Introduction to Carbon Justice
Online course launching July 13, 2026.
Learn how carbon markets work and explore strategies you can use to protect community rights.
Introduction to Carbon Justice equips participants with the knowledge and tools needed to engage with carbon markets. This free online course is offered in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. It is the inaugural course of the Grassroots Justice Network Academy, the world’s leading legal empowerment institute and learning community hosted by the Grassroots Justice Network convened by Namati.
The course runs from July 13–August 28, 2026, and contains a mix of five self-paced modules, interactive exercises, and three live sessions. The expected time commitment is 2–4 hours per week. Everyone who successfully completes the course will receive a certificate demonstrating their commitment to advancing community-centered and rights-based approaches to carbon justice.
Enrollment begins on June 22, 2026. You must be a member of the Grassroots Justice Network to enroll in the course. Network membership is free.
What will you learn?
- How carbon markets work
- How to explain key concepts in simple terms
- How to organize collectively to negotiate fair agreements
- How to demand accountability if community rights are violated
- How to advocate for national laws and policies that advance carbon justice
- How frontline justice defenders are taking action collectively—and how you can get involved
Who should enroll?
- Grassroots justice defenders and community paralegals
- Community organizers
- Indigenous Peoples associations
- Civil society and non-governmental organization staff and volunteers
- Anyone directly affected by, or supporting communities to engage with, carbon markets
Why should you participate?
- Through self-paced modules, interactive exercises, and live sessions for peer exchange, you will gain practical strategies to advocate for justice at the community, national, and global levels.
- Upon completion of the course, you will earn a certificate that can be shared with employers, partners, funders, and professional networks as evidence of specialized training in this emerging field.
Here’s what Network members are saying about the course:
This is a carousel with auto-rotating slides. Hover to pause or use the pause and play buttons bellow the slide show. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide.
Everlyne Maskonte, Kenya
“The Carbon Justice Course spoke directly to the challenges my community is currently facing. I now have a deeper understanding of how carbon projects work, and how they affect land, livelihoods, and rights. With this knowledge, I feel empowered to guide my community to engage confidently and ensure that our voices are heard in decisions that matter. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and look forward to sharing the insights I’ve gained for the benefit of many.”
Brian Atuheire, AIFE, Uganda
“For years I’ve defended communities in Uganda from fossil fuel corporations. I once thought carbon markets might be a solution, but through the Carbon Justice Course I’ve learned they can also undermine land rights, especially without safeguards like community consent and fair revenue sharing. The course has given me tools to advocate for our people and demand justice in future carbon projects.”
Nicholas Mujah, Sarawak Community, Malaysia
“As an Indigenous participant from Malaysia, I have seen the struggle to defend our land from logging, mining, palm oil plantations, and now carbon projects. The Carbon Justice Course has given me knowledge and strategies to empower my community and to use international laws in negotiations with governments and investors.”
Lucretia Toe, Women Empowerment Forum, Liberia
“Through the Carbon Justice Course, I learned practical ways to protect Liberia’s natural resources. These include training communities to monitor mining sites with photos and GPS, filing complaints with the EPA to demand action, using LEITI reports to track who holds mining concessions, and supporting small restoration projects like tree planting and safer mining practices.”
Messan Kounagbe, JP4A, Benin
“The Carbon Justice Course was an enriching experience. I gained practical tools to understand carbon projects, defend community rights, and promote fair, inclusive climate solutions. I highly recommend this course.”