Climate policy is moving quickly from ambition to implementation. Countries are revising their nationally determined contributions, regulators are introducing carbon pricing and disclosure requirements, and lenders and buyers are asking companies for credible emissions data. Professionals who can bridge policy, regulation and measurement are increasingly needed in public bodies and private firms.

This programme provides that bridge. It begins with climate science essentials and the architecture of international agreements, then explores how commitments are translated into national legislation, strategies and sector plans. Participants examine mitigation instruments, adaptation planning and climate risk screening, and the sources and conditions of climate finance. A substantial block of the programme is devoted to carbon accounting, from organisational footprints to national inventories, with attention to data quality, uncertainty and verification.

Teaching combines expert presentations with practical exercises. Participants calculate emissions from activity data, review extracts of policies and plans, and draft an action outline for a ministry, county or organisation, ensuring they can apply what they learn immediately in policy briefs, regulatory submissions, sustainability reports and funding proposals.

Participants will be able to:

• Explain the UNFCCC process, the Paris Agreement and the transparency framework.
• Interpret nationally determined contributions and align organisational plans with them.
• Assess national and sector regulations, carbon pricing and climate disclosure requirements.
• Carry out a climate vulnerability and risk assessment to guide adaptation priorities.
• Compile a greenhouse gas inventory using the GHG Protocol and IPCC methods.
• Differentiate scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and select appropriate emission factors.
• Describe how voluntary and compliance carbon markets and Article 6 operate.
• Prepare a climate action plan with measurable targets and reporting arrangements.

The course is aimed at practitioners who shape, apply or report on climate commitments, including:

• Climate change and environment officers in ministries and county governments
• Energy, environment and natural resource regulators
• Sustainability, ESG and corporate responsibility managers
• Environmental consultants and impact assessment practitioners
• Development partner and climate finance programme staff
• NGO and civil society climate advocates
• Corporate planners and risk managers in energy, agriculture and manufacturing
• Project developers preparing carbon or green finance proposals

Participants leave with:

• A clear map of the international and national instruments that bind their organisation.
• A working spreadsheet for a basic scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions inventory.
• A vulnerability screening matrix for adaptation planning.
• An outline climate action plan with targets, owners and indicators.
• A decision guide for assessing carbon market and climate finance options.
• A reporting checklist that supports credible disclosure.

The course balances policy analysis with calculation practice, using:

• Interactive lectures supported by international and national documents
• Spreadsheet labs for emissions calculations
• Document clinics reviewing sample NDC and adaptation plan extracts
• Small group negotiation simulation on a climate policy proposal
• Facilitated planning sessions on participants' own institutional challenges

Attendance at all sessions and completion of the practical work earns each delegate a CPD-accredited Certificate of Completion from Vision Reach Global Consultancy.