Introduction to Conservation and Climate Change

Explore how climate change and biodiversity are deeply connected — and why understanding their relationship is essential for effective conservation. Learn how nature can support climate action, and how conservation must adapt.

About the course

Climate change and biodiversity loss are not just parallel crises, they are deeply interlinked, each influencing and amplifying the other. This self-paced course explores how climate change is already affecting species, ecosystems, and conservation outcomes across the globe. At the same time, it highlights how conservation, when done well, can become a critical part of the solution, supporting both mitigation and adaptation.

The course introduces the science and concepts behind climate-biodiversity interactions and explores where synergies lie, where trade-offs may emerge, and how conservation approaches can evolve in response. Learners will engage with real-world examples, science-based frameworks, and practitioner-oriented strategies to build a foundational understanding of climate-informed conservation.

Whether you are working in conservation, policy, education, or just beginning your journey in climate and nature, this course equips you with essential tools to think critically, communicate clearly, and take informed action in a changing world.

Who should take this course?

• Conservation and environmental practitioners
• Climate change professionals engaging with nature-based approaches
• Policy makers and planners in biodiversity, climate, or sustainable development
• Students and early-career professionals in related fields
• Anyone with a general interest in understanding climate-biodiversity linkage

No prior knowledge is required.

What are the benefits of this course?

• Build a foundational understanding of how climate change and biodiversity interact
• Learn how conservation can support climate goals, and vice versa
• Explore practical, science-based tools to make conservation climate-informed
• Discover how to recognise synergies and avoid trade-offs in real-world contexts
• Strengthen your capacity to engage with global biodiversity and climate discussions

What will you get from this course?

On completion of the course, you will be able to:

• Describe landscape-level strategies and species-focused approaches.
• Define biodiversity & other key terms.
• Identify climate change solutions.
• Explain conservation action.
• Describe how biodiversity and climate change are strongly interconnected.
• Identify drivers of biodiversity loss.
• Differentiate between mitigation and adaptation strategies in the context of climate change.
• Evaluate examples of climate change solutions
• Interpret and use key terms in the context of conservation and climate action.
• Explain why traditional conservation tools and priorities remain essential, yet need to be adapted.
• Differentiate among key strategies for planning for change.
• Identify conservation responses to climate-driven extreme events.

For a successful completion, participants must:

• Finalise all modules and activities
• Complete the knowledge checks
• Successfully complete the final assessment (80% score required)

Developed by

The IUCN Academy Academic Partners:

• Prof. David Ackerly – Berkeley
• Prof. Liette Vasseur – Brock University
• Prof. David Lapola – University Campinas