ENV — Environmental Risks

1) Purpose, Scope & Design Principles

Mission. Build capacity to anticipate, measure, reduce, finance, and govern environmental risks across acute hazards (flood, heat, wildfire, storm, landslide), chronic stressors (drought, sea-level rise, salinity, subsidence), nature & biodiversity loss, and pollution—linking Science Policy, Just Transition, Resilience, Anticipatory Action, DRR, and Biodiversity & Ecosystems.

Nexus alignment to platform modules

• NXSCore: HPC/GPU for climate/impact models, agent-based and hydrodynamic simulations.
• NXSQue: event-driven orchestration of EO pipelines, catalog updates, alerts, and smart-contract triggers.
• NXSGRIx: standardized environmental risk features into the global index (hazard/exposure/vulnerability).
• NXS-EOP: AI/ML, EO fusion, impact modeling, scenario analytics, stress testing.
• NXS-EWS: multi-sensor early warnings (hydro-met, air quality, fire, landslide) to CAP alerts.
• NXS-AAP: anticipatory action playbooks with pre-arranged finance and resource automation.
• NXS-DSS: executive dashboards, adaptation/mitigation reports, cost-benefit, foresight.
• NXS-NSF: verifiable credentials (Open Badges 3.0 in W3C VC), hash anchoring, partner co-badging.

Standards & frameworks (representative)
UNFCCC; Sendai Framework; ISO 14001 (EMS), 14064/14067 (GHG), 14046 (water footprint), 14090/14091 (adaptation/vulnerability), 14097 (finance/transition), 37123 (resilient cities); GHG Protocol; ISSB S2 (climate); TNFD & SBTN (nature); IFC PS/UNDRIP/FPIC (safeguards); OGC APIs & STAC, ISO 19115/19157 (metadata/quality); WMO/WFP for EWS; FAO/UN-Water; WHO Air Quality; US/EU/Intl water/air directives (as references).

Evidence & portability
All artifacts licensed with SPDX, carry W3C-PROV lineage, and are issued as Open Badges 3.0 in W3C Verifiable Credential envelopes; public artifacts may receive DOIs. WCAG 2.2 AA, multilingual (EN/FR/ES/AR, RtL) by design.

2) Tiers, Workload & Quality Targets

• NB (Nanobadge) 2–4 h (0.2–0.4 NCU): quiz + one artifact
• MB (Microbadge) 6–8 h (0.6–0.8 NCU): mini-project + quiz
• MC (Micro-Certificate) 12–20 h (1.2–2.0 NCU): lab + scenario + proctored QZ/OD
• PC 60–90 h: 4–5 MCs + capstone
• AC 120–150 h: 2 PCs + red-team defense
• DIP 240–300 h: cross-stream capstone + board defense
• Fellow-PNG invitation only: publish in Nexus Journals with open method/data

Assessment quality: quiz reliability ≥ 0.75; item discrimination ≥ 0.25; multilingual DIF checks.
ECTS advisory: 1 NCU ≈ 0.33–0.40 ECTS.
Renewal: MAJOR revision → delta exam or artifact refresh.

3) Codes, Versioning & Catalog Ops

• Grammar: ENV-[NB|MB|MC]-2xx/3xx/4xx/599
• Releases: rev: YY.MM.P; public change log; delta exam on MAJOR
• Permalinks: /academy/courses/<code> (latest) + ?rev= specific
• Status: active | deprecated | superseded with successor mapping

4) Cross-Cutting Compliance & Interoperability

• Risk governance: Sendai/ISO 31000/14090 across planning cycles; uncertainty and confidence reporting.
• EO/GIS: OGC APIs, STAC catalogs; ISO 19115/19157 metadata & data quality; FAIR data; reproducible notebooks.
• Adaptation & resilience: ISO 14090/14091; monitoring, evaluation & learning (MEL) for adaptation outcomes.
• Nature & biodiversity: TNFD/SBTN; dependencies/impacts (LEAP), metrics, location specificity, safeguards.
• Water–energy–food nexus: resource coupling, allocation triggers, trade-offs; drought & demand management.
• Pollution & health: AQ and water quality indicators; exposure thresholds; environmental justice.
• Finance & disclosure: ISSB S2, GHG Protocol; ISO 14097; green/resilience bonds and DRF parametrics; dMRV integration.
• Ethics & safeguards: FPIC/UNDRIP; inclusive participation; grievance and benefit-sharing; data protection/minimization.

