In order to influence the next generation of policymakers and decision makers, PEDRR collaborated with the Cologne University of Applied Sciences’ Centers for Natural Resources and Development (CNRD) and its global network of universities, to develop a Master’s Elective Course on Disasters, Environment and Risk Reduction.
Compiled by researchers and practitioners from more than 15 countries and institutions worldwide, the module contains 50 hours of teaching material, divided into approximately 30 sessions (corresponding to 3-5 credits). It is now available in Spanish and French!
The course is free of charge and available to any university or national training institution interested in teaching it.
In order to request the materials, please send us a formal request in writing from your institution.
The PEDRR Virtual library compiles all types of references on Eco-DRR, drawing from materials featured in PEDRR’s Weekly Eco-DRR Newsletter, as well as from other sources. The references consist of reports, scientific journals, news articles, books and videos. This Virtual Library is yours – please use and share widely. If you would like to add references to the Virtual Library, please write to [email protected] or click here.
You can access the Virtual Library here and search for references based in the type of hazard.
CNRD Network
| Block name | Teaching hours | Content | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elements of Disaster Risk Reduction | 15 hours |
Ten sessions including on group wrok |
| 2 | Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction or Eco-DRR | 15 hours |
Eight sessions including one group work and one case study or field trip |
| 3 | Eco-DRR instruments and approaches | 15 hours |
Nine sessions including one case of study or field trip |
| 4 | Mainstreaming Environment and DRR | 5 hours | Four sessions including one role play |
Course topics include understanding disaster risk and resilience, disaster trends analysis, ecosystem management tools for disaster risk reduction, climate change and ecosystem-based adaptation, mainstreaming into development, ecological engineering, among others.
The Course is proposed as an elective course to existing Masters degrees such as in geography, natural resources management, water resources management and IWRM, coastal zone management, agricultural sciences, urban planning, environmental sciences, climate change studies and international development studies.
We’re excited to announce that our MOOC has recently surpassed 100,000 participants worldwide! Due to this overwhelming response, we’re extending the course until August 2025. Are you passionate about tackling the climate crisis and protecting communities from disasters? This free, online course is designed for anyone eager to explore how nature-based solutions can safeguard lives and build a resilient future. Whether you're a young person, teacher, policymaker, practitioner, business leader, or engineer, this course will equip you with the tools and knowledge to take action in the fight against climate change. Join us and discover how nature holds the key to solving some of the world’s biggest challenges!
PEDRR and the United Nations Environment Programme are holding an online Training of Trainers open to all university and training instructors wanting to develop the theme of environment, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation and use the PEDRR Master’s module materials. This online Training of Trainers has the following goals: learning about integrating and teaching on the topic of disasters, environment and risk reduction, learning about innovative tools, approaches and institutional arrangements for advancing ecosystem approaches, and creating a strong national and regional community of academia and professionals in ecosystem-based approaches/ Nature-based Solutions.
Want to know more about Nature-based Solutions (NbS) from a business perspective? Curious about how NbS can be integrated into your business model? Join our collaborative workshop series where expert panellists will answer all these questions and many more. ● Learn why NbS are important for business, with expert speakers who have pushed the boundaries of innovation. ● Understand how NbS can reduce business risk and build resilience. ● Gain practical knowledge on NbS for business, including global criteria for designing, verifying and scaling up NbS projects, and the latest financing mechanisms. ● Be a part of a growing business community increasing their resilience to disaster and climate risks while protecting biodiversity. ● Gain a course certificate to show your participation through joining live or through taking the course at a time convenient to you.
This self-paced, online course unpacks the interlinkages between climate change, peace and security and explores opportunities for promoting inclusive climate action, conflict prevention and peacebuilding. Recognizing that challenges associated with climate change and insecurity do not impact everyone equally, the course includes a special focus on assessing the ways gender norms and other factors of social identity shape how people from different backgrounds experience and respond to these emerging risks.
This book explains the importance of ecosystems and their management for DRR and CCA and provides guidance to plan and implement ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation (Eco-DRR/EbA).
First launched in 2015 with more than 12,000 participants, the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) ‘Disasters and Ecosystems: Resilience in a Changing Climate’ was relaunched in 2017 with revised material and interviews. Although the course is no longer active, the course videos and accompanying book can be viewed here.
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