Climate Change Science and Policy tools in view of COP28

Course Details

Course Dates     : 12 -13 June, 2023

Timings               : 9:00 AM – 5: 00 PM

Mode                  : Virtual (MS TEAM or Blackboard)

Course Fee         : AED 2,000 + VAT  

 

— 2days/16 hours

— Awareness raising in view of COP28

— e-learning lifelong learning education course –Five lessons in 5 complete modules to be implemented by BUID in collaboration with Prof. P. Nicolopoulou Stamati.

SCOPE in view of COP28 to:

— Understand the Impact of CC on: the sea level/water resources and natural disasters/agriculture/Human Health/Animals and Plants/cities resilience/ air pollution
— Acquire Knowledge of CC on: Air quality/Biodiversity/Food safety/Marine Environment/Agriculture/Waste and Chemicals/ Ecotourism/ Agro tourism/ Biosecurity

After completing the course, participants will be able to:

— Explain how climate change affects the world
— Recognize the international climate change policy framework to be implemented in COP28
— Understand the vision of  Kyoto Protocol to the Paris Agreement, including their respective commitments and negotiation positions
— Describe the outcomes of past negotiation sessions in brief
— Discuss the key issues in the ongoing international climate change negotiations particularly in relation to the promotion of health priorities and the integration of health in all policies in COP28 frame

Background information

Climate change includes except higher temperatures, changes in precipitation, increases of some extreme weather events, and rising sea levels.
These impacts threaten human health animals and infrastructures by affecting the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the housing. The severity of these health risks will depend on the ability of public health and safety systems to address or prepare for these changing threats, as well as factors such as an individual's behavior, age, gender, and economic status.

 

Teaching units in 5 LESSONS in the form of complete modules

DAY 1 (1M/2M/3M)

1M: Introduction: Climate Change Impact on: a. Humans b.
Environment

Climate change is already impacting health and the Environment in many ways, by frequent extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, storms and floods, also by the disruption of food systems, increased zoo noses and food-, water- and vector-borne diseases, plus increase of mental health issues.
a. Natural and social consequences of climate change.
b. Human Health /Agriculture/ Vulnerable Groups
c. Water borne Diseases/ Epidemic & Pandemic (Virus Resilience due Climate Change)
d. Water Scarcity due to Climate Change & Water Pollution
e. Threats of Major Accidents & Natural Disaster / Eco Stress

2M.Marine Science/Wild life/Agro tourism/ecotourism/Biodiversity  impacts of Climate change

There are widespread changes in Marine life including damage to coral reefs and mangroves that support ocean life, also migration of species to higher latitudes and altitudes where the water could be cooler. Agro tourism links agricultural production with tourism entertaining or educating the visitors while generating income for the farm, ranch, or business owner. Ecotourism is a major income-generating ecosystem that contributes to biomass accumulation and biodiversity recovery aiming at mitigating the global climate change impact. Plus .Ecotourism can educate communities, industries, and tourists on how to prepare for and adapt to climate change and
protect the environment. Greater biodiversity in ecosystems, species, and individuals leads to greater stability. For example, species with high genetic diversity and many populations that are adapted to a wide variety of conditions are more likely to be able to weather disturbances, disease, and climate change.

a. Establishing the vision for an ecosystem approach throughout the Mediterranean case study. Elaborating strategic goals to achieve this vision;
b. Designing and Developing a monitoring strategy
c. Elaborating specific management plans and actions that will ensure that ecological objectives and strategic goals are met. Case study: moving the Mediterranean countries effectively towards their vision for marine and coastal management.
d. Trade in wildlife: and its connection with health and security Instruments that could support the fight against wildlife poaching and trade the COVID -19 example
e. Monitoring & Wildlife: Technical challenges in IoT & Wildlife. Problems; Solution.
f. Agro tourism and Ecotourism as a sustainable adaptation option for climate change .
g. Convention on Biological Diversity, key international instrument for sustainable development

