Climate Sense

[

] 100

International training programme on

climate change – mitigation and

adaptation – a Swedish experience

Sten Bergström, Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute

ommissioned by the Swedish International Development

Cooperation Agency, the Swedish Meteorological and

Hydrological Institute (SMHI), along with its partners

SWECO AB and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI),

organizes advanced International Training Programmes under

the title ‘Climate Change – Mitigation and Adaptation’. These

programmes consist of a four-week training course in Sweden,

followed by six to eight months of work on an individual project,

as well as a follow up seminar in Asia, Latin America or Africa.

The overall objective is to transfer and increase knowledge and capac-

ity related to climate change and its consequences. A further aim is to

develop and spread methods for identification of vulnerable sectors in

society – from both a national and international perspec-

tive. Mitigation, society’s adjustment to the future climate

and the development of action plans are other important

aspects covered in the training programme. Individual

projects are carried out as part of the programme, but at

the participant’s home organization location.

The International Training Programme is designed

for individuals active in reform processes of strategic

importance at various different levels, as well those

who have management – or other key positions –

in organizations related to national, regional or local

community planning. In addition would-be partici-

pants are expected to be well acquainted with climate

change issues from a society adaptation perspective, as

well as having a technical, scientific or social science

degree at university level (or equivalent). From a long-

term perspective it is hoped that the programmes will

contribute to the strengthening of institutions and

capacity building in the participants’ home countries. In

summary, the programme is designed for participants

from ministries, authorities (local, regional or national),

environmental institutes and research organizations,

non-governmental organizations, consulting firms and

industries.

Three of the weeks in Sweden are hosted by SMHI in

Norrköping, with the one remaining week hosted by

SWECO in Stockholm. Lecturers come from the host

organizations or from other institutes or universities in

Sweden and abroad.

Programme outline

The training programme has four main components:

preparation in home country; training programme in

Sweden; project work in home country; and regional

seminars.

The selection of participants is based on a formal

application process. It consists of a brief presentation

from the applicant, including an outline of his or her

role in the home country, as well as a description of the

individual project work that he or she would like to

carry out as a part of the programme.

Participants are selected and confirmed by the

programme organisers and immediately afterwards

overnance

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Participants waiting for the tram in winter weather in Norrköping, Sweden, March 2009

Image: Gordon Carlson, SMHI