Alan’s climate story began around 2015 when climate change became a prominent topic in mainstream news, especially during the lead-up to COP21. At the time, he was working in a conservation role in the tropical Andes. Conversations with local farmers revealed their struggles with unusual weather events, such as flash floods and prolonged droughts, which were devastating their livelihoods. These events were effects of climate change, a subject Alan realized he knew little about. Seizing the opportunity, he used professional development funds to attend a two-week training course on climate change. This marked the beginning of his transformation into a source of climate knowledge within his team. Simultaneously, Alan’s publisher challenged him to create his next graphic novel. Inspired by his new understanding of climate change, he created “The Adventures of Captain Polo.” This ongoing series of graphic novels explores various aspects of climate change, including its causes, effects, and solutions in the form of mitigation and adaptation. The main character, Captain Polo the polar bear, travels the world, documenting diverse and often underappreciated facets of climate change in a travelogue format that balances information with adventure, humor, and accurate geographical and cultural depictions.

Each book in the series is meticulously researched, with dialogues, narratives, footnotes, and technical sections at the back of the books reflecting thorough research. The series has garnered endorsements from top-level climate scientists and policymakers.

Book cover

Book cover

The success of his books spurred Alan to expand Captain Polo’s reach beyond the two-dimensional realm, creating the Captain Polo Academy. From this platform, Alan engages with diverse stakeholders worldwide, including schools, NGOs, think tanks, and individuals, collaborating to promote climate literacy.

A year ago, I created an online Module using Captain Polo animations aiming at teaching children in the 6 to 12-year range some basic concepts about climate science, causes, consequences of global warming, and some high-level solutions.

He continued,

All of this requires keeping pace with evolving climate change knowledge and practice, which is why I am constantly educating myself on this subject. Hence my having completed the UNCC Learn course.

He has taken the e-course Climate Change: From Learning to Action offered by UNCC Learn, to stay abreast of fast-moving developments in climate-related thinking, policy, and practice. This knowledge has also allowed him to write a couple of climate education articles in the Environmental Education Journal (Vol. 134, Spring 2024), and has been instrumental in helping him accurately craft the narratives in his series of Captain Polo books. Additionally, he is in the final stages of creating the fifth comic book in this series. This latest edition, titled Polo in Brazil, is dedicated to documenting climate challenges and solutions in that country.

Ambassador for the Center for Climate Literacy at Minnesota University and a Partner of the climate education open source portal Subject To Climate, Alan through the Captain Polo Academy delivers climate-themed workshops and projects to schools, furthering his mission of climate education. While he remains a conservation biologist, Alan is committed to taking the Captain Polo Academy to new heights, making climate education his life mission moving forward.

Start your learning journey:

Join Alan 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.

“Net Zero 101: What, Why and How” is a free and self-paced e-learning course that 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.

Enroll
  • Education
  • Science

Self-paced course

1,5 hours

Background

Have you ever heard about “net zero”? From governments to companies, net zero has often been mentioned as an important climate goal. But what does this concept really mean?

Understanding net zero requires understanding many climate science terminologies, and this course breaks down the science in easy-to-understand terms. Throughout the course you will be provided with practical tips to contribute to climate action. By the end you will gain a solid foundation in the science behind climate change and net zero.

What will you learn?

After completing the course, you 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.

Course at a glance

This self-paced course consists of three easy-to-follow short modules, comprising an online lesson and a quiz. Each module takes about 20-30 minutes, depending on how in-depth learners explore them.

Module 1: What is Net Zero?
Module 2: Why Net Zero? 
Module 3: How to Net Zero?

Who is this course for?

This e-course caters to anyone who wishes to develop a foundational level of understanding on 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. The course is conducted in English only.

Certification

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.

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!

In June 2022, UNITAR and the One Ocean Hub launched a new platform – One Ocean Learn – to help transform the way ocean knowledge is produced and shared.

 

Read on to find out more!

It is time to reimagine and transform the way that we govern our oceans.

The ocean covers a bit more than 70% of the Earth’s surface, hosting a myriad of animals, plants, bacteria, minerals and much more, that are vital for sustaining life on our planet. Moreover, the ocean has extremely important environmental and economic roles, absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere and providing jobs and food for billions of people across all continents.

In this context, the use and production of ocean knowledge and resources are key to transforming ocean governance and to informing decision-making. However, both need to be more inclusive and accessible in order for all relevant actors and stakeholders directly and indirectly involved in ocean governance to have access to reliable, up-to-date and information on ocean-related topics. Towards this aim, One Ocean Learn (OO:Learn) came to life in June 2022 at the UN Ocean Conference, in Lisbon, Portugal.

