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Jo Haigh, Kris Murray, Shane Tomlinson, Richard Green, and Clementine Chambon

This course looks at how increasing greenhouse gases are warming the climate and what it means to decarbonise - reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of - the power sector. It will also provide a range of arguments in favour of decarbonisation, including consideration of ease of access to a secure and affordable energy supply and improvements to health and the environment.

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This course looks at how increasing greenhouse gases are warming the climate and what it means to decarbonise - reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of - the power sector. It will also provide a range of arguments in favour of decarbonisation, including consideration of ease of access to a secure and affordable energy supply and improvements to health and the environment.

This course gathers together information about these different motivating factors for building a lower carbon power sector in one place, and includes a careful consideration of the importance of the political context. This course will challenge you to critically analyse your own political context.

We would welcome advisors to senior decision makers in government, civil society activists and others interested in understanding and promoting renewable electricity to take this course. This course will help you develop a better understanding of the different dimensions of a move towards a cleaner power sector and develop more nuanced and detailed arguments.

What you'll learn

  • Improved understanding of the key drivers behind decarbonising the economy in general and the power sector in particular; including an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of action
  • Empowerment to make decisions and develop policies that deliver a low-carbon power system that is relevant to their local context.
  • Enabling presentation of the arguments in favour of their approach confidently, and relevant to their local circumstances.
  • Preparation for a more detailed course on the policies needed to support a low-carbon power sector.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Improved understanding of the key drivers behind decarbonising the economy in general and the power sector in particular; including an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of action
  • Empowerment to make decisions and develop policies that deliver a low-carbon power system that is relevant to their local context.
  • Enabling presentation of the arguments in favour of their approach confidently, and relevant to their local circumstances.
  • Preparation for a more detailed course on the policies needed to support a low-carbon power sector.

Syllabus

Introduction: Why Decarbonise?
Module1: Political Economy Shane Tomlinson, Director, E3G
Module2: Climate Change Professor Joanna Haigh, Co-Director, Grantham Institute, Imperial College London
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Module3: Energy Policy Professor Richard Green, Professor of Sustainable Energy Business, Imperial College London
Module4: Energy Access Dr Clementine Chambon, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Oorja; Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Imperial College London
Module5: Climate Change And Health Dr Kris Murray, Lecturer, School of Public Health, Imperial College London

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Introduces learners to decarbonizing energy sources and the future of clean energy
Provides a solid basis for moving towards a sustainable energy sector
Suited for those seeking knowledge on energy access and affordability issues
Provides knowledge on the political economy of climate change and its impact on energy policy
Exploration of the relationship between climate change, health and the energy sector
Course may require some foundational knowledge in climate change and energy policy

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Why Move Towards Cleaner Power with these activities:
Review Climate Change: The Facts
This book outlines the basics of climate change and the scientific consensus. This will help you better grasp the arguments presented in this course.
Show steps
  • Read Chapter 1: The Basics
  • Read chapters 2-4
  • Read the rest of the book (chapters 5-10)
TEDx Talk: The Climate Change Challenge
This TEDx talk offers a concise and accessible overview of the challenges posed by climate change, which will complement the course material.
Browse courses on Climate Change
Show steps
  • Watch the TEDx talk
  • Reflect on the key points
Review of Basic Climate Science
Reviewing climate science will ensure you have a strong foundation for understanding the arguments and evidence presented in this course.
Browse courses on Climate Science
Show steps
  • Read the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report
  • Watch videos from reputable sources
  • Attend a webinar or lecture on climate science
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Resource Compilation: Best Practices in Decarbonizing the Power Sector
This activity will help you develop a comprehensive understanding of the best practices for decarbonizing the power sector and make them easily accessible.
Browse courses on Energy Policy
Show steps
  • Research and gather resources
  • Organize and categorize the resources
  • Share your compilation with others
Energy Sector Decarbonization Discussion Group
Engaging in discussions with peers will allow you to exchange ideas, deepen your understanding, and develop more nuanced arguments for decarbonization.
Browse courses on Energy Policy
Show steps
  • Join or create a discussion group
  • Prepare talking points
  • Participate in group discussions
Energy Decarbonization Workshop
Attending a workshop will expose you to a variety of perspectives, best practices, and tools for decarbonizing the power sector.
Browse courses on Energy Policy
Show steps
  • Identify and register for a workshop
  • Prepare for the workshop
  • Attend the workshop and participate actively
Policy Brief on Decarbonizing the Power Sector
Creating a policy brief will help you synthesize your knowledge, develop concrete recommendations, and prepare you for advising policymakers on decarbonization.
Browse courses on Energy Policy
Show steps
  • Research and gather data
  • Write the policy brief
  • Get feedback and revise
Contribute to an Open-Source Project on Energy Decarbonization
Contributing to open-source projects allows you to engage with the community, gain hands-on experience, and help advance decarbonization efforts.
Browse courses on Energy Policy
Show steps
  • Identify a suitable open-source project
  • Start contributing to the project

