Programme overview
Introduction:
Climate change policy and climate negotiations training on NDCs, policy instruments and the energy sector is a ten-day course for government policy, energy ministry, regulator and energy company government-affairs teams, ending with a negotiation position paper and an NDC Policy Brief for a case energy-exporting economy. Many units still prepare contributions and negotiation mandates without modelled impacts, a priced instrument mix or a view of fossil revenue exposure. Nominees already draft policy papers or brief delegations, and the course is taught through a negotiation simulation built on case work. CoreConcept Training Center delivers this course on climate change policy.
Course Objectives:
- Explain emissions inventories, carbon budgets and temperature goals in terms that support national climate policy decisions
- Interpret the institutions, principles and decision rules of the UN climate convention and the Paris Agreement when preparing a mandate
- Design nationally determined contribution options and a long-term low emission development strategy with sector measures and support needs
- Compare carbon pricing, standards, subsidy reform and incentives using abatement cost, fiscal and distributional evidence from economy and energy models
- Prepare transparency reports, climate finance requests and negotiation positions with coalition and stakeholder analysis
- Assess transition risk and stranded asset exposure for oil, gas and energy companies and present the findings in an NDC Policy Brief
Target Audience:
- Government policy units responsible for national climate strategy, contribution updates and interministerial coordination
- Energy ministry planning teams responsible for fuel mix, power sector and hydrocarbon revenue analysis
- Regulator teams responsible for emissions standards, efficiency rules and reporting systems
- Energy company government-affairs teams responsible for tracking climate negotiations and preparing industry positions
- Energy company strategy and economics teams responsible for policy scenarios and transition risk assessment
- Delegation support teams responsible for briefing notes, draft decision analysis and coalition liaison
Course Outline:
Day 1: Climate Science and Emissions Fundamentals for Policymakers
- Greenhouse Gas Inventory Categories and Emission Sources by Sector
- Carbon Budget Concept and Temperature Goal Pathways
- Scientific Assessment Reports and Summaries for Policymakers Reading
- Global Warming Potential Metrics and CO2-Equivalent Conversion
- National Emissions Profile Diagnostic for an Energy Economy
Day 2: International Climate Regime and Its Institutions
- UN Climate Convention Principles and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities
- Conference of the Parties Decisions and Consensus Rule
- Subsidiary Bodies, Secretariat and Constituted Body Mandates
- Paris Agreement Architecture of Mitigation, Adaptation and Finance
- Global Stocktake Cycle and Ambition Ratchet Mechanism
Day 3: Nationally Determined Contributions and Long-Term Strategies
- NDC Target Types Absolute, Intensity and Baseline Deviation
- Five-Year NDC Update Cycle and Principle of Progression
- Sectoral Mitigation Measures Matrix for Power, Industry and Transport
- Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy Drafting Steps
- Conditional and Unconditional Contribution Components and Support Needs
Day 4: Climate Policy Instruments and Their Economics
- Carbon Tax and Emissions Trading Design Choices Compared
- Performance Standards, Efficiency Codes and Fuel Economy Rules
- Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform and Clean Technology Incentives
- Marginal Abatement Cost Curve for Ranking Mitigation Options
- Policy Mix Evaluation for Cost-Effectiveness and Distributional Effects
Day 5: Guided Case Study on Policy Impact Modelling and NDC Options
- Case Economy Emissions Baseline and Business-as-Usual Projection
- Energy System Model Scenario Runs for Mitigation Pathways
- Computable General Equilibrium Results on Output and Employment
- Fiscal Impact Scenarios for Hydrocarbon Export Revenue
- Draft NDC Mitigation Options Table for the Case Economy
Day 6: Climate Finance and International Cooperation Mechanisms
- Multilateral Climate Fund Access Modalities and Accreditation Routes
- Developed Country Finance Pledges and Mobilisation Accounting Rules
- Article 6 Cooperative Approaches and Corresponding Adjustments Overview
- Technology Transfer and Capacity Building Support Channels
- Loss and Damage Funding Arrangements and Response Options
