First Announcement (1 June 2017)

University of Eastern Finland – UN Environment
Course on Multilateral Environmental Agreements
14th Course, 9 to 19 October 2017, Chambéry, France (near Geneva).
The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) and theUnited Nations Environment Programme (UNEnvironment) are jointly organizing a high profile twoweek Course on international environmental law-makingand diplomacy. The course will take place from 9 to 19October 2017 near Geneva, at the Château des Comtes
de Challes, in Chambéry, France. The course is organizedin collaboration with the Government of Finland.
The Course seeks to transfer past experience in the fieldof international environmental law to current and futurenegotiators of multilateral environmental agreements(MEAs). Each Course is based on a specific theme. The
Course also provides a forum to foster North-South cooperation and to take stock of recent developments in
multilateral negotiations as well as in the implementationof MEAs and diplomatic practices in the international
environmental arena.
This is the 14th year that the Course will be held and, asin previous years, lectures will be given by experienced
hands-on diplomats, government officials, international
civil servants and members of academia.
The special theme of this year’s course will be "Tradeand the Environment". Under that theme, a broad range ofsubjects will be addressed, such as trade measures inMEAs, including those on climate change, ozone
depletion, biodiversity and chemicals, environmentalprotection. The course will also address environmental
issues under the World Trade Organization (WTO), as
well as environmental provisions in regional tradeagreements. In addition, general issues relating tointernational environmental law-making and diplomacy willbe dealt with. The Course employs interactive teachingmethods.
The Course is intended for experienced government
officials engaged
ininternational
environmental
negotiations. In addition, other stakeholders, such as

representatives of non-governmental organizations andthe private sector, may apply to the Course. Researchers
and academics in the field of international environmental
law are also eligible. As the 2017 Course's thematic focus
is trade and environment, candidates with experience inthis field are encouraged to apply.
Approximately 30 participants, with an equal distribution
from the North and South and taking into account genderbalance will be admitted to the Course. Participants thatsuccessfully complete the Course will be awarded aDiploma.
The Draft Programme will be published on the Course
website by June/July 2017. The application deadline isFriday, 4 August 2017. Participants are expected to pay
their travel and other expenses and a tuition fee of 1000
euro. Candidates from developing countries and fromcountries with economies in transition can apply for a fullor partial fellowship for expenses arising from travel andaccommodation. Kindly note, however, that participants
with a full or partial fellowship are expected to cover minor
expenses that arise from e.g. meals not included in thecourse programme.
Further information
Course website:
http://www.uef.fi/unep or
http://www.unep.org/training
Contact address:
mea-course@uef.fi or Law.Division@unep.org
University of Eastern Finland
Joensuu Campus
Law School
PO. Box 111
FIN-80101 JOENSUU
FINLAND