Course Overview
As the impacts of climate change intensify, climate change adaptation has become an integral part of climate action and support. Adaptation planning and implementation involve many technical processes, and a thorough understanding of these processes will enhance the effectiveness of adaptation measures and help avoid maladaptation. This course deals with the practical process of developing and implementing adaptation plans under the Paris Agreement framework, including pathways for accessing climate finance. In response to the growing importance of loss and damage as a possible third pillar alongside mitigation and adaptation under the Paris Agreement, this course also addresses emerging practices and future challenges in loss and damage-related policymaking.
The course incorporates numerous interactive elements, emphasizing hands-on activities and group discussions. Lectures will be delivered by climate adaptation practitioners and other guest speakers from developing countries. This course will be conducted by UNU-IAS in close partnership with the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES).
This course is targeted at policymakers, business professionals, NGO officers, and other practitioners and experts who are looking to gain practical knowledge on the implementation of the Paris Agreement. The course is part of the UNU-IAS Postgraduate Degree Programme and the Diploma Programme for Specialization on the Paris Agreement (SPA). SPA is an educational and capacity-building initiative of UNU-IAS, which aims to equip students with actionable expertise to contribute to enhancing climate action.
The course will be held on 20 April – 13 July 2026. Please refer to the course syllabus for detailed information on the content, schedule, activities, assignments, evaluation criteria, etc.
Eligibility
This course is designed for:
students who are currently enrolled in a master’s or PhD programme in any discipline;
professionals (with a college or university degree) in various occupations in Japan and abroad;
and those who wish to pursue careers in international fields in public service or private organizations, including the United Nations, multinational corporations, and non-governmental organizations, as well as national foreign service organizations.
Language Requirements
The postgraduate level will be conducted in English. Excellent written and verbal English language skills are required. The expected language test scores are:
TOEFL: minimum 600 on paper-based test / minimum 100 on online test
IELTS: 7.0
Course Modality
This course will be conducted in person only. Lectures will be held at UNU headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.
Schedule
The course consists of fifteen 100-minute sessions (one or two sessions each day). A detailed schedule is available in the syllabus.
Fees
The course fee is JPY 200,000.
Credit Transfer
The course is designed to be equivalent to 2 credits. Students who successfully complete the course will be awarded 2 credits with a transcript. While a number of universities have negotiated credit transfer agreements with UNU-IAS, ultimately the decision on whether credits are transferable will be made by the student’s university.
Course Completion
Upon completion of the course, UNU-IAS will issue an official transcript, which will be sent by mail once the grade is confirmed.
How to Apply
Please submit an official application using the online application form. The application deadline is 2 April 2026 23:59 (JST/UTC+9).
Application Procedures
Review the syllabus and application form to prepare application materials.
Submit the application form by the deadline of 2 April 2026 (JST/UTC+9).
Successful applicants will be notified via email by early April 2026. They will be asked to confirm their intention to participate in the course and pay the course fee by the designated due date.
Notes
The application form may take up to 30–60 minutes to fill out and it must be completed in English. The form is composed of six sections. There are back and next buttons at the bottom of each section, which enable you to go back and forth between sections and edit your answers before you hit the submit button at the end of the form. However, please note that the application must be done in one sitting — you cannot save your application and continue it later.
Those applicants who have not yet obtained a bachelor’s degree will be required to provide a letter of reference.
Email will be the primary method of communication with UNU-IAS IC Secretariat. It is essential that you provide a valid email address in the application form. Please ensure that your email provider does not direct emails from icsec@unu.edu to spam or junk folders. UNU-IAS will not be held responsible for unread email communication.
Please note that no financial support or scholarship will be provided for this course.
Contact
For more information, please contact the IC Secretariat at icsec@unu.edu