This course has been jointly developed by ESCAP, UNEP and UNCTAD based on Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report 2021: Accelerating Climate-smart Trade and Investment for Sustainable Development

Introduction

While globalization has lifted billions of people out of poverty in the Asia-Pacific region alone, the economic growth supported by existing trade and investment policies has come at a steep environmental cost. The latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change unequivocally concludes that a human-made climate crisis is unfolding and that we are on the verge of a tipping point. All possible avenues need to be considered in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including in the policies governing trade and investment.  The links between trade, investment and climate change are complex. The key is to ensure that the positive effects of trade and investment are maximized, such as by promoting trade and investment in renewable energy and low-carbon technologies, while minimizing the adverse effects, such as by digitalizing trade and transport systems.  As such, this course seeks to explain the relationship between climate-change and trade and investment, and provide recommendations on how trade and investment policies can be more “climate-smart”.

Schedule

After taking the course, you may take the quizzes to obtain a free certificate. 

The course is composed of seven modules with seven videos on the ESCAP Community as follows:  

Module 1: Trade, investment, climate change and the SDGs: Why trade and investment need to be climate smart 

Module 2: State of play: How climate smart is trade and investment in Asia and the Pacific? 

Module 3: Climate-smart business and investment 

Module 4: Regional trade agreements: a tool to promote climate-smart trade 

Module 5: Climate-smart trade and transport facilitation 

Module 6: Estimating the impact of a switch to climate-smart trade and investment 

Module 7: Conclusion and recommendations 

Depending on your familiarity with the topic, you may allocate about 3-4 hours of your time to watch the videos (15 mn.) and take the two quizzes. 

To obtain the free certificate from United Nations ESCAP for this course, you must take the two quizzes and obtain 75% of correct answers at each quiz and providing feedback.

You will find the first quiz link, dealing with Module 1-3, after reviewing & readings and watching the first three modules.

You will receive the link of the second quiz, dealing with Modules 4-7, directly by email after passing the first quiz. 

Course Evaluation Questionnaire

For other e-learning courses on trade policy, negotiation and facilitation, please click here. 

For more information, please contact: [email protected]