The free online mini-course “Law and Climate Change: Introduction and Current Events,” coordinated by Caio Borges (iCS), Caroline Dihl Prolo (LACLIMA) and Danielle de Andrade Moreira (PUC-Rio) ended on April 30, with over 450 registrations. The sessions, which involved experts and guests from different institutions, addressed different subjects, such as the international climate regime of the UN and the Paris Agreement, the National Policy of Climate Change and the challenges of the climate agenda in Brazil, carbon pricing, climate financing, climate litigation and human rights and the climate.
#DEPOSITION: Caroline Dihl Prolo, LACLIMA
“Since the beginning of LACLIMA 10 months ago we wanted to set up a training course about law and climate, and now that we have been able to put this into practice, I can say that it was exactly the way we had imagined: trans-disciplinary in the right measure, with an objective and understanding approach to the main themes of synergy between the law and climate change. However, we could not imagine the enormous repercussion and the positive feedback that the course had in such a short time. It is frightening to realize that there are so many professionals and students in this country who lack an organized and qualified knowledge of climate change from a legal perspective. And they want even more knowledge and engagement! We received many applications for new memberships to LACLIMA and 200 new followers on our social networks. That’s when we realized that we had been a success, LACLIMA and iCS, by taking training and mobilizing this potential critical mass in the legal and related community.”
Of the 160 students who provided feedback on the course, 96.9% rated it as Very Good or Excellent, and the classes that received the highest praise were: Public Policies of Adaptation, Climate Litigation and the International Climate Regime and the Paris Agreement. Among the compliments, was the comprehensive and relevant content, the light and objective format, and the good teaching and professional experience of the trainers. Suggestions for the next editions include dividing complex subjects into more classes, a virtual debate forum, a specific course for climate litigation and a greater diversity of race, origin and young and indigenous leaders among the speakers.
What was the best thing about the course?
“The quality of the presenters was the most outstanding fact. But also the organization of the course, with information and reminders by e-mail.”
“It was a complete and succinct course, which helped significantly to organize thoughts and knowledge.”
“The teaching used by the trainers, who had a lot of knowledge and experience in the covered subjects, with practical examples and updated information.”
Lawyer
What can improve next time?
“It would be interesting to have a larger space for questions and the possibility of interacting with the other participants.”
Other Professions
“I would like to suggest not placing two or more presenters per session, as it ends up being a large amount of separate information in a short space of time.”
“Make the recordings available, even for a limited time, so that those interested can follow the content if they missed it.”
Suggestions for Future Courses
“I suggest addressing the role of large corporations/companies in climate change.”
Consultant / Other Professions
“Make in-depth courses about each of the covered subjects, or more than one class about each one of them.”
“1) Bring civil society leaders into the area of climate change (youth collectives, indigenous leaders, Fridays for Future).
2) Have a more introductory course about climate law. I believe that many people from different areas would be interested.”
Anonymous
#DEPOSITION: Caio Borges, iCS
“The course was unprecedented both in form and in content. The virtual format allowed the participation of people from all over the country, which in itself is important in terms of democratizing the access to knowledge and even for the symbolic reduction in carbon emissions. The sessions were conducted by high-level professionals, with extensive experience in their respective areas. The enormous interest of the law professionals was clear – and from other related areas – in better understanding the legal aspects of climate change. The feedback from the participants was very positive and we hope to promote, in partnership with institutions such as LACLIMA and PUC-Rio, more training projects, in areas such as climate litigation, which is an emerging subject that has received much public attention.”
