Course Overview
Transparency is vital to ensure that the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) can function as a vehicle for governments and stakeholders to fulfill their climate action commitments. Article 13 of the Paris Agreement is a set of procedures and guidelines on tracking and clarifying the level of implementation efforts. Under the Article, the Parties are responsible for reporting on the progress of the implementation of their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) together with the quantitative and qualitative information such as the national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and the biennial transparency report (BTR) with a common tabular format (CTF) under the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF).
This capacity-building course aims to enhance the understanding of the theory and practice of climate action transparency at different levels. It consists of lectures by professionals and practitioners in the field; practical training on GHG emissions calculation using relevant methodologies; site visits to observe efforts by the private sector to reduce GHG emissions through installation of decarbonization technologies and their MRV; as well as group work and presentations. Participants will also develop an analytical essay on the enhancement of transparency using selected case studies.
Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to apply the knowledge gained through lectures and hands-on experiences to develop strategies to strengthen and lead climate action efforts.
The course will be held on 22 July – 1 August 2025. Please refer to the course syllabus for detailed information on the content, schedule, activities, assignments, evaluation criteria, etc.
NOTE: UNU-IAS is currently developing the Diploma Programme for Specialization on the Paris Agreement (SPA). Although the details are still under discussion, this course may be counted as a part of the Diploma Programme (subject to change). [Top]
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. [Top]
Language Requirements
The course 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 [Top]
Course Modality
This course will be conducted in person only. Lectures will be held at UNU headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. [Top]
Schedule
The course consists of fifteen 100-minute sessions (one or two sessions each day). A detailed schedule is available in the syllabus. [Top]
Fees
The course fee is JPY 200,000. [Top]
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. [Top]
How to Apply
Please submit an official application using the online application form. The application deadline is 16 June 2024 23:59 (JST/UTC+9).
Detailed instructions can be found in the Course Application Checklist.
Application Procedures
Review the checklist and prepare application materials.
Submit the application form by 16 June 2025.
Those applicants who have not yet obtained a bachelor’s degree will be required to provide a letter of reference.
Successful applicants will be notified via email by early July 2025. They will be asked to confirm their intention to participate in the course and pay the course fee by the designated due date.
Please note that no financial support or scholarship will be provided for this course. [Top]
Contact
For more information, please contact the IC Secretariat at icsec@unu.edu
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