5) Nanobadges (NB) — atomic environmental-risk skills

Each NB = quiz + one artifact (SPDX+PROV). Use these as stackable prerequisites across MCs.

1. ENV-NB-201 Hazard Taxonomy & Confidence 101 — Acute vs chronic hazards, uncertainty statements.
   Artifact: taxonomy + confidence notes.
2. ENV-NB-202 EO & STAC Basics 101 — STAC items/collections, basic QA.
   Artifact: STAC record + metadata QA.
3. ENV-NB-203 Exposure & Asset Mapping 101 — People/buildings/CI overlays.
   Artifact: exposure layer + caveats.
4. ENV-NB-204 Vulnerability Indices 101 — Social/env indices & weighting.
   Artifact: vulnerability score + rationale.
5. ENV-NB-205 Heat & Air Quality Indices 101 — HHWS/AQ metrics.
   Artifact: index calculator + advisory bands.
6. ENV-NB-206 Flood & Drought Triggers 101 — SPI/soil moisture + flood bands.
   Artifact: trigger table + QA checks.
7. ENV-NB-207 Wildfire & Fuel Conditions 101 — WUI, fuel moisture, smoke basics.
   Artifact: fuel/smoke risk sheet.
8. ENV-NB-208 Nature Risk Screen 101 — Dependencies/impacts (TNFD-lite).
   Artifact: nature screen.
9. ENV-NB-209 Water Footprint & Allocation 101 — ISO 14046 sketch.
   Artifact: footprint + allocation rule.
10. ENV-NB-210 Pollution & Health Interface 101 — AQ/water thresholds & action levels.
    Artifact: threshold ladder.
11. ENV-NB-211 EIA/SEA Essentials 101 — Screening, scoping, alternatives, mitigation.
    Artifact: EIA/SEA mini-scoping note.
12. ENV-NB-212 GHG Accounting 101 — Scopes 1/2/3, activity data & factors.
    Artifact: quick GHG workbook.
13. ENV-NB-213 dMRV & Sensors 101 — Sensor selection, calibration, QA/QC.
    Artifact: dMRV device spec + QA plan.
14. ENV-NB-214 Parametric Index Basics 101 — Index design & basis risk intro.
    Artifact: index stub + basis notes.
15. ENV-NB-215 Nature-Based Solutions 101 — NBS typologies & guardrails.
    Artifact: NBS shortlist card.
16. ENV-NB-216 MCDA & Adaptation CBA 101 — Criteria, weights, distributional effects.
    Artifact: MCDA sheet.
17. ENV-NB-217 Environmental Justice & JT 101 — Equity mapping, safeguards.
    Artifact: EJ heatmap + JT triggers.
18. ENV-NB-218 Industrial & Tailings Risk 101 — HAZID, dambreak concepts.
    Artifact: tailings risk screen.
19. ENV-NB-219 Cryosphere & GLOF 101 — Glaciers, permafrost, lake outburst basics.
    Artifact: GLOF indicator table.
20. ENV-NB-220 Coastal Processes & SLR 101 — Erosion, subsidence, compound floods.
    Artifact: coastal risk notes.

6) Microbadges (MB) — applied bridges

Each MB = mini-project (70%) + quiz (30%) with a publishable artifact.