Launch of the One Ocean Learn platform at the UN Ocean Conference, in Lisbon.

It (OO:Learn) immerses users in a sea of resources where they can experience beauty and awe. The platform nourishes learning through curiosity and wonder. It inspires and challenges learners by navigating across scientific resources, different disciplines, art, and opportunities for partnerships. – Elisa Margera, One Ocean Hub

This new platform is designed for activists, communities, development practitioners, policymakers, and researchers to share resources on how global, national and local communities depend on and relate to our oceans, coastal areas and marine life.

OO:Learn’s focuses on connecting knowledge across different sources and enhancing capacities to use integrated knowledge to address real-world questions and to understand experiences, with a view to contributing toward more sustainable decisions on the ocean. The central idea is greater inclusivity and to significantly improve the way that knowledge on the ocean is shared among the many communities and individuals that have a stake in ocean governance, which means most of us.

To do this, One Ocean Learn features Learning Pathways where different change-makers on the ocean, from activists to researchers, can embark on a learning journey to build their capacity through curated resources and quizzes. In addition, the platform has a dedicated exhibition space that hosts artworks related to the ocean, with its first exhibition on the “Traditions and tales from the sea” by artist Julia Granillo Tostada.

Illustration part of the “Traditions and tales from the sea” by Julia Granillo Tostada.

One Ocean Learn is a joint undertaking between the One Ocean Hub, a collaborative research programme for sustainable development funded by UK Research and Innovation through the Global Challenges Research Fund, and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

Interested in partnering up or have any feedback on the platform? Reach out to us at [email protected].

Get first-hand updates on OO:Learn on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

What are persistent organic pollutants (POPs)? Where can they be found? Why are they hazardous?

 

These are just a few questions that our new course will unpack for you.

 

Keep reading to find out more it!

Have you ever heard of the “Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants”? The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which are chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods and are harmful to both humans and the environment. The Convention was adopted in 2001 building on the principles of the Rio Declaration and aims to support countries in addressing these through a series of mechanisms and processes.

Against this backdrop, UN CC:Learn , UNITAR and the BRS Secretariat teamed up to develop the “National Implementation Plans (NIPs) and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)” e-course. This three-module learning experience takes an average of three hours to be completed and will help you understand POPs by explaining what they are, where they can be found and why they are harmful to humans and the environment. This course is geared towards everyone who wishes to learn more about POPs, as well as experts who deal with the topic day-to-day.

Learning Objectives

Each module has specific learning objectives. However, after completing the course, learners will be able to:

  • Describe the important contribution of National Implementation Plans (NIPs) towards meeting obligations of the Stockholm Convention
  • Explain steps required to prepare, review and update NIPs
  • Identify the challenges in the process of undertaking POPs inventories
  • Describe how POPs inventories are used in planning exercises
  • Discuss strategies to strengthen NIPs
  • Explain the importance of putting in place the means of regularly reviewing and updating NIPs

Target Audience

While the groups below will find it particularly useful, this course is open to everyone, and we encourage you to take it. The knowledge you will gain can help you in everyday life.

  • Official Contact Points and National Focal Points of Parties for the Stockholm Convention.
  • Members of national steering committees or coordinating bodies for developing and updating NIPs (coordination units) and their different task teams; and
  • Stakeholders, from government, the private sector, civil society, and the public, participating in any of the phases of NIPs preparation, review and updating.

Certification

Participants who score 70% or higher in each one of the three quizzes will be awarded an official UN CC:Learn certificate.

Take the course today!

Jean Baptiste Katako is a UN CC:Learn Champion from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Our courses inspired him to create a non-governmental organization to address erosion, the importance of reforestation, and the impact of climate change on health. Keep reading to learn how he has been working together with the community and local authorities to transform erosive sites into areas of tree planting.

My name is Jean Baptiste Katako Kayambi, and I am from the Democratic Republic of Congo. I am a civil servant: previously I worked at the Ministry of Justice, and currently, I’m an official at the National Central Bureau of Interpol Kinshasa/Democratic Republic of Congo. I have always been concerned by the environmental problem. First, in Butembo, North Kivu,  where I worked with students and farmers in reforestation. Then posted to Kinshasa, I was touched by the problems of climate change and erosion.

Photo: Jean Baptiste Katako Kayambi

Photo: Jean Baptiste Katako Kayambi

As a result, I decided to take the following five courses on the UN CC:Learn platform: Human Health and Climate Change; Children and Climate Change; Advancing on REDD+; Cities and Climate Change; and Introduction to Climate Change. These different courses have pushed me to better understand the causes of climate change in the city of Kinshasa and personally, has led me to change my behavior in a number of ways. 

