The dramatic increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions since the industrial revolution has far outpaced the capacity of natural sinks (forests, oceans and soils) to absorb these gases. Direct evidence of global warming is also widespread and extreme weather events have intensified, with dramatic impacts on ecosystems, human populations and the global economy.

Developing countries are considered most at risk from climate change and extreme weather events. They typically lack the capital for significant investments needed to adapt to climate change and protect vulnerable ecosystems (coastal areas, wetlands, dry lands, etc.), economic sectors (eg., agriculture, fisheries and tourism), and basic infrastructure (eg., housing, transport, dams and levees). This is compounded by the limited human, institutional, and financial capacity to anticipate and respond to the effects of climate change.

To help address this issue NORDECO is developing TOR and an outline for a training course at the Danida Fellowship Centre in Copenhagen, Denmark. The course will target policy and decision makers from governmental institutions, NGOs or the private sector in countries with Danida-supported development cooperation. The goal is that the course should enable participants from Danida’s partner institutions in developing countries to critically analyse the background to climate mainstreaming, to explore their own roles and identify how they can best assist the institution they work in to most effectively take action.

Photo: Illulisat, Greenland 2007. Photographer: Jesper Gaardbo