1. ENV-MB-211 EO/GIS Mini-Lab (STAC→Raster) — Build hazard raster + uncertainty notes.
   Deliverable: raster + methods note.
2. ENV-MB-212 Quick Hydrology (HMS/RAS-lite) — Rainfall-runoff & flood depth sketch.
   Deliverable: hot-spot map.
3. ENV-MB-213 Drought & Demand Management Mini — SPI/soil moisture + demand triggers.
   Deliverable: drought dashboard.
4. ENV-MB-214 Nature & Biodiversity Screen Mini — LEAP-lite + safeguards.
   Deliverable: nature register.
5. ENV-MB-215 Pollution Watch & AQ Mini — AQ/water dashboard + CAP messages.
   Deliverable: CAP advisory pack.
6. ENV-MB-216 NBS & Co-benefits Mini — Co-benefits & guardrails calculator.
   Deliverable: NBS shortlist + MCDA.
7. ENV-MB-217 Parametric Index & Basis Risk Mini — Trigger calibration, basis diagnostics.
   Deliverable: index spec + memo.
8. ENV-MB-218 Adaptation MEL & KPIs Mini — Logic model, indicators, sampling.
   Deliverable: MEL plan.
9. ENV-MB-219 Urban Stormwater & SUDS Mini — Infiltration, detention, blue-green networks.
   Deliverable: SUDS concept pack.
10. ENV-MB-220 Methane & Flaring Integrity Mini — dMRV workflow + QC rules.
    Deliverable: methane monitoring plan.
11. ENV-MB-221 Landslides & Erosion Mini — Susceptibility mapping (slope, lithology, rain).
    Deliverable: landslide map + site list.
12. ENV-MB-222 Circularity & Waste Mini — Plastics/e-waste flows, risk/control points.
    Deliverable: circularity roadmap.
13. ENV-MB-223 Industrial & Tailings Safety Mini — Failure modes, inundation sketch, alarms.
    Deliverable: tailings risk dossier.
14. ENV-MB-224 Blue Carbon & Coastal Habitats Mini — Mangroves/seagrass restoration screens.
    Deliverable: blue-carbon pipeline.
15. ENV-MB-225 Wildfire Smoke Health Mini — Smoke exposure bands & worker protections.
    Deliverable: smoke comms kit.
16. ENV-MB-226 Environmental Data Ethics Mini — Consent/minimization; community protocols.
    Deliverable: data ethics SOP.

7) Micro-Certificates (MC) — 12–20 h; proctored

Rule: ≥5 CORE 101 NBs + ≥2 ENV NBs + ≥1 MB + lab below.
Assessment: Lab 50% · Scenario brief 20% · Proctored QZ/OD 30%.

Foundations & Core Analysis

• ENV-MC-201 Climate & Ecosystems Fundamentals — Pathways/tipping points; ecosystem services.
  Lab: risk narrative + ecosystem map. (1.4–1.8 NCU)
• ENV-MC-202 Water–Energy–Food Nexus — Allocation triggers & trade-offs.
  Lab: nexus dashboard + triggers. (1.4–1.6)
• ENV-MC-203 Pollution & Health Interface — AQ/water thresholds; equity comms.
  Lab: pollution dashboard + CAP kit. (1.4–1.6)
• ENV-MC-204 Environmental Law: EIA/SEA to Compliance — Screening/scoping, alternatives, mitigation & monitoring; permitting pathways.
  Lab: EIA/SEA scoping dossier. (1.6–1.8)
• ENV-MC-205 Environmental Economics: CBA & MCDA — Costs, co-benefits, distributional impacts, real options.
  Lab: MCDA workbook + decision memo. (1.4–1.6)