Photo: Jean Baptiste Katako Kayambi

Photo: Jean Baptiste Katako Kayambi

The biggest action that these courses have inspired me to take is to create a non-governmental organization that we have named Think Tank on Security, Human Rights and Development. We currently have fifty active members engaged in our activities, and are supported by hundreds of other individuals. Within our organization, we have students, government officials, pastors, doctors, teachers and women, as well as many unemployed youth. We have understood that the problems of the destruction of our environment, erosion, and other related issues are a security issue, affecting our human rights to live in a safe and healthy environment. As a first step, we have been organizing awareness building and sensitization sessions on collective tree planting and other anti-erosion activities.

We have held several meetings in our communities to talk to the local people about the need to protect our environment, the fight against erosion, the importance of reforestation, and the impact of climate change on health.  We work together with the communities and in close collaboration with the local authorities, who attend our meetings. At these, we advise them on the actions and measures to be taken to protect our environment.

Thanks to our organization, we have been able to transform the erosive sites of our environment into areas of tree planting, and have educated the local population – and particularly the youth – on the need to be responsible for conserving our environment. We will continue to do so both through concrete acts, such as tree planting and by fighting all governmental and other projects that may contribute to the degradation of our environment.

Photo: Jean Baptiste Katako Kayambi

Photo: Jean Baptiste Katako Kayambi

Get involved:

Are you part of an organization that deals with climate change? What results have you achieved so far? Tell us a bit more about your experience on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and tag UN CC:Learn. Every small step counts and can lead to a positive impact on your community. We want to learn from you!

Start your learning journey:

Access our e-learning platform on unccelearng.org and take free courses on climate change and green economy. You may be interested in learning about:

Dr. Ganzorig Gonchigsumlaa from Mongolia participated in an e-learning course on green fiscal reform delivered by the Partnership for Action on Green Economy and shared with us his experience.

Dr. Ganzorig Gonchigsumlaa, originally from Mongolia, studied at the University of Manchester, where he obtained a Master of Science in Environmental Economics in 2010. He gained his PhD in Agricultural Economics at the Georg-August University of Goettingen, Germany in 2016.

Dr. Ganzorig Gonchigsumlaa teaching Sustainable Development Goals in the Development Economics course among undergraduate students. / © Sainjargal Zorigtbaatar 2018

Dr. Ganzorig Gonchigsumlaa teaching Sustainable Development Goals in the Development Economics course among undergraduate students. / © Sainjargal Zorigtbaatar 2018

Since then, he has become a Senior Lecturer at the Mongolian University of Life Sciences where he teaches three courses: Introduction to Economics, Cost-Benefit Analysis and Development Economics. In addition, he also has experience working with the UN System and the Mongolian government.

During the weeks of 8 September to 10 November 2017, PAGE delivered an e-learning course on green fiscal reform to meet the learning needs and build capacities of national stakeholders.

The interactive and practice-oriented course provided participants from government, business, civil society and academia with an introduction to various approaches and policy instruments for reforming government spending and revenue generation with the goal of supporting the transition to a green economy.

Ganzorig participated in the course and shares with us his experience:

The GFR e-course was amazingly well-prepared and organized. The course plan, evaluation methods, training materials, online discussions and receiving feedback for my submitted assignments was fantastic. It was my first time taking an e-course, and I understand better now how useful it can be to take an e-course.”

The Sunkhul Lake is salty lake located up in the mountain summer pastureland, which sustains livestock of herder households both from Khovd and Bayan-Ulgii provinces./©Ganzorig Gonchigsumlaa 2012

In terms of content, Ganzorig says he “gained knowledge related to fiscal and financial aspects of the green economy for a variety of economic sectors including agriculture and transportation.”

The most important aspect of the course for him was the “chance to pool out every aspect of green fiscal reform with very practical international case studies and examples.”

Among all the new concepts that he learned, one of the key takeaways is that the biggest challenge to fulfill country goals might be the financial gaps, and thanks to the e-course, he grasped this more clearly.

He encourages people who want to learn about GFR in a constructive manner to take the e-course.

Mr. Shagdarsuren Khalzaa — the driver of the motorcycle on the photo, had lost about 160 goats and several horses, cattle and camels during the Dzud, a natural disaster in winter that kills livestock with its low temperature, heavy snow, and strong wind, in 2010.  /©Ganzorig Gonchigsumlaa 2012

I was in charge of the topics on Green Fiscal Reform: Rationale and related concepts and Green Fiscal Reform: Instruments. The two topics are translated versions of the Module 1 and 2 of the GFR e-course; in addition to, a few more cases focused on the context of Mongolia. This is evidence that the course was beneficial to the participants, like myself, who can later evolve the concepts to reach more people,” he concludes.

