Developed by a team of faculty and experts associated with UBC’s Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, Sustainability Hub and Campus + Community Planning, the UBC Micro-certificate in Climate Action Planning is designed to help policymakers, planners and industry players gain the knowledge, skills and tools to put into climate action planning into practice.
Monday, June 24, 2024 - 11:01

In May 2023, the Canada Climate Law Initiative announced that it would be offering a new 8-week online educational program in partnership with the Allard School of Law at the University of British Columbia. The genesis for this program was a desire to provide Canadian professionals with more information and training than possible through board presentations. 

Governments and regulators are increasingly mandating more climate disclosures and investors are demanding more climate-related information (greenhouse gas emissions, plan to reduce emissions, etc.). This has resulted in a surge in demand for professionals who have the skills and knowledge to advance climate and sustainability initiatives within their organizations, and the capacity to make informed decisions towards a net-zero economy. 

This program offers practical and hands-on training for professionals, including those currently working and those seeking to gain additional skills to better their employment opportunities. In just 8 weeks, students gain sustainability and climate risk knowledge and:

  • Connect with peers through five live Zoom sessions and build a nationwide network 
  • Learn how to better respond to climate risk, business complexity, and climate-related financial disclosure requirements 
  • Challenge themselves on their own schedule through curated readings and insightful discussions 
  • Receive an education designed especially for business leaders and sustainability professionals in Canada 
  • Equip themselves for leadership positions in the private sector, government, or consulting 
  • Obtain exclusive access to interviews with experts 
  • Finish the program with a case study and put knowledge into practice 

     

pathway between green grass and trees

Alison Schneider and Gigi Dawe developed the course content alongside UBC educational specialists. Alison became the course instructor and has now taught two cohorts: 

The first cohort ran from October through December 2023 with 15 students from a wide-range of industries including retail, energy, real estate, insurance, law, and more. We were thrilled to see the demand from lifelong learners in roles such as consultants, legal counsel, risk management, Chief Sustainability Officer and Chief People Officer. 

Our second cohort ran from April through June 2024 with 10 students from academia, engineering, law, investing, and more. 

Program overview video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96SUY5UqnHM  

The next program will begin in September 2024. We invite interested professionals to join us: https://ccli.ubc.ca/what-we-do/online-micro-certificate-course-climate-governance/