Climate change and biodiversity: Opportunities and challenges for Latin America and the Caribbean

General objective:

Understand the fundamental mechanisms of climate change, its causes and consequences, as well as conservation and sustainability policies. Additionally, the course will analyze responses to climate change and biodiversity loss in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Specific objectives:

• Contribute to discussions on the best public policy alternatives to promote low-carbon productive economies, greater social inclusion, and sustainable use of natural resources.
• Analyze the challenges and opportunities that climate action and ecosystem and biodiversity protection represent for Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Acquire knowledge to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, aligning with the global goal of limiting temperature rise to 2°C above pre-industrial levels, while continuing efforts to keep it below 1.5°C.
• Develop the capacity to design a sustainable agenda tailored to each country's specific conditions, evaluating potential trade-offs between different development goals.

Target audience:

• Public officials and decision-makers in Latin America and the Caribbean working on economic, social, and environmental policies.
• Academics and researchers interested in the region’s economic and social development.
• Professionals from multilateral organizations and NGOs focused on sustainable development, inequality, productivity, and regional integration.
• Students of economics, public policy, and social sciences seeking to understand the region’s main development challenges.
• Private sector actors and entrepreneurs interested in economic and social trends affecting the business environment.

Methodology:

This course follows an autonomous, flexible, and interactive approach, allowing participants to progress at their own pace and access content from anywhere. The modular structure includes:

• Explanatory videos featuring subject matter experts presenting key findings and concepts from the RED 2023 report, "Global Challenges, Regional Solutions: Latin America and the Caribbean in the Face of the Climate and Biodiversity Crisis."
• Complementary readings selected from the report and other relevant sources for a deeper understanding of each topic.
• Interactive activities, such as quizzes and practical exercises, to reinforce content comprehension.

Modules:

The course consists of five thematic modules distributed as follows:

1. What Everyone Should Know About Climate Change and Biodiversity
2. Productive Sectors
3. Ecosystems and Biodiversity in the Face of Climate Change
4. International Negotiations
5. Conclusions and Next Steps

Certification:

Upon course completion, participants can obtain a digital certificate, provided they meet the evaluation requirements.