EO/AI, Data & dMRV

• ENV-MC-311 EO-Driven Exposure & Impacts — STAC pipelines, impact rasters, uncertainty.
  Lab: EO hazard→exposure stack. (1.6–1.8)
• ENV-MC-312 Nature/Biodiversity Risk & Finance — Dependencies/impacts, site safeguards, finance.
  Lab: nature risk register. (1.6–1.8)
• ENV-MC-313 Adaptation Planning & Triggers — ISO 14090/14091 plans; AA triggers; MEL.
  Lab: adaptation plan + MEL. (1.6–1.8)
• ENV-MC-314 dMRV & Sensor Networks — Network design, calibration, QA/QC, auditability.
  Lab: dMRV deployment & QA plan. (1.6–1.8)
• ENV-MC-315 ML for Environmental Intelligence — Feature engineering, labeling, bias/overfit, explainability.
  Lab: ML model card + validation. (1.6–1.8)

Hydromet, Cryosphere & Geohazards

• ENV-MC-321 Urban Stormwater & SUDS — SUDS toolkits; heat/flood co-benefits.
  Lab: site designs + MCDA. (1.4–1.8)
• ENV-MC-322 Flood Risk & River Basins — Hydro/hydraulic chain, exposure & finance links.
  Lab: basin risk brief + interventions. (1.6–1.8)
• ENV-MC-323 Drought, Groundwater & Allocation — Indices, groundwater/surface links, demand management.
  Lab: drought plan + allocation logic. (1.4–1.8)
• ENV-MC-324 Cryosphere, GLOF & Permafrost — Lakes, thaw slumps, monitoring & triggers.
  Lab: cryo hazard pack + CAP alerts. (1.6–1.8)
• ENV-MC-325 Landslides & Erosion (expanded) — Susceptibility mapping; emergency & long-term works.
  Lab: site portfolio + design options. (1.4–1.8)

Coastal, Marine & Blue Economies

• ENV-MC-331 Coastal/Sea-Level Rise Risk & Resilience — SLR + compound flooding; NBS/gray options.
  Lab: coastal brief + OD. (1.6–1.8)
• ENV-MC-332 Blue Carbon & Coastal Habitats — Mangroves, marshes, seagrass; MRV & finance.
  Lab: restoration pipeline + safeguards. (1.4–1.8)
• ENV-MC-333 Fisheries, Oceans & Maritime Risk — Fisheries exposure, storms, port & cable risks.
  Lab: maritime risk plan. (1.4–1.6)

Nature, Pollution & Industry

• ENV-MC-341 Wildfire/Heat & Urban Design — WUI, smoke, micro-climate design.
  Lab: wildfire/heat atlas + OD. (1.6–1.8)
• ENV-MC-342 PFAS & Emerging Contaminants — Monitoring, exposure, remediation options.
  Lab: contaminants response plan. (1.4–1.6)
• ENV-MC-343 Circular Economy & Waste — Plastics/e-waste flows; policy & procurement levers.
  Lab: circularity roadmap. (1.4–1.6)
• ENV-MC-344 Mining, Tailings & Industrial Hazards — Tailings classification, inundation, alarms, audits.
  Lab: tailings safety dossier. (1.6–1.8)
• ENV-MC-345 Methane, Flaring & Leak Detection — dMRV toolchains; integrity & governance.
  Lab: methane integrity plan. (1.4–1.6)

Governance, Finance & Justice

• ENV-MC-351 Climate Disclosure & Transition Plans — Metrics/targets, scenario links, assurance readiness.
  Lab: disclosure starter + governance note. (1.6–1.8)
• ENV-MC-352 Resilience Finance & Parametrics — Bonds, blended finance, parametrics, basis mitigation.
  Lab: term-sheet + basis memo. (1.6–1.8)
• ENV-MC-353 Environmental Justice & Just Transition — Distributional analysis, benefits & grievance redress.
  Lab: EJ/JT plan + indicators. (1.4–1.6)
• ENV-MC-354 Environmental Litigation & Risk — Liability vectors, permitting/ESG claims, evidence.
  Lab: litigation exposure brief. (1.4–1.6)
• ENV-MC-355 Environmental Data Governance & Ethics — Consent, community protocols, data sovereignty.
  Lab: governance SOP + DPA addendum. (1.4–1.6)

