Climate Change Essentials

About the course 

Our Climate Change Essentials course has been developed with employers, and is designed to equip professionals with a foundational understanding of climate change, including its consequences and potential risks together with practical solutions.

Drawing on real world examples and taught by experts in climate change from the University's world-renowned Energy and Environment Institute (EEI), the course provides learners with the insight they need to understand the key concepts around climate change and net zero, enabling them to plan and adapt to the challenges of a changing climate.

Participation in the Climate Change Essentials course enables employers to demonstrate their commitment to the green agenda.  Becoming "Climate Champions", course participants will join a dedicated online community supported by University experts and resources.   There will also be ample opportunity to network with others from like-minded organisations, and participants will be ideally placed to build new relationships with their counterparts at suppliers, customers, clients and collaborators, helping to strengthen the performance and resilience of their organisations.

Here's just some of the feedback from previous participants:

"Greatly enjoyed, and content most informative"

"...an appropriate level of information for someone looking to improve their general awareness of the issues."

"content and structure were spot on"

"All [tutors] very knowledgeable in their respective areas of expertise"

"The course [...] helped me move from a complete novice to a climate champion for our business"

"... gave me some inspiration to drive initiatives within my company"

If you'd like to find out more about our Climate Change Essentials course, please email sustainable@hull.ac.uk.

What you'll study 

We'll start on Day One by looking back across four billion years of climate and geological history to illustrate the difference between “natural” and human-induced change.  Recent weather and climate records will be explored, to demonstrate how the impacts of climate change are already being felt, before looking to the future to explore implications for the planet and societies globally.  Day One will conclude with an exciting, creative and enlightening interactive discovery session – the Climate Fresk – facilitated by trained ‘Freskers’.

On Day Two, societal impacts of climate change will be explored through a social justice lens, including an introduction to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the opportunity to explore local environmental issues through online surveys. The course will examine abrupt changes in the natural and human world, and consider the early warning signals and potential tipping points in the climate system. These discussions will lead to consideration of the significance of climate policy and social action to address the need for behavioural change and collective action.

The course will conclude on Day Three by focusing on climate action and solutions, including adaptation and geo-engineering, which can help mitigate the most dangerous impacts of climate changes and increase the resilience of societies and ecosystems to climate changes that cannot be avoided. Participants will examine how these mitigation measures address the goals of the Paris agreement and Glasgow Climate Pact. The course will close by considering effective actions for individuals and the opportunities for businesses and government to contribute to change. Delegates will take away ‘personal action plans’ for climate action relating to their professional and personal spheres of influence.

Day One

Introduction to climate change:

• Why our climate is changing - the causes of climate change
• Hazards in a changing climate - consequences of climate change
• Global systems, local impacts
• Myth-busting
• Climate Fresk interactive workshop 

Day Two

Climate and society:

• Climate justice
• Climate change and wellbeing
• Exploration - using online survey tool
• Myth-busting
• Mytopia and carbon footprinting
• Ask the experts panel

Day Three

Action we can take today:

• Adaptation
• Mitigation
• Finance
• Action plans
• The new Green Economy
• Action Planning