Designing a Climate-Neutral World: Taking Action (edX)

“Every action matters

Every bit of warming matters

Every year matters

Every choice matters.”

This was the brief summary of a 2018 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the scientific advisory board of the United Nations.

But who should act?

In earlier courses, we already set out what is needed to limit the impact of climate change. In this course, we will explore the role of national governments, the international community, companies, and sub-national governments, like cities, municipalities, provinces, and regions.

We start from the idea that climate governance is polycentric. None of these parties can mitigate the dangers of climate change all by themselves. Each of these types of organization has its particular strength. If you work – or plan to work – in or with any such organization, then through this course you will learn how to be successful and effective in playing your part in mitigating climate change.

Important elements that will be discussed for the various players in the field are:

- What roles can the different organizations play?

- How can emission reduction targets be set so that they are both ambitious and feasible?

- How can meaningful emission reduction plans be developed that actually result in emission reduction on the ground?

Examples will be presented by professionals who have been successful in their own organization. They are willing to share the failures and critical success factors in their strategies.

This course is part of the Climate-Neutral World: Theory, Applications and Taking Action Professional Certificate.

What you'll learn

- Understand how international climate agreements work.

- Assess the sphere of influence of your own organization.

- Learn how national climate policies are designed and work, and be able to evaluate the relevance of existing policies for your organization.

- Learn how ambitious and feasible GHG emission reduction targets for companies are set and discover how to translate these into a climate action plan.

- Learn to apply approaches to tackle greenhouse gas emissions in supply chains.

- Learn how ambitious and feasible GHG emission reduction targets for cities and municipalities are set and learn how to translate these into climate action plans.

- Decide in which areas the greatest acceleration of climate action is needed.

Syllabus

Week 1. National action and international agreements

Brief history of climate negotiations

The Paris Agreement

NDCs’ and national targets/laws

Cross-sectoral and sectoral policies

Climate policies in practice

Week 2. Climate action by cities and other sub-national governments

The role of non-state entities in climate action

Overview of sub-national government initiatives

Action perspectives for cities and municipalities

Example: a small town

Example: a big city

Week 3. Climate action by companies

Overview of private-sector climate action

Science-based targets

Why does it work?

Supply chain initiatives

Corporate climate action in practice

Week 4. Speeding up climate action

Every bit of warming matters

Climate action on energy efficiency

Climate action on renewable electricity

Climate action on renewable fuels

World in action