to the following audiences:

  1. National policymakers, government officials and stakeholders in sectors of climate change, gender equality and renewable energy, as well as regional actors;
  2. Renewable energy service providers and officials of financial institutions in renewable energy entrepreneurship;
  3. Anyone interested in learning more about gender equality and human rights-based approaches in the renewable energy sector.

Get a Certificate

Level 1: Each module in the course has a final quiz to assess participants’ understanding of the content. Participants will receive a completion badge via email upon successful completion of each quiz.

Level 2: Participants who pass all the final quizzes within their learning pathway will receive a UN certificate of completion, where successful completion will require a score of 70% or higher with a maximum of 3 attempts at each quiz. Upon successful completion of the quizzes, participants will be able to download their certificate – or their 2 certificates if they followed all three modules – from the “Certification” section of the course’s webpage.

Introductory Course on Energy Efficient Ship Operation

Courses

This course will help you better understand how the maritime industry can reduce its environmental carbon footprint through practical measures to save energy on board. It will also give you facts and figures, and a better understanding of the global international regulatory framework to address emissions from ships.

Enroll
  • Energy
  • Climate Change

Self-paced course

2 hours

Welcome

Do you want to find out what ships can do to reduce GHG emissions?  

This course will help you better understand how the maritime industry can reduce its environmental carbon footprint through practical measures to save energy on board. It will also give you facts and figures, and a better understanding of the global international regulatory framework to address emissions from ships.

This course will be of particular interest to:

  • Someone curious and interested to learn more about the international regulatory framework to address emissions from ships.
  • Seafarers working on board ships, interested in practical measures to reduce fuel consumption.
  • Individuals working in the maritime sector, interested in environmental protection and climate change.

What you will learn

This course aims to provide answers to a series of questions such as:

  • How can ships contribute towards the reduction of GHG emissions and the mitigation of climate change?
  • How can fuel saving measures lower the GHG emissions and play an important role in limiting global temperature increase?
  • What are some of the practical actions which can be taken onboard to reduce fuel consumption?
  • What is the role of the International Maritime Organization and how is it addressing emissions from ships?

Course at a glance

This course is divided into 2 modules:

  • Module 1
    Greenhouse gases and energy efficiency in the maritime industry;
  • Module 2
    Practical ways of reducing energy use at sea.

Each module includes interactive lessons, resources for additional learning as well as a final summary.  For participants with limited internet access or time online, a PDF Learning Journal has been prepared and can be downloaded to allow for offline learning and come back to take the quiz online.  Each module takes on average 1 hour to complete.

Additional modules, covering detailed practical measures that can be taken by the Engine Department, Deck Department, onshore personnel/companies and ports, are currently under development and will be released in due course.

Completion requirements

A short quiz at the end of each module allows you to verify if you have achieved the learning objectives.  To successfully complete the course and gain a Certificate of Completion, participants have to obtain a passing grade of 70% or above to both assessment quizzes (3 attempts are allowed for each quiz).

Partners and Contributors

This self-paced free course has been developed by the Global Industry Alliance to Support Low Carbon Shipping (Low Carbon GIA), a public-private partnership bringing together leading maritime companies to address barriers to low carbon shipping, established under the IMO-Norway GreenVoyage2050 Project. 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.

If you face any issue with accessing or going through our courses please access our help page.

UNITAR and the World Bank Unveil the Potential of Carbon Taxes

23 November 2020

News

How effective can putting a price on carbon be in the fight against climate change? That’s what you will find out in our course on Carbon Taxation.

 

This 12-hour, self-paced course walks you through the ins and outs of carbon tax and explains the social, economic and environmental benefits that can come from it. Interested? Take the course today to start learning more about carbon taxes.

For centuries, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) have been driving anthropogenic climate change. If the world is to reign in the devastating effects of rising temperatures, countries need to step up their efforts to halt carbon emissions. But how can they do that? Putting a price on carbon may be an integral part of the answer. Several countries across the globe have implemented carbon taxes or intend to do so. Currently, there are 64 carbon pricing initiatives in place, covering 22.3% of global GHG emissions.

Mindful of the untapped opportunities that carbon pricing presents, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the World Bank have come together to develop a course which lays out the ins and outs of carbon taxes. The self-paced, free online course “Carbon Taxation” invites users to learn how carbon taxes work while examining the social, economic and environmental benefits that can stem from this policy tool. This course is divided into 5 modules and takes and estimated time of 12 hours to be completed.

The social cost of one ton of carbon emissions.