 3M. Climate Change /Global Sustainability/food safety/Biosecurity/UN Agenda 2030

Droughts, rising sea levels, extreme natural phenomena and floods plus melting of glaciers, snow and ice causes sea level rise, which erodes the coast and involves the destruction of many economic means of subsistence threatens Food safety and Biosecurity that is directly linked to food safety, the conservation of the environment including biodiversity, and sustainability of agriculture

a. International Conventions on Environment and Implementation Act
b. UNFCCC Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992) Kyoto Protocol (1997) Paris Agreement (2015) Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (1985)
c. International Conventions. From RIO to COP International instrument for Climate Change IPCC/U
c. Eco Justice
d. Monitoring Instruments and Environment Protection Act
e. Agenda UN 2030

DAY 2 (4M/5M)

4M: A closer look practical approach to risk management/wastes and chemicals/climate change adaptation

Risk Management/ Wastes and chemicals /Climate Change Adaptation can be addressed by designing buildings and infrastructure that are safer and more sustainable. Further more by replanting forests and restoring damaged ecosystems also diversifying crops so that they are better able to adapt to changing climates. Moreover by Investigating and developing innovative solutions to prevent and manage natural catastrophes.

a. Risk Management Develop skills for Managing  risks that  stem from a variety of sources related to  climate change  including financial uncertainties, legal liabilities, technology issues, strategic management errors, accidents and natural disasters.
b. Wastes and chemicals will address concerns related to harmful substances and hazardous waste, the UN Environment Program promotes chemical safety and provides countries with access to information on toxic chemicals, and promotes chemical safety by providing policy advice, technical guidance and capacity building to developing countries and those with economies in transition.

c. Climate Change Adaptation  Adaptation  to adjustments in ecological, social or economic systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli and their effects  to changes in processes, practices and structures to moderate potential damages or to benefit from opportunities associated with climate change. Countries and communities need to develop guidelines for adaptation solutions and implement actions to respond to current and future climate change impacts

5M. Climate Change/ Sustainable Finance/Circular Economy/Climate Change Mitigation/Healthy and Green Recovery from COVID-19

This lesson concludes the course with a reflection on the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, it illustrates the WHO Manifesto for a healthy and green recovery from COVID-19
Sustainability requests mitigation in order to stabilize greenhouse gas levels in a timeframe sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change and to ensure that food production is not threatened, and to enable economic development to proceed in sustainable way. Moreover implementation of Circular Economy favor activities that preserve value in the form of energy, labor, and materials, This entails designing for durability, reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling

This Module concludes the course with a reflection on the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, it illustrates the WHO Manifesto for a healthy and green recovery fromCOVID-19

a. Sustainable Finance and its role in environmental and socio-economic issues
b. Opportunities και Difficulties for Sustainable Finance. Examples for Sustainable Finance.
c. Towards Sustainable Development through the Circular Economy and Climate Treatment
d. Bio economy and the Circular Economy. Business and the Circular Economy
e. International Agreements and International Coal Market
f. Sustainable Finance and its role in environmental and socio-economic issues. Opportunities και Difficulties for Sustainable Finance. Examples for Sustainable Finance. Towards Sustainable Development through the Circular Economy
g. Bio economy and the Circular Economy.
h. International Agreements and International Coal Markets
i. Impacts of Mitigation on Social & Economic System. Resources are also available at the end of each lesson

 

 

 

Instructor

Dr. Polyxeni Nicolopoulou-Stamati M.D. PhD. Pathologist
Professor of Pathology Medical School
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens

Qualified Pathologist – Cytopathologist. Teaching Environmental Pathology at the Medical School of the University of Athens.

Organized, implemented and directed (2004-2014) the 2-year Postgraduate Master Program of the Medical School of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens entitled: “Environment and Health: Capacity Building for Decision Making”.

Engaged in Research and Medical Practice. Experienced in organizing seminars, intensive courses and congresses, in building medical curricula, in coordinating European projects

Expert at the EU Commission on Environmental Health, engaged in science policy interface

Invited expert advisor at the Belgian High Council for Public Health

Consultant in Public and Private Sector

Chair  of the Βoard/ ENSSER 2019-

Member of IPPNW since 1983, Nobel Peace Prize Awarded in 1985.

Secretary of the Board/ Mariolopoulos – Kanaginis Foundation for the Environmental Sciences 2015-

Member of the Environmental Effects on Health Center of the Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens 2014-

Member of Climate Change Impact Study Committee (CCISC) of the Bank of Greece 2014-

EU expert advisor reserve list of the Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risk for the Term 2016-2022