After taking the course, Ganzorig had a chance to share his knowledge through PAGE at UN Mongolia to develop a course on Green Economy and Modelling among the undergraduate students.

The team of professors at the Mongolian University of Life Sciences, National University of Mongolia, and the University of Finance and Economics in Mongolia developed the course curriculum, and lecture and seminar materials.

I was in charge of the topics on Green Fiscal Reform: Rationale and related concepts and Green Fiscal Reform: Instruments. The two topics are translated versions of the Module 1 and 2 of the GFR e-course; in addition to, a few more cases focused on the context of Mongolia. This is evidence that the course was beneficial to the participants, like myself, who can later evolve the concepts to reach more people,” he concludes.

Some of Ganzorig’s publications include:

  • Ganzorig, G., Enkh-Amgalan, G., Erdenechuluun, T., Amartuvshin, O., Erdenebayar, M., Kadirbek, D., Tserendavaa, Ts., Batjargal, N., Yadmaa, Z., Gantulga, Ts., Bayarchimeg, G., Ganchimeg, G., Amar, U., Baasansuren, S., Erdenesuren, Ya. and Tumendemberel, G. (2018), Import and Export Study: Linking to Livestock and Vegetable Value Chains, Technical Paper Series 1, book in Mongolian
  • Ganzorig, G., Marlon, F (2015) Valuation of contribution of ecosystem services of the Orkhon Valley National Park to sectoral economic development. book in Mongolian and English, “Munkhiin Useg” Publisher, Ulaanbaatar, ISBN 978–99962–3–945–8, DOI (Eng) 10.13140/RG.2.1.4703.5288, DOI (Mon) 10.13140/RG.2.1.2344.2327
  • Sarthi Acharya; N.Odmaa; D.Chimeddagva; G.Bolormaa; G.Ganzorig (2015, 2016) Handbook for policy planning, monitoring and evaluation. book in Mongolian, Ministry of Finance of Mongolia, UNDP, UNEP, PEI programme, Ulaanbaatar
  • Gonchigsumlaa, G. (2018). Opportunities to integrate Green Economy and Sustainable Development aspects into policy planning, monitoring and evaluation processes in Mongolia. Mongolian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 21(02), 92–100, from https://www.mongoliajol.info/index.php/MJAS/article/download/914/1086;

Connect with Dr Ganzorig Gonchigsumlaa on ResearchGate.

Developed in partnership with the REDD+ Academy, this course introduces participants to the basics of REDD+. It includes the elements required under the UNFCCC, how to prepare and implement REDD+ at the national level, and the financial resources available.

 

“The structure of the course gives the reader comprehensive knowledge of the forest and climate change for policymakers and environmentalists to design actions.” – Learner from India

Enroll
  • REDD+
  • Climate Change
  • Science

Self-paced course

12 hours

Welcome

The REDD+ Academy is a coordinated REDD+ capacity development initiative led by the UN-REDD Programme and the UNEP Environmental Education and Training Unit, which seeks to match the scale of the global climate change mitigation challenge and enable systematic, focused capacity development to deliver REDD+ on the ground.

The development of the REDD+ Academy responds to needs expressed by UN-REDD Programme partner countries for a regionally focused education initiative for those involved in national REDD+ programmes.

What you will learn?

After completing the course Fundamentals on REDD+, you will be able to:

  • Explain the role of deforestation and forest degradation in the process of climate change;
  • Define REDD+ aspects in the context of the UNFCCC;
  • Explain the importance of analysing and prioritizing direct and indirect drivers of deforestation and forest degradation;
  • Explain the relationship between policies and measures (PAMs) and the five REDD+ activities;
  • Describe the process of developing a National REDD+ Strategy or Action Plan;
  • Identify the variety of perceptions of REDD+ finance in each of the three REDD+ phases.

The Course at a Glance

The course on Fundamentals on REDD+ is structured around six modules. The first three modules present a general introduction on the topic. The last three modules present various REDD+ elements which are required under the UNFCCC and how to prepare and implement REDD+ at the national level, including what financial resources are available.

  1. Forest, Carbon Sequestration and Climate Change;
  2. Understanding REDD+ and the UNFCCC;
  3. Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation;
  4. Policies and Measures for REDD+ Implementation;
  5. National Strategies and Action Plans; 6. REDD+ Finance.