During the course, users will learn about different designs that can be used to price carbon. Moreover, they will see that carbon taxes can become an important revenue source, providing crucial funding for governments’ numerous development objectives. By implementing a carbon tax, governments ensure that “bads” such as emissions have an adequate price while protecting the “goods” within a society, such as a clean environment and employment.

After completing this course, users will be able to:

  • Describe how carbon taxes work in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
  • Outline key considerations that shape the decision to adopt carbon taxes
  • Summarize approaches for determining the carbon tax base and rate
  • Differentiate main undesirable effects and mitigation measures
  • List options for revenue use

Despite not requiring any prior knowledge of the subject, this course primarily targets people who want to build a solid understanding of carbon taxation. People who may benefit greatly from the content of this course are:

  • Stakeholders who wish to follow the global discourse on carbon taxation or who are involved in designing and implementing carbon taxes
  • Mid-level project developers and policy makers such as representatives from Ministries
  • Technical experts and practitioners engaged in country-level work within the PMR

The course was developed to keep you engaged at all times. Over the five modules, you will be presented with interactive activities, quizzes and media. While a modular learning sequence is proposed, users can select modules based on individual preferences. The modules are completed with the purpose of achieving module-specific learning objectives. For the most curious learners, publications and relevant databases will be provided along the way.

The course is available on UN CC:Learn e-Learning Platform and is currently available in English. Upon successful completion, users will get an official UN CC:Learn Certificate of Completion.

Green Economy and Trade

Courses

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.

Enroll
  • Green Economy
  • Finance
  • Cities
  • Energy

Self-paced course

2 hours

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:

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

Get a certificate!

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 Policy

Courses

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

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:

  1. The need for green fiscal policy
  2. Fiscal instruments for greening the economy
  3. Effective strategies for fiscal reform
  4. Applying green fiscal policy in key sectors
  5. Collaborating for impact

Get a certificate!

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.

Spreading the Word on Climate Change Education in Rural Liberia

12 August 2020

Stories

Mr. Clarance K.Gbarlo believes that the knowledge he gained from the UN CC:Learn courses is too important to not share. In this spirit, he has been teaching climate change in rural communities in Liberia. For him, those working on the ground are more prepared to develop agriculture projects that are viable, consistent and meet the needs of those most in need.

Clarance K.Gbarlo is a man with many talents. He’s worked as a teacher at a refugee school, as a communications officer, and most recently, as a public relations officer for the Christian Network Missionary organization.

Clarance (left) is teaching climate change effects at the school. / ©: Clarance K.Gbarlo

He strongly believes that climate change is a big environmental and economic challenge for developing countries, therefore it’s important to teach people about climate change – not only by raising awareness, which is crucial, but also by giving communities the opportunity to capacity building in this field.

Clarance is also a learner at heart. He took his first UN CC:e-Learn course in 2017. He signed up to take the Human health and Climate Change course as part of his personal development ambitions. He later took the Cities and Climate Change course to acquire more knowledge on the environment and climate. He eventually landed a job at the Christian Network Missionary organization, who was impressed by his motivation to teach others about the effects that climate change has on people, plants and animals.

West Point is a township (the administrative equivalent of a city ward) of the Liberian capital city of Monrovia. Home to approximately 75,000 people, West Point is one of Monrovia’s most densely populated slums. UN Photo/ ©Albert González Farran

The organization went as far as taking the initiative to advertise the course among the communities in rural Liberia. This only strengthened his desire to continue learning through the courses offered by UNITAR and UN CC:Learn.

I enrolled in additional courses, namely the Children and Climate Change course and the REDD+ e-Academy. I also took part in the Massive Open Online Course on National Adaptation Plans: Building Climate Resilience in Agriculture (NAP-Ag MOOC) and obtained the certificate,” he says.

 

These courses enabled me as a professional to develop more good projects that will contribute more effectively to mitigating climate change. Knowing that my work will have a tangible impact on the environment encourages me to further engage in promoting renewable energies,” he adds.

Women dance during the celebration of International Women’s Day at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Monrovia, Liberia. UN Photo/©Albert González Farran

A big reason why he is teaching climate change is that he believes the knowledge he gained from the courses is too important to not share.

I want to help communities in rural areas to identify, develop and implement initiatives, such as setting up better quality systems on national adaptation planning.”

He believes that implementing such initiatives will allow communities to develop better food supply systems.

Having solid knowledge on climate change issues is crucial for effectively promoting the importance of agriculture and food production.

When people have in-depth insights into the climate change phenomenon, those working on the ground are more prepared to develop agriculture projects that are viable, consistent and meet the needs of those most in need.

 

The UN CC:e-Learn platform courses are perfectly suited for this purpose,” he concludes.