As countries prepare to update their latest national climate pledges and accelerate just transition efforts, UNDP and the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have launched a new self-paced online training module on policy impact assessment.
Developed in collaboration with the Katowice Committee of Experts on the Impacts of the Implementation of Response Measures (KCI), this interactive module offers practical guidance to help policymakers design climate policies that are not only ambitious, but also evidence-based, inclusive and aligned with sustainable development priorities.
Understanding impacts for smarter climate action
Robust impact assessments play a crucial role in ensuring climate policies deliver tangible development and social outcomes while minimizing unintended consequences. Yet, many governments still face significant barriers, including limited access to disaggregated data, insufficient technical modelling capacity and an over-reliance on external consultants. These challenges often undermine national ownership, institutional learning and long-term policy coherence.
To address these gaps, the new training module is designed to strengthen national capacities to assess, interpret and integrate the socio-economic and environmental impacts of climate policies. By doing so, it supports countries to craft more realistic, impactful Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategies (LT-LEDS). It also fosters a whole-of-society approach to just transition.
Practical, flexible, and user-friendly
The online module provides both foundational knowledge and step-by-step guidance for conducting policy impact assessments. It places particular emphasis on applying these assessments to support national climate planning and implementation under the Paris Agreement.
Accessible anytime, the self-paced course is tailored for government officials, technical experts and practitioners. It includes interactive content, real-world case studies, and tools that can be readily applied to country contexts.
Explore the online course here.
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