MOOC Massive Open Online Courses (Ακαδημαϊκό έτος 2022/2023)

This e-learning module on climate change and environmental sustainability aims at developing journalists' skills to better understand and adequately tackle a wide range of diverse issues related to climate change in MENA and Balkans regions. Climate change extreme and slow onset events are posing serious threats to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in both regions, where most of the climate vulnerable people live, and where adverse climate impacts are deemed highest, according to the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCCC), the most authoritative voice of climate science.

Video-lesson 1 - Introduction

This lesson provides participants with a sound understanding of the scientific basis of climate change, climate change impacts, and relevant policies. This lesson provides an introduction into climate change in its physical dimensions, including an overview on the latest trends and figures, and reliable sources for more climate data . The first video lesson lays the fundament for the entire course.

Key Contents:

• What is climate change?
• How can we stop climate change?
• Who is capable of stopping climate change?
  • States
  • Corporations
  • Individuals

Video-lesson 2 - The UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement

This lesson provides participants with the basic knowledge about the history and milestones of UNFCCC figuring out the conflicting interests of country groupings.

Key Contents:

• The history and milestones of UNFCCC
• Kyoto Protocol Versus the Paris Agreement
• UNFCCC Parties, Country Groups, and Observers
• UNFCCC Events, Submissions, Meeting Formats
• The main elements of the Paris Agreement
  • Mitigation: reducing emissions
  • Adaptation
  • Loss and damage
  • Support
• Katowice rulebook
• The Way Ahead

Video-lesson 3 - Climate finance

This lesson provides a basic understanding on the nature of climate finance, sources, governance, priorities and recipients at the international level.

Key Contents:

• What is climate finance?
• What are the main characteristics of climate finance today?
• Is climate finance effective enough today?
• How could it become more effective?
• International climate finance commitments under the PA
• The Global Environment Facility (GEF)
  • The Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF)
  • The Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF)
• Green Climate Fund (GCF)
• UN Adaptation Fund
• International & national climate finance - main challenges

Video-lesson 4 – Climate Change in the Mediterranean Region

This lesson shows the main facts of climate change in in the Mediterranean region and its consequences on people's lives.

Key Contents:

• What are the main facts of climate change in the Mediterranean region?
  • Air temperature
  • Precipitation
  • Sea temperature
  • Sea level
• How is climate change likely to impact this region?
  • Water resources
  • Food resources
  • Land ecosystems
  • Marine ecosystems
  • Human health
  • Human security
• What should be done?

Video-lesson 5 – Climate Change in the Mediterranean Region: Challenges and Lessons Learned

This lesson show the current challenges in the Mediterranean region regarding the climate change issues and the lessons learned for the future.

Key Contents:

• Why don't we care more about climate change in the Mediterranean region?
  • Today’s lifestyle
  • Climate change is a slow-moving threat
  • Political challenges
  • Shortage of financial allocations.
  • How the news media represent climate change
• What to do about the lack of awareness about climate change in the Mediterranean region?
  • Winning Hearts and Minds
  • Explain the science of climate change in a simple way
    • Use metaphors to explain difficult concepts
    • Use metaphors to explain difficult concepts
    • Use real-world analogies
    • Use plain language
    • Be wary of uncertainty
    • Explain that scientists agree about climate change
    • Don't repeat the language of climate deniers