Learning for a Sustainable Future: Live at COP28

Learning for a Sustainable Future: Live at COP28, developed by the University of Edinburgh in collaboration with the British Council and Learning for Sustainability Scotland, is a beginner-level online course examining the UN COP28 Climate Conference and its wider sustainability context. Originally delivered alongside COP28 in Dubai in November and December 2023, the course explores the conference’s key themes, global climate negotiations, the Sustainable Development Goals, biodiversity, climate justice, and the role of education and collective action.

Core Content

The course is structured across two modules covering the broader context of COP28 and developments emerging directly from the conference. Learners explore climate change, the SDGs, planetary boundaries, climate justice, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, methane, loss and damage, health, nature, youth engagement, climate education, partnerships, and the Global Stocktake. The course also includes perspectives from community groups, young people, governments, educators, and international organisations.

Key Skills

Participants will develop the ability to understand the purpose and significance of COP28, interpret climate negotiations within wider sustainability frameworks, and consider climate issues from local, national, and international perspectives. The course also develops skills in environmental policy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, advocacy, community engagement, discussion facilitation, sustainable development, diplomacy, and international relations.

Target Learners

This course is designed for educators, students, community groups, sustainability professionals, and general learners interested in climate change and international climate negotiations. It is particularly relevant for those who want to understand how COP processes connect with education, communities, policy, and practical climate action. Coursera classifies the course as beginner level, making it accessible without specialist prior knowledge.

Learning Format

Hosted on Coursera, the course is now available in a flexible self-paced format with two modules and an estimated completion time of around one week at ten hours per week. The learning experience includes videos, extensive readings, two assignments, discussion prompts, reflections, and perspectives originally gathered during COP28. Coursera currently offers a shareable certificate upon successful completion. The original course ran live alongside COP28 in 2023, while its materials can now be studied independently.

Additional Benefits

The course provides learners with direct access to material created during an actual UN climate conference, including reflections and contributions from policymakers, educators, youth representatives, and international organisations. Its collaborative approach encourages learners to connect global negotiations with action in their own communities and organisations. The University of Edinburgh has also made many of the original COP28 video resources openly available for continued learning and reuse.

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