Businesses of all sizes are waking up to the need to consider the risks and opportunities presented by climate change. With the pending regulatory requirement to report on emissions, many are now beginning to grapple with the climate crisis. Often the first step is to seek some formal education to inform their efforts.
For companies getting started in this space, it can be helpful to belong to a network of like-minded businesses committed to addressing climate change. The Climate Collaborative is one such group. Staff at the Climate Collaborative had the opportunity to take the recently launched Climate Action for Business course offered by the University of Colorado’s Leeds School of Business in the fall.
“We seek to bring forward resources and tools that can support our community in deepening their climate action. Partnering with a top business school providing information on climate action was a great way to provide additional educational opportunities for our community”
Courtney Pineau, Executive Director of the Climate Collaborative
The team at Leeds applied their experience with the natural products industry to create a custom program for the Climate Collaborative that was relevant to their industry as committed companies and stakeholders worked on creating climate action plans.
"We seek to bring forward resources and tools that can support our community in deepening their climate action. Partnering with a top business school providing information on climate action was a great way to provide additional educational opportunities for our community,” said Courtney Pineau, Executive Director of the Climate Collaborative.
Over two half-days, 17 passionate and forward-thinking participants from around the U.S. engaged in interactive lectures and breakout discussions. Students (all working professionals) learned about measuring emissions, setting targets for reduction, reporting to stakeholders, and more, all leading to the creation of a company climate action plan.
As part of the process, students took part in a climate simulation role play exercise. This simulation allows users to explore the impact that dozens of policy changes—such as electrifying transport, pricing carbon, and improving agricultural practices—have on global average temperature.
Not only were the attendees equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to drive positive environmental impact, but they also expanded their networks of sustainability-oriented professionals. The course was taught under the guidance of distinguished faculty Jeff York and Pete Dignan from the Leeds School of Business.
Program participant Sonja Gabrielsen from Planet FWD said “I appreciated the suggestions on increasing engagement both internally at my company and externally with customers. Having information like this - that shows ROI on climate action work like measuring corporate GHG emissions - helps justify budget and employee time to do this.”
The Leeds School of Business and the Climate Collaborative remain steadfast in their dedication to empowering businesses to tackle the urgent challenges posed by climate change. This partnership serves as a testament to the transformative power of collaboration and the potential for businesses to become agents of positive change in the fight against climate change.
In addition to custom program offerings in Climate Action for Business, the Leeds School of Business also offers open enrollment sessions, with the next one taking place August 22-23, 2023 with applications now open.
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