Organised by the Global Campus of Human Rights in partnership with the State University of Moldova (USM) under the umbrella of the GC Caucasus programme, the School provided participants with an interdisciplinary learning experience exploring the links between climate change, environmental protection, sustainable development, and human rights. The 2026 edition was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), co-funded by Right Livelihood, and supported by the European Union and Heinrich Böll Stiftung Sarajevo, reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening climate and human rights education across the region.
Throughout the week, participants engaged with leading academics, practitioners, policymakers, and human rights experts through lectures, workshops, simulations, and field visits designed to connect theory with practice. The team of trainers and lecturers brought together expertise from the Global Campus network and its partners, including the GC Capacity Development team, Manfred Nowak, Imke Steimann, GC alumni Marina Shupac and Zoi Aliozi, as well as academics from the State University, national and international organisations, including Rodica-Iordanca Iordanov, Natalia Guranda and Jessica Johanson. Their combined experience provided participants with diverse perspectives on climate action, human rights, sustainability, advocacy, and public policy.
The programme covered a wide range of topics, including climate justice, climate governance, climate communication and storytelling, business and human rights, climate-induced migration, environmental rights, and the impact of climate change on vulnerable communities. Participants also met representatives of public institutions and international experts working at the intersection of climate action and human rights.
Beyond its substantive content, the School was characterised by the participatory human rights education methodology that underpins the GC Capacity Development Programme. Participants were encouraged to act as co-creators of the learning experience through peer presentations, facilitated group work, daily reflections, simulation exercises, and collaborative problem-solving activities. Working in diverse cross-regional teams, they exchanged experiences from their respective countries, strengthened intercultural dialogue, and developed practical advocacy and communication skills while building a community of practice committed to advancing climate justice through a human rights-based approach.
The School forms part of the long-term cooperation between the Global Campus and USM within the framework of the GC Caucasus regional programme. Since 2023, this partnership has contributed to strengthening human rights education at USM through curriculum development, academic capacity building, international exchanges, and innovative educational initiatives.
During the School, representatives of the Global Campus, including Manfred Nowak, Adriano Remiddi, and Imke Steimann, met with the newly appointed Rector of the State University of Moldova, Prof. Otilia Dandara, alongside Prof. Rodica Ciobanu and Dr. Marianna Roșca. The meeting provided an opportunity to review the achievements of the partnership and discuss priorities for the 2026-29 cooperation cycle supported mainly by BMZ and other GC partners. Discussions reaffirmed a shared commitment to further strengthening human rights education, expanding academic cooperation, supporting new joint initiatives, and ensuring the continuation and further development of the annual Climate School as a flagship activity of the partnership.
This project is part of the GC Capacity Development programme. For more information, contact Adriano Remiddi – programme manager, Vukašin Pajović, and Larisa Barbu – programme officers at capacity.development@gchumanrights.org
