Course on Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs)

Organized annually by the University of Eastern Finland in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the prestigious two-week program focuses on international environmental law-making and diplomacy. The course addresses a specific theme within international environmental law, with the venue and theme changing each year. It aims to equip both current and future negotiators with the necessary skills to strengthen the negotiation, implementation, and impact of key environmental treaties. The course is supported by the Government of Finland.

2026 MEA Course Information

Date: 1 – 10 June, 2026

Place: Helsinki, Finland.

Special theme: Critical Energy Transition Minerals

Find the First Announcement here

The application period for 2026 is 2 – 27 March 2026. Click on Applications, learn about the application process, and discover funding opportunities.

Overview

Participants include experienced government officials involved in international environmental negotiations, as well as representatives from NGOs, the private sector, researchers, and academics. The course fosters cooperation between negotiators from developed and developing countries and provides a platform for sharing knowledge and strategies to improve environmental governance globally.

Approximately 30 participants are selected for each course, with attention to geographic and gender balance. Participants are required to cover their travel and other expenses, along with a tuition fee of EUR 1000. However, candidates from developing nations or economies in transition can apply for partial or full fellowships to help with costs.

The program includes interactive lectures, workshops, and excursions to give participants practical skills in international environmental law-making, diplomacy, and negotiations. It also serves as a forum for reviewing recent developments in the field and enhancing environmental negotiation capacities worldwide.

Over 550 participants from 131 countries have benefited from this course since its inception in 2004.

Applications

This course is designed for experienced government officials involved in international environmental negotiations. Additionally, representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the private sector, as well as researchers and academics specializing in international environmental law, are encouraged to apply.

As the course will be conducted in English, a strong command of the language is essential for participation.

Applications must be submitted through an online platform, which will become available when the application period for the next course opens. Only applications received during the official application period will be considered. Once an application is submitted, no changes can be made. If you need to correct an error after submission, please contact the course administration at: mea-course(at)uef.fi.

Find all the information about the application process here.

Publications

Previous Courses

Alumni Network

All former participants and resource persons of the University of Eastern Finland – United Nations Environment Programme (UEF-UNEP) Course on Multilateral Environmental Agreements are invited to join the Alumni Network on LinkedIn.

The official platform for the alumni network can be found on LinkedIn under the name “UEF – UNEP Course on Multilateral Environmental Agreements.” This platform allows alumni to stay connected, share updates, and foster professional relationships.

Additionally, alumni can also be invited back as speakers to share their expertise.