UNEP

This tutorial introduces the concept of prioritizing adaptation options during adaptation planning and implementation. 

At the outset of any adaptation initiative, it is important to assess the implications of climate change on the natural systems (e.g. biodiversity) and the human society (e.g. human health) to determine how and to what extent they will be affected.  There are a number of measures that can be implemented to reduce risk and vulnerability.  Due to financial and human capacity constraints, not all actions can be implemented simultaneously and it is important to study the implications of all measures.  Knowledge of the implications such as costs and benefits for each adaptation option will form part of the strategic decision-making process during adaptation planning.   

This tutorial will introduce the process of appraisal and prioritization and some tools that are used in the adaptation options appraisal process once adaptation options have been selected for consideration. 

Learning Objectives:

The course will enable you to:

• Describe the importance of climate information in adaptation planning and decision-making
• Identify technical resources for assessing climate risks
• Explore the role of National Hydro-meteorological Services in the NAP process
• Discuss how priority climate actions can be enhanced by climate scientific information 
• Identify climate products and services that support NAPs
• Discuss how to promote effective partnerships between climate information producers and users

The course aims to equip environmental experts and international first responders with the necessary knowledge to rapidly identify, prioritize, and mitigate the impacts of industrial chemical releases to human health and the environment. Upon completion of the eLearning course, participants will be able to list the basic FEAT principles, demonstrate its use in various scenarios, recall the step-by-step procedure for conducting a FEAT assessment and propose risk reduction measures for the different types of impact.

Learning Objectives:

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Recognize an environmental emergency
• Recognize the importance of safety rules when applying the FEAT methodology
• Identify the underlying elements of the FEAT Concept
• Confidently apply confidently a set of steps in order to prepare for response to a chemical accident situation

The course provides humanitarian actors with information on how to effectively integrate environmental issues into humanitarian response and early recovery strategies. It highlights the key opportunities, misconceptions and challenges for mainstreaming environmental issues into humanitarian action.

Learning Objectives:

After completing this course, participants will have:

• Improved awareness of the role the environment plays in humanitarian work
• A better understanding of the outcomes of aid by anticipating and addressing potential negative impacts
• Increased awareness on why it is imperative to integrate key environmental concerns into humanitarian activities
• A greater familiarity with the related tools and trainings (EA, REA, ENA, EIA, MIRA)

The course seeks to provide humanitarian response staff as well as local, national, and regional government authorities with increased awareness and enhanced knowledge on disaster waste and management strategies to mitigate their environmental impact. By taking the course, participants will be better prepared and more able to predict, identify, analyse, and plan the impacts of disaster waste in an emergency.

Learning Objectives:

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify the various types, compositions, and sources of disaster waste
• Prioritize which types of disaster waste to focus on in the immediate, short, medium, and long term
• Select the most appropriate waste management options based on the context of the disaster
• Explain the opportunities that successful disaster waste management can create, including how to make projects sustainable
• List the specific ways to prepare for disaster waste given the types of disaster which can occur

The course provides an overview of the international environmental emergency response mechanisms and introduces the main actors and tools available for preparing for, and responding to, environmental emergencies. It also introduces tools and resources such as the Flash Environmental Assessment Tool and the Disaster Waste Management Guidelines, for which separate follow-up courses are available. The course is targeted to representatives of countries and organizations wishing to improve their readiness for environmental emergency response.

Learning Objectives:

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Recognize an environmental emergency
• Recognize where to seek assistance for preparedness and response to environmental emergencies
• Select appropriate emergency response tools for different situations

This 7-unit massive open online course (MOOC) provides an overview of nature's many solutions for reducing the impacts from disasters and climate impacts. This may include protecting forests on steep slopes, maintaining sand dunes along coastlines, wetlands to buffer excess rainwater. These so-called ‘Nature- based solutions’ (NbS) are an important piece in the puzzle to building the resilience of households and communities to an ever-increasing number of disaster events around the world.

Learning Objectives:

• Guidance on how to apply Nature-based Solutions in enhancing resilience to disasters and climate change, whether you are a youth leader, practitioner, policy maker, engineer or business owner
• Gain knowledge about how human activities are interlinked with ecological systems and main tools and approaches for applying Nature-based Solutions to reducing disaster and climate risks
• Learn how policy makers are including nature as a solution in policy processes for reducing disaster and climate risks. Also how policies support to up-scale Nature-based Solutions for disaster risk reduction

The course aims to raise awareness about industrial accidents in order to strengthen the capacity of government, industry and civil society representatives. With an improved understanding of what constitutes an 'industrial accident', participants will be better able to prevent, prepare and respond to these types of incidents. By taking the course, participants will also gain an understanding of when countries should ask and receive international assistance in preparation for or in response to an industrial accident.

Learning Objectives:

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Recall the meaning of industrial accident
• Recognize the value of a national programme for industrial accident prevention and preparedness
• Repeat the phases of developing a national industrial accidents programme
• Identify the core elements that form part of an effective industrial accidents programme
• List the frameworks and organizations that can assist a country in preparing for and responding to an industrial accident