Completion Requirements

The quizzes can be completed at any time. They assess the achievement of the learning objectives for each module. Each quiz can be attempted a maximum of three times. Passing a quiz with at least 70% rewards learners with a badge associated to the specific module. Once the six quizzes are passed, and learners obtain all the six badges available, they can download a certificate of completion from the course home page.

Partners

The modules have been developed and peer-reviewed by UN-REDD and UN CC:Learn.

Developed in partnership with the REDD+ Academy, this course deals in greater detail with three REDD+ elements, including monitoring systems and safeguards. It also discusses best practices for engaging stakeholders in REDD+ processes and key principles of good governance.

 

“So much informative course and strongly relevant for practical use in the field.” – Learner from Swaziland

Enroll
  • REDD+
  • Climate Change
  • Science

Self-paced course

12 hours

Welcome

The REDD+ Academy is a coordinated REDD+ capacity development initiative led by the UN-REDD Programme and the UN Environment Environmental Education and Training Unit, which seeks to match the scale of the global climate change mitigation challenge and enable systematic, focused capacity development to deliver REDD+ on the ground.

The development of the REDD+ Academy responds to needs expressed by UN-REDD Programme partner countries for a regionally focused education initiative for those involved in national REDD+ programmes.

What you will learn?

After completing the course Advancing on REDD+, you will be able to:

  • Describe the process and objectives of developing a National Forest Monitoring System;
  • Explain the importance of developing Forest Reference [Emission] Levels (FRELs/FRLs);
  • Explain the need for Safeguard Information Systems in REDD+ implementation;
  • Describe the characteristics of an Incentive Allocation System;
  • Describe the importance of stakeholder engagement for successful REDD+ implementation;
  • Describe the underlying governance factors that can affect REDD+ implementation.

The course at a glance

The Advancing on REDD+ course is structured around six modules. While how to prepare and implement REDD+ at the national level through a National Strategy or Action Plan, including financial resources available, is discussed in the course Fundamentals on REDD+, the Advancing on REDD+ course presents the other three REDD+ elements, to which it adds the importance of engaging the relevant stakeholders in the process and the principles of good governance.

The six modules are as follows:

  1. National Forest Monitoring Systems for REDD+;
  2. Forest Reference Emission Levels (FRELs);
  3. REDD+ Safeguards under the UNFCCC;
  4. Approaches for the Allocation of Incentives;
  5. Stakeholder Engagement in REDD+; 6. Good Governance.

Completion requirements

The quizzes can be completed at any time. They assess the achievement of the learning objectives for each module. Each quiz can be attempted a maximum of three times. Passing a quiz with at least 70% rewards learners with a badge associated to the specific module. Once the six quizzes are passed, and learners obtain all the six badges available, they can download a certificate of completion from the course home page.

Partners

The modules have been developed and peer-reviewed by UN-REDD and UN CC:Learn.

The Partnership for Action on Green Economy has launched a series of global e-learning products that address key policy issues central to the green recovery debate. The six online courses are free, self-paced, and can act as an invaluable building block as countries plan their economic responses to COVID-19—serving to inform and shape the public policy debate around green economic reform.

Now is the Time to Build Back Green

Five UN Agencies Tap Expertise for Courses Aimed at Green Economic Recovery

UN Environment ProgrammeInternational Labour OrganizationUN Development ProgrammeUN International Development Organization and UN Institute of Training and Research — under the auspices of PAGE, have launched a global learning campaign aimed at fostering a wide-reaching green economic recovery post-COVID-19. The online courses, developed through agency collaboration, are individual and self-paced and can serve to directly address capacity gaps in developing and implementing policies central to achieving green, inclusive growth.

With economic investment into national recovery packages estimated to reach up to US$ 20 trillion over the next 18 months, informed recovery decisions are crucial. Targeting varying starting points and thematic focuses, the courses aim to equip users with the necessary knowledge and skills to support the systematic integration of environmental sustainability in national economic recovery strategies and stimulus packages, sectoral programmes and policy reforms, as well as strengthen collective national ownership of job-rich green economic recovery efforts.

Overall, this concerted effort promotes the benefits of a long-term strategy to align economic recovery with SDGs and 1.5 degree target for climate change. As leaders are looking towards the future, strong learning resources can become the crux for the future we want.

The courses are available to anyone and the range of topics includes green economy, fiscal reforms, trade, green industrial policy, green economy indicators, and sustainable finance.  All of the courses, which are free and self-paced, will be available on the UN CC:Learn Platform, which has almost ½ million registered users worldwide.

Follow the Partnership for Action on Green Economy’s green recovery journey:

UN Opinion Leader’s Endorsements