Free UN Environment Training Courses 2026: Disaster Risk Reduction, Peacebuilding and Environmental Emergencies
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), together with partner organisations, offers a range of training courses and online learning opportunities covering environmental emergencies, disaster risk reduction, climate resilience, and environmental peacebuilding.
These courses introduce learners to practical approaches for managing environmental risks, strengthening disaster preparedness, protecting natural resources, and supporting peacebuilding initiatives. Opportunities include online courses, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), graduate-level modules, and specialised training programmes for government officials, students, and development practitioners.
1. Environmental Emergencies Training Courses
The Joint UNEP/OCHA Environment Unit (JEU), working with its partners, develops introductory and advanced training on environmental emergency preparedness and response.
Five online courses are available through the Environmental Emergencies Centre:
- Beyond Response: Better Preparedness for Environmental Emergencies – explores the environmental emergency cycle, key actors, and tools for preparedness and response.
- Introduction to Industrial Accidents: Prevention, Preparedness and Response – introduces industrial accidents and approaches to prevention, preparedness, and response.
- Disaster Waste Management: Best Practices and Tools – examines approaches to reducing the environmental impacts of disaster waste.
- Introduction to the Flash Environmental Assessment Tool (FEAT) – introduces a methodology used to identify and analyse chemical accident risks associated with natural disasters.
- Environment in Humanitarian Action – explores how environmental considerations can be incorporated into humanitarian response and early recovery.
Access the courses: Environmental Emergencies Centre
2. Disasters and Ecosystems: Resilience in a Changing Climate
UNEP, in partnership with the Cologne University of Applied Sciences, developed a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) titled Disasters and Ecosystems: Resilience in a Changing Climate.
The course was launched in January 2015 through the iVersity MOOC platform. According to the supplied programme information, it attracted more than 12,000 candidates from 183 countries.
The course focuses on the relationship between ecosystems, disasters, and climate resilience. It introduces learners to the role of ecosystems in reducing disaster risks and supporting communities affected by climate-related hazards.
Course information: Disasters and Ecosystems MOOC
3. National Training on Ecosystem-Based Disaster Risk Reduction
UNEP also supports national training on ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR). These programmes target national and local government officials, sectoral agencies, and planning institutions.
The training aims to improve understanding of good practices and encourage collaboration between government agencies to implement ecosystem-based approaches in their countries.
The programme consists of three modules:
- Policy awareness: A half-day component for policymakers and decision-makers.
- Science and technology: A 2.5-day component introducing ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
- Case studies: A one-to-two-day component presenting examples from different contexts, potentially including a field visit.
UNEP’s programme information reports that national-level training activities have reached more than 300 participants, mostly from government ministries.
4. Graduate Course on Ecosystems and Disaster Risk Reduction
UNEP worked with the Center for Natural Resources and Development (CNRD), a university consortium coordinated by the Cologne University of Applied Sciences, to develop a graduate module titled Disasters, Environment and Risk Reduction.
The module was designed to strengthen education and training in ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction. It was initially delivered at CNRD partner universities, with the programme information reporting participation by approximately 50 universities worldwide offering the course or parts of it.
This opportunity is relevant to students and professionals interested in environmental management, disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and sustainable development.
Learn more: Graduate Course on Eco-DRR
5. Environmental Peacebuilding Training
Environmental peacebuilding explores how natural resources and environmental management influence conflict, cooperation, and peacebuilding.
The Environmental Peacebuilding Massive Open Online Course introduces learners to the roles of renewable and non-renewable resources throughout the conflict cycle. It examines how natural resources can contribute to conflict, how conflict affects the environment, and how environmental governance can support peacebuilding.
The training also covers practices for managing natural resources, preventing disputes, and building trust between stakeholders.
Additional learning opportunities include:
- Greening the Blue Helmets: Training on the environment, natural resources, and UN peacekeeping operations, developed with UNITAR and the International Institute for Sustainable Development.
- Land, Natural Resources and Conflict Prevention: Learning resources addressing land, extractive industries, renewable resources, and capacity-building for conflict prevention.
- Natural Resources and Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR): Training on the risks and opportunities associated with natural resources in DDR programmes.
- Environment, Peace and Security Certificate: A 12-credit certificate programme developed in partnership with Columbia University, offered over two academic terms to senior students and practitioners.
Who Should Consider These Courses?
These training opportunities may be relevant to students, researchers, government officials, humanitarian workers, environmental professionals, peacebuilding practitioners, and development specialists.
Specific eligibility requirements, costs, enrolment arrangements, and course availability vary by programme. The supplied information does not confirm that every course is currently accepting registrations.
How to Access the Training
Interested learners should visit the relevant programme websites to review course details, available learning materials, and registration information.
- Environmental Emergencies Centre
- Disasters and Ecosystems MOOC
- UNEP: Disasters and Conflicts
- UN Staff College: Land, Natural Resources and Conflict Prevention
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