Day 7: Transparency, Reporting and National Climate Governance
- Enhanced Transparency Framework Modalities, Procedures and Guidelines
- Biennial Transparency Report Structure and NDC Progress Tracking
- Technical Expert Review and Facilitative Multilateral Consideration Process
- National Inventory System Roles, QA/QC and Data Flows
- Interministerial Climate Committee Mandates and Coordination Charter
Day 8: Negotiation Process, Coalitions and Position Preparation
- Negotiating Groups and Coalition Formation Among Parties
- Agenda Items, Contact Groups and Informal Consultation Formats
- Bracketed Negotiating Text and Draft Decision Analysis
- Negotiation Position Paper with Red Lines and Fallbacks
- Stakeholder Mapping for Industry, Civil Society and Observers
Day 9: Implications for Oil, Gas and Energy Companies
- Transition Risk Channels for Oil and Gas Demand
- Stranded Asset Screening for Upstream and Refining Portfolios
- Corporate Transition Plan Elements and Credibility Tests
- Methane Emission Reduction and Flaring Policy Measures
- Climate Policy Tracking Indicators and Peer Benchmarking Dashboard
Day 10: Negotiation Simulation and NDC Policy Brief Capstone
- Simulated Conference Session Briefing and Delegation Role Allocation
- Negotiation Simulation Rounds on Draft Decision Text
- Coalition Bargaining Debrief and Position Adjustment Review
- NDC Target Options Appraisal Using Week One Modelling
- NDC Policy Brief Completion for the Case Energy-Exporting Economy
Skills You Will Gain:
- Greenhouse Gas Inventory Interpretation
- Climate Regime Analysis
- NDC Target Design
- Carbon Pricing Economics
- Policy Impact Modelling
- Climate Finance Access Planning
- Multilateral Negotiation Preparation
- Stranded Asset Screening
Why Attend This Course:
- Deliver an NDC Policy Brief and negotiation position paper to the head of the climate policy unit or the government-affairs director preparing the next contribution update
- Decide which instrument mix, target type and finance request a delegation can defend using modelled economic and fiscal evidence
- Avoid mandates that concede ground on revenue-sensitive decisions or miss transparency reporting requirements because the impacts were never quantified
- Share the mitigation options table, stakeholder map and negotiation templates with colleagues preparing future sessions and reports
Conclusion:
Back at work, the participant hands the head of the climate policy unit, the energy ministry or the government-affairs director an NDC Policy Brief and a negotiation position paper for the next contribution update or session of the conference of the parties. Decision makers use them to agree target options, the instrument mix, finance requests and red lines for the delegation. After first use, the unit should review how the positions held in session, which modelling assumptions were challenged and what the next transparency report must show.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
What should participants know before a climate change policy and climate negotiations course?
Participants should already work on climate, energy or economic policy files, read basic emissions and energy statistics and know how their organisation contributes to national positions. Bringing a recent contribution document or negotiation brief helps them apply the case work and simulation directly.
How does climate change policy and climate negotiations training differ from a climate risk or energy transition strategy course?
It centres on the international regime, NDC preparation, policy instrument economics and negotiation practice. Climate risk and adaptation courses assess physical hazards for assets, and corporate energy transition strategy courses plan company portfolios, while this course prepares national positions and their energy sector consequences.
Why do NDCs need economic modelling in climate change policy and climate negotiations?
Because each new contribution must represent a progression over time and is reviewed against the collective outcome of the global stocktake. Positions therefore need modelled costs, fiscal effects and coalition support before the update cycle closes, not after targets are announced.
What do participants take back from a climate change policy and climate negotiations course?
Participants take back an NDC Policy Brief and a negotiation position paper for a case energy-exporting economy, together with a mitigation options table, an instrument comparison and a stakeholder map that can be adapted to their own ministry, regulator or energy company.