Championing Change: Human Rights and the Climate Crisis
Learn why climate change is a human rights issue, and how human rights can be used as a tool to combat the climate crisis.
1,235 enrolled on this course
Duration
3 weeksWeekly study
1 hour100% online
How it works
Championing Change: Human Rights and the Climate Crisis
Find solutions that address both global warming and human rights violations
Rising sea levels. Floods. Droughts. Extreme weather. We know the effects of climate change but their associated human rights violations are not as well understood.
This three-week course, convened by Amnesty International UK, will explain the complex relationship between climate change and human rights. The way they influence each other, and how improving one issue can improve the other. Ultimately, you’ll see how being a human rights activist can help you combat climate change, and vice versa.
Learn why climate change is a human rights issue
Global warming violates key human rights, yet human rights can be used as an effective tool to counteract the effects and continued growth of global warming. You’ll have the opportunity to unpack this complicated statement in detail during this course.
By identifying the instances and inequalities of climate change across different regions and demographics, you’ll get a clear idea of how they impact the rights of people living in these situations.
Understand the importance of being both an environmental and human rights activist
You’ll also get to explore what you can do to combat the violation of both human rights and the environment, taking advantage of the active learning materials.
By connecting with like-minded participants around the world, you’ll become part of a vital global community that is dedicated to effectively dealing with these issues.
Find climate change solutions with Amnesty International UK
The United Kingdom branch of Amnesty International is made up of individuals dedicated to defeating injustice. With their collective expertise, they have created a high-calibre course that will show you how to both combat climate change and campaign for human rights.
Syllabus
Week 1
A Global Context
Welcome to the course
This course is a starting place for learning more about the complex relationship between human rights and climate change.
Introduction to human rights
Human rights outline the fundamental things that all of us should have to live a life in freedom and dignity.
Introduction to climate change
Human activities have steadily and significantly altered greenhouse gases concentrations in the atmosphere. This is the main driver of what we now know as Climate Change.
Climate change and human rights
Climate change threatens the enjoyment of a wide range of human rights, including the right to life, adequate housing, water, food and the highest attainable standard of health.
Climate justice
Climate justice approaches focus on the root causes of the climate crisis and how climate change builds on and magnifies inequalities among countries and within countries.
Celebration of success
Well done! You have come to the end of Week 1.
Week 2
A State's Responsiblity
Instruments and Protections
The impacts of climate change are felt globally. As the climate emergency is a global crisis, states and regions are responsible for putting mechanisms in place to address climate change and its impacts on human rights.
States’ responsibilities
Mechanisms have been put in place to be both the custodians and the monitors of human rights, and ensure that states comply with their obligations to respect, protect and fulfil human rights.
A human rights approach to climate action
Human rights obligations, standards and principles have the potential to inform and strengthen international, regional and national policy making on climate change.
Climate Action and Human Rights Trade-Offs
While in principle there is no incompatibility between climate change action and human rights protection, in practice policy conflicts between the two may and do emerge.
Corporate Responsibilities
Companies must adopt human rights policies, conduct human rights due diligence, remedy human rights abuses for which they are directly responsible.
Celebration of success
Well done! You have come to the end of Week 2.
Week 3
Defending Our Rights and the Environment
What we can do as individuals
Even though individuals are right holders, they too bear an ethical responsibility to hold to account the activities of state and corporate actors.
Environmental Human Rights Defenders
The last week of this course will focus on the actions individuals can take on a local level to fight for climate justice. You will be introduced to how climate change disproportionately impacts vulnerable individuals.
Taking action to protect human rights and the environment
Explore ideas on how you can take action to protect human rights and the environment.
End of course
People created this crisis, and we have the power to fix it – but we need to start acting now.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Describe how climate change is a major human rights issue
- Explain and express key terms and concepts related to human rights and climate change
- Summarise the numerous inequalities of climate change, including its causes and consequences across regions and demographics
- Evaluate both the mutual supportiveness and possible tensions between human rights and climate change action
- Compare between different types of climate change response measures that protect and promote human rights
- Identify human rights-based mechanisms, tools and tactics to shape climate action
- Engage with and challenge the hostility and antagonism faced by environmental human rights defenders
- Identify and engage in specific actions to address human rights concerns associated with climate change
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for anyone wishing to explore the relationship between climate change and human rights. No expertise is needed; the only requirement is a desire to understand and improve these serious global concerns.
Who will you learn with?
Who developed the course?
Amnesty International UK
We are Amnesty International. We speak out for anyone and everyone whose freedom and dignity are under threat.
Ways to learn | Buy this course | Subscribe & save | Limited access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choose the best way to learn for you! | $109/one-off payment | $349.99 for one year Automatically renews | Free |
| Fulfill your current learning need | Develop skills to further your career | Sample the course materials | |
| Access to this course | tick | tick | Access expires 16 May 2024 |
| Access to 1,000+ courses | cross | tick | cross |
| Learn at your own pace | tick | tick | cross |
| Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
| Certificate when you're eligible | Printed and digital | Digital only | cross |
Cancel for free anytime |
Ways to learn
Choose the best way to learn for you!
Subscribe & save
$349.99 for one year
Automatically renews
Develop skills to further your career
- Access to this course
- Access to 1,000+ courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Cancel for free anytime
Buy this course
$109/one-off payment
Fulfill your current learning need
- Access to this course
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Limited access
Free
Sample the course materials
- Access expires 16 May 2024
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades) | |||
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)
Learning on FutureLearn
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- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
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Map your progress
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- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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