Career center

Learners who complete Why Move Towards Cleaner Power will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Energy Policy Advisor
Energy Policy Advisors analyze and advise on energy policy. This course would be perfect for someone working in the energy policy field who wants to develop a deeper understanding of the environmental policy considerations of energy policy, with a particular focus on decarbonization. The syllabus covers the political economy of the decarbonization of the power sector, as well as climate change and energy policy.
Climate Change Policy Analyst
Climate Change Policy Analysts study, develop, and implement policies to mitigate or adapt to climate change. This course would provide a solid foundation for someone in this field. The syllabus covers climate change, energy policy, and climate change and health, which are all important considerations for climate change policy.
Energy Consultant
Energy Consultants advise organizations on energy policy and strategy. This course would be helpful to an Energy Consultant who wants to specialize in the decarbonization of the power sector. The course covers the political economy of the decarbonization of the power sector, as well as the policy and economic implications of decarbonization.
Renewable Energy Engineer
Renewable Energy Engineers design, install, and maintain renewable energy systems. This course could help build a foundation in the environmental and energy policy considerations in the field. A Renewable Energy Engineer, especially in leadership, could benefit most from this course, as it covers developing arguments and policies relevant to their local context.
Climate Change Scientist
Climate Change Scientists study the science of climate change. This course could be helpful to someone in this field who wants to develop a deeper understanding of the policy and economic implications of climate change. The course covers the science of climate change, as well as the policy and economic implications of decarbonization.
Energy Economist
Energy Economists work across a variety of industries to study and analyze the energy industry. This course could be helpful to someone who wants to specialize in the decarbonization of the power sector. The syllabus covers the political economy of the decarbonization of the power sector, and the content covers climate change and energy policy.
Environmental Economist
Environmental Economists study the economic implications of environmental issues. This course could be useful to someone who wants to specialize in the economics of decarbonization. The course covers the economic implications of climate change, as well as the policy and economic implications of decarbonization.
Environmental Scientist
Environmental Scientists study the environment and how it is affected by human activity. This course could be useful to an Environmental Scientist who wants to work on the decarbonization of the power sector. The course discusses the science of climate change, as well as the policy and economic implications of decarbonization.
Energy Efficiency Consultant
Energy Efficiency Consultants help organizations reduce their energy consumption. This course could be useful to an Energy Efficiency Consultant who wants to specialize in the decarbonization of the power sector. The course discusses the policy and economic implications of decarbonization, as well as the different technologies that can be used to reduce energy consumption.
Public Health Analyst
Public Health Analysts study and analyze public health issues. This course could be useful to someone who wants to specialize in the health impacts of air pollution and climate change. The course discusses the health impacts of climate change, and offers a broad perspective on the importance of decarbonizing the power sector.
Environmental Policy Analyst
Environmental Policy Analysts study, develop, and analyze environmental policies. As environmental policies are essentially about making societal shifts towards cleaner energy and other environmentally-friendly practices, this course can help build a foundation in this field. This course may also be particularly useful to someone working in more local environmental policy who wants to develop a more global perspective.
Environmental Lawyer
Environmental Lawyers focus on the legal aspects of environmental issues. This course could be useful to someone working in environmental law who wants to specialize in the decarbonization of the power sector. The course covers the political economy of the decarbonization of the power sector, as well as the legal implications of decarbonization.
Environmental Engineer
Environmental Engineers design, build, and maintain systems to protect the environment. This course may be particularly useful for Environmental Engineers who work in the field of energy. The course covers the political economy and energy policy of the decarbonization of the power sector. Understanding the policy considerations of decarbonization can help an Environmental Engineer build and maintain systems that facilitate decarbonization.
Sustainability Consultant
Sustainability Consultants analyze organizations' environmental performance and advise on ways to improve it. This course could help prepare someone to advise organizations on policies to decarbonize their power supply. This course focuses on why decarbonizing the power sector is important, as well as the political economy of decarbonization.
Climate Change Activist
Climate Change Activists work to raise awareness about climate change and advocate for policies to mitigate or adapt to climate change. This course could help prepare someone to be a more effective climate change activist. The course covers the science of climate change, as well as the policy and economic implications of decarbonization.

Reading list

We've selected six books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Why Move Towards Cleaner Power.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the history of mass extinctions on Earth, and discusses the current threats to biodiversity. It valuable resource for understanding the importance of protecting the environment.
Was one of the first to sound the alarm about climate change, and it remains a classic in the field. McKibben provides a clear and concise explanation of the science of climate change, and he argues that we need to take action to reduce our emissions.
Provides a detailed plan for how we can reduce our emissions and transition to a clean energy future. Hawken leading environmentalist, and he has gathered a team of experts to develop this plan.
Examines the factors that have led to the collapse of past civilizations, and it offers lessons for how we can avoid the same fate. Diamond argues that we need to be aware of the environmental and social challenges that we face, and that we need to take action to address them.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the climate change debate, and it argues that we need to take action to reduce our emissions. Mann leading climate scientist, and he provides a clear and concise explanation of the science of climate change.
Provides a clear and concise overview of the different forms of energy, and how they are used in the world. It valuable resource for understanding the challenges of transitioning to a clean energy future.

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