Utilities, Cities & Interdependencies

• ENV-MC-361 Water Utilities Resilience — Source-to-tap risk, energy links, contingency & CAP.
  Lab: utility resilience plan. (1.6–1.8)
• ENV-MC-362 Environmental Interdependencies & CI — Water–power–telecom couplings; failure modes.
  Lab: CI map + mitigations. (1.4–1.6)
• ENV-MC-363 Corporate Adaptation Planning — Facility portfolios, codes/standards, costed plans.
  Lab: corporate adaptation pack. (1.4–1.6)

Professional Certificates (PC)

Pick 4–5 MCs per track + ENV-MC-599 Capstone (or CORE-MC-595 where noted).

1. PC — Environmental Intelligence & EO
   311, 314, 315, 322 or 321, 351
2. PC — Climate Adaptation & Urban Resilience
   201, 313, 321, 341, 351 or 352
3. PC — Water Security & Drought
   202, 322, 323, 361, 352
4. PC — Coastal & Blue Economies
   331, 332, 333, 352, 351
5. PC — Nature, Pollution & Industry
   312, 343, 342 or 345, 344, 353
6. PC — Governance, Disclosure & Finance
   204, 205, 351, 352, 355

Advanced Certificates (AC)

Each AC = 2 PCs (at least one ENV) + red-team defense.

• AC — Adaptation & City Resilience (ENV + PUB)
• AC — EO/AI for Environmental Intelligence (ENV + TEC)
• AC — Nature & Finance (ENV + FIN)
• AC — Industrial & Chemical Risk (ENV + PUB/TEC)
• AC — Coastal Systems & Blue Economies (ENV + FIN/PUB)

8) Capstone & Programs

ENV-MC-599 Climate/Adaptation Capstone (Level-5)

Tracks:

• Board Defense: territory/company adaptation strategy, nature & pollution guardrails, finance plan.
• Deployment: live EWS/adaptation pilot (heat/flood/drought/wildfire) with AA triggers and NBS/gray interventions.
  Portfolio (must include): integrated DSS (hazard–exposure–vulnerability layers, alerts, dashboards), adaptation plan with MEL, nature/pollution safeguards, and a parametric index or resilience finance memo. VC issued; public artifacts may receive DOIs.

PRG-PC-ENV-01 Professional Certificate — Environmental Risks

• Pick 4–5 MCs from 201/202/203/311/312/313/421/422 (+ optional 314–317) + ENV-MC-599
• Total: ≈ 8.0 NCU (80 h) + capstone; min rev for each MC >=25.09.

Advanced Certificates (choose track)

• AC — Adaptation & City Resilience: PC(ENV) + PC(Public Risks) + red-team defense (interdependencies, inclusive design, MEL).
• AC — Nature & Finance: PC(ENV) + PC(Finance) + red-team defense (TNFD, ISO 14097, parametrics).
• AC — EO/AI for Environmental Intelligence: PC(ENV) + PC(Technology Risks) + red-team defense (data ethics, model risk, provenance).

DIP — Cross-Stream Environmental Leadership

• Any 2 ACs (≥1 ENV) + CORE-MC-595 + board defense.

Fellow-PNG (Environmental Risks)

• Invitation-only. Publish in Nexus Journals; release open code/data (DOI); maintain standards crosswalks (ORCID/ROR recorded).

9) Implementation Profile

• NB: 1–2 lessons; randomized Quiz + Assignment (artifact); Certificate on; Forum on.
• MB: multi-lesson; Assignment rubric + Quiz; Prereq (≥1 NB) on.
• MC: lessons + Lab Assignment + Scenario Assignment + Proctored Quiz/Oral (Zoom/approved tool); Prereqs on; Certificate on.
• Capstone: cohort schedule; panel rubric; oral defense recording.
• Webhooks: badge.issued, badge.revoked, program.conferral, artifact.published → NXS-NSF (OB3/VC).
• Telemetry: xAPI/Caliper events for start, item, submission, grade, badge.

