Course Overview
This course provides an in-depth exploration of global energy and climate policy frameworks, examining how governments, international institutions, and private sector actors address the dual challenges of energy security and climate change. Participants will gain a strong understanding of the policy instruments, agreements, and strategies shaping the global transition toward low-carbon, sustainable energy systems.
Topics covered include the geopolitics of energy, international climate agreements, carbon markets, just transition principles, and national energy strategies. The course combines theoretical foundations with real-world policy analysis and implementation case studies.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the relationship between energy policy, climate change, and sustainable development.
- Analyze key international climate agreements and their implications for national energy systems.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of policy instruments such as carbon pricing, subsidies, and regulations.
- Assess geopolitical, economic, and social dimensions of global energy transitions.
- Examine national climate policies and energy strategies from both developed and developing countries.
- Explore future scenarios and innovations in climate governance and energy policy.
Who Should Attend
This course is designed for:
- Energy and environmental policymakers
- Climate change professionals and sustainability managers
- Renewable energy developers and investors
- NGO and international agency staff
- Researchers, educators, and graduate students
- Corporate strategists and ESG advisors
- Urban planners and government officials
- Anyone involved in energy planning and climate initiatives
Course Outline
- Introduction to Global Energy and Climate Challenges
- Global energy demand and supply trends
- Climate science and the link to energy production and use
- The carbon budget and the urgency of decarbonization
- Energy access, equity, and sustainable development
- International Climate Agreements and Institutions
- The UNFCCC and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
- The Paris Agreement: NDCs, global stocktake, and compliance mechanisms
- Kyoto Protocol: legacy and lessons learned
- COP (Conference of the Parties) processes and outcomes
- Roles of global institutions: IEA, IRENA, World Bank, etc.
- National Energy and Climate Policy Approaches
- Energy transition strategies in key regions (EU, USA, China, India, Africa)
- Renewable energy targets, mandates, and incentives
- Fossil fuel phase-out policies and energy diversification
- Role of public-private partnerships in climate action
- Energy justice and just transition frameworks
- Climate Policy Instruments and Market Mechanisms
- Carbon pricing: carbon taxes vs. cap-and-trade systems
- Emissions trading systems (ETS): EU ETS, RGGI, CORSIA
- Subsidies, feed-in tariffs, green bonds, and climate finance
- Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and offsets
- Regulatory tools: emissions limits, building codes, fuel economy standards
- Geopolitics of Energy and Climate
- Strategic control of fossil and renewable energy resources
- Energy security in a carbon-constrained world
- Conflicts, cooperation, and diplomacy in the energy-climate nexus
- Critical minerals and supply chain risks for clean energy technologies
- Climate-induced migration and resource conflicts
- Corporate Climate Action and ESG Integration
- Net-zero commitments and science-based targets
- Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting and regulation
- Climate risk disclosure frameworks (TCFD, ISSB, CSRD)
- Role of financial institutions and green investment
- Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions tracking and mitigation
- Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV)
- National and sub-national MRV systems
- Greenhouse gas inventories and baselines
- Technology for data tracking: satellite monitoring, blockchain, AI
- Transparency frameworks and compliance audits
- Tools for climate and energy performance analysis
- Future Directions and Global Scenarios
- Climate resilience and adaptation policy
- Net-zero pathways and carbon removal technologies
- Role of hydrogen, CCS, and digital technologies in energy transition
- Climate diplomacy, youth engagement, and public participation
- Scenario planning: IPCC SSPs, IEA Net Zero Roadmap, WEO