“Air pollution” describes the presence of substances that are artificially introduced into the air. Air pollution stems from gases, which in excess are harmful to human health, buildings, ecosystems and the environment in general. This course primarily focuses on the problem of long- range transboundary air pollution, mainly in Europe and haze pollution focused on Southeast Asia. 

At the end of the course, you will be able to: 

1. Explain the consequences of transboundary air pollution
2. Describe key provisions of the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, its protcols and the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution 

The course is comprised of 2 units. Each unit includes a book with links to the InforMEA glossary and relevant documents and websites, additional materials and videos. Take the quizzes to test your knowledge.

It will take you less than 1 hour to complete the course, excluding additional materials. You can manage your time as you wish; take one unit and retake the course whenever it is more convenient for you. 

After completing all the units and passing the quiz with an 80% of correct responses, you will receive a certificate of completion.

"This course has been developed by UNEP and it is based on UNEP´s Training Manual on International Environmental Law. In case of any discrepancy with the content of the Convention, its Protocols and UNECE guiding materials, the original text of the documents shall prevail and can be found here"

This course provides an overview of the international legal framework in the fight against ozone depletion. First, it describes the threats posed to the ozone layer by the use of ozone-depleting substances and analyzes the main obligations under the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol.

A brief analysis of main achievements and challenges illustrates the success in reducing the Ozone layer and the need to continue working globally to find substitutes with low global warming potential to ozone-depleting substances.

The course is laid out in 5 lessons, comprising books, videos and other external resources. Once you complete the course, you may take a quiz.

Learning Objectives 

At the end of this course, you will be able to: 

1) Describe the process that depletes the ozone layer and its threats to humankind and the environment

2) Recognize key milestone of the international legal framework regarding ozone depletion

3) Identify the main obligations and mechanism of the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol

4) Recall the main achievements and challenges in the fight against ozone depletion

This course is available in English and Spanish.

In all countries of the world, land is a critical resource and the basis for survival. Its degradation, therefore, threatens not only economic but also the physical well-being. Soils in drylands are particularly vulnerable to degradation because they are deficient in moisture, humus and nutrients. New soils in these habitats are formed over long periods of time, from a few thousand to millions of years. A single centimetre of soil may take from twenty to a thousand years to form. Yet, this centimetre can be, and is often destroyed or lost within seconds when the land is mistreated through chemical pollution, over-irrigation, or eroded by water or wind. 

This course reviews and discusses the problem of desertification: what it is, its causes, manifestations, effects and scope. It proceeds to provide an overview of international law that has been developed to address desertification and the attendant ecological and socio-economic problems, primarily by examining the scope of the 1994 United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Countries experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, particularly in Africa (UNCCD).

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

1. Explain what the problem of desertification is
2. Describe key provisions of the UNCCD

The course is comprised of 2 units. Each unit includes a book with links to the InforMEA glossary and relevant documents and websites, additional materials and videos. Take the quizzes to test your knowledge.

It will take you less than 1 hour to complete the course, excluding additional materials. You can manage your time as you wish; take one unit and retake the course whenever it is more convenient for you. 

After completing all the units and passing the quiz with an 80% of correct responses, you will receive a certificate of completion.