10) Standards, Competencies & CPD Mapping

• Standards: UNFCCC; Sendai; ISO 14001/14046/14064/14090/14091/14097; ISO 37123; GHG Protocol; ISSB S2; TNFD/SBTN; OGC APIs & STAC; ISO 19115/19157; WMO/EWS; WHO AQ; FAO/UN-Water; IFC PS/FPIC/UNDRIP.
• Competency frameworks: ESCO roles—Environmental/Climate Analyst, EO/GIS Specialist, Adaptation Planner, Nature/ESG Analyst, Environmental Health/Compliance, Resilience/City Planner; optional SFIA for data/AI/privacy.
• CPD/CE: engineering/environmental institutes, IAEM/BCI (contingency), finance bodies for TNFD/ISO 14097 alignment; advisory ECTS totals on course pages.

11) Metadata & Credential Example

MC JSON-LD (trimmed)

{
  "@context": ["https://schema.org", "https://lrmi.dublincore.org/jsonld/context.jsonld"],
  "@type": "EducationalOccupationalProgram",
  "identifier": "ENV-MC-311",
  "version": "25.09.0",
  "name": "EO-Driven Exposure & Impacts",
  "description": "Build a STAC-driven EO pipeline, fuse exposure and vulnerability, and produce impact rasters with uncertainty and provenance.",
  "timeToComplete": "PT16H",
  "educationalCredentialAwarded": "Micro-Certificate",
  "programPrerequisites": ["CORE-NB-117","ENV-NB-202","ENV-MB-211"],
  "provider": {"@type":"Organization","name":"GCRI"},
  "teaches": [
    {"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Spatiotemporal Asset Catalog"},
    {"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Exposure and Vulnerability Mapping"},
    {"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Impact Modeling"}
  ]
}

Badge policy essentials (OB3/VC). BadgeClass binds to ENV-… code + rev; assertion uses hashed recipient + salt; evidence links to artifacts with SPDX & PROV; public status list; optional hash anchoring via NXS-NSF.

12) QA & Release Gates (Environmental Risks)

1. Catalog linter: codes, revs, prereq DAG, standards/competency tags, i18n.
2. Accessibility: WCAG 2.2 AA automated + manual checks (maps/rasters, color-blind palettes, captions).
3. Psychometrics: reliability ≥ 0.75; discrimination ≥ 0.25; multilingual DIF.
4. Provenance & privacy: SPDX + PROV; de-identified/community data safeguards; consent/minimization.
5. Methods & uncertainty: uncertainty/confidence statements; sensitivity analyses recorded.
6. Integrity & safety: FPIC compliance; do-no-harm; no sensitive locations that elevate exploitation risk.
7. Release notes: version bump; MAJOR → delta-exam invitation; CPD table updated.

13) Emerging-Risk Annex

• Compound & cascading extremes: heat + drought + wildfire; storm + surge + pluvial; multi-hazard trigger logic.
• Tipping points & nonlinear change: ice-sheet, AMOC, rainforest dieback—scenario communication & prudence.
• Nature-positive transitions: biodiversity crediting pilots, habitat banking, sustainable procurement clauses.
• dMRV & satellites: methane and flaring detection, forest/grassland change, water quality proxies; auditability & bias.
• Pollution & chemicals of emerging concern: PFAS, microplastics, endocrine disruptors; precaution and remediation priorities.
• Urban micro-climate engineering: cool materials, shade, ventilation corridors; worker protections.
• Critical infrastructure & environment: interdependence of water/power/telecom; sediment/erosion management; dam & levee safety.
• Data rights & environmental privacy: aerial/EO derived personal data risks; aggregation/obfuscation norms.
• Just Transition & equity: distributional impact assessments; community benefit agreements; grievance redress.
• Catastrophe/DRF linkages: parametric indices from EO; basis-risk mitigation; claims automation; resilience bonds and adaptation finance.