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Richard Boothman

Climate change is real and urgent. It has the potential to harm everyone and to have a profound impact on our businesses and the way we run them. But too few people in leadership and management roles fully understand what it means and how it will affect their business, or how they should react. This course has been developed to help with this understanding.

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Climate change is real and urgent. It has the potential to harm everyone and to have a profound impact on our businesses and the way we run them. But too few people in leadership and management roles fully understand what it means and how it will affect their business, or how they should react. This course has been developed to help with this understanding.

The course is presented using a blend of talking head and animation with selected images used where appropriate. The course begins with a look at the causes of climate change and why some people remain sceptical about it. There is a view that we are an ingenious species, and we can develop technology to solve the problems. We consider this view.

The main section of the course deals with the range of impacts that climate change will have on business, including:

  • The physical risks to the business, to employees and to other stakeholders

  • The impact on employees, customers and suppliers

  • The role of business finance and regulation

  • The opportunities that climate change may offer to innovative businesses.

Although the main focus of the course is on the impacts of climate change on business, it would not be complete without considering the way that business should respond. We aim to help participants to understand their impact, identify the role of leadership and to avoid harmful activities.

The course concludes with a summary and call to action, followed by a quiz to confirm the knowledge acquired. A comprehensive resources document can be downloaded.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction
Introduction to Climate Change - The Impact on Business
Identify the causes of climate change
Background and Context
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A short quiz to check your knowledge and understanding of Climate Change

A short, multiple choice quiz to check your knowledge of the content of this part of the course.

A short, multiple choice quiz to check your knowledge and understanding of this part of the course.

This is a multiple choice quiz to check your knowledge and understanding of the whole of the course

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Examines the regulatory environment surrounding climate change, which is crucial for business leaders to navigate and maintain compliance
Explores the potential opportunities that climate change may present to innovative businesses, encouraging a proactive and forward-thinking approach
Discusses the physical risks to businesses, employees, and stakeholders, which is essential for risk assessment and strategic planning
Considers the impact of climate change on employees, customers, and suppliers, which is important for maintaining a resilient and responsible supply chain
Requires learners to understand their impact, which may be difficult for learners who are new to the topic of sustainability and climate change

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Reviews summary

Climate change business impact overview

According to learners, this course provides a solid and accessible introduction to the critical topic of climate change and its impact on businesses. Students find the content clear and well-structured, covering the causes, various business risks (including physical risks, effects on employees, customers, and suppliers), financial implications, and regulatory aspects. Many appreciate the focus on identifying potential opportunities arising from climate change challenges. While providing a valuable broad overview, some feedback suggests it might be less detailed for those with prior knowledge or seeking deep practical application, focusing more on theory. Overall, it's considered a highly relevant course for professionals needing to understand the business context of climate change.
Quizzes check understanding.
"Found the multiple-choice quizzes helpful for review."
"Good way to test knowledge after each module."
"The quizzes throughout the course were effective in reinforcing key concepts."
Highlights business opportunities.
"Found the focus on opportunities very refreshing and actionable."
"It's good that they included how businesses can innovate and adapt."
"Learning about potential positive business angles was a key takeaway for me."
Covers causes, impacts, and responses.
"Liked the comprehensive approach, starting from the science to business actions."
"Covers a wide range of impacts, including less obvious ones like employee effects."
"The syllabus provides a good overview of all key areas I needed to know about."
Explains complex ideas clearly.
"The course made complex topics like the greenhouse effect very easy to understand."
"Found the explanations clear and the pace was just right for a non-expert."
"Really appreciate how accessible the language was, didn't require a science degree."
Directly addresses business impacts.
"Helped me see the direct relevance of climate change to my industry and role."
"The sections on physical risks and supply chain impacts were highly applicable."
"Gained practical insights into how climate change affects business finance and regulation."
Could be more in-depth/practical.
"While a good intro, I was hoping for more detailed case studies."
"Felt a bit high-level at times, could use more practical examples for specific industries."
"As someone with some prior knowledge, I didn't find enough advanced content."

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 Climate Change - The Impact on Business with these activities:
Review Basic Economics Principles
Reviewing basic economics principles will help you better understand the financial and regulatory impacts of climate change on businesses.
Browse courses on Supply and Demand
Show steps
  • Read introductory chapters on economics.
  • Complete practice quizzes on key concepts.
  • Summarize the relationship between economic growth and environmental impact.
Review 'This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate'
Understand the systemic challenges that climate change poses to traditional business models.
Show steps
  • Read the book and take notes on key arguments.
  • Reflect on how the book's arguments relate to the course content.
  • Discuss the book's ideas with peers in online forums.
Review 'Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming'
Explore practical solutions for reversing global warming and identify opportunities for businesses to contribute.
Show steps
  • Read the book and identify the top 10 most relevant solutions for businesses.
  • Research how these solutions can be implemented in different industries.
  • Discuss the feasibility and impact of these solutions with peers.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Create a Presentation on Climate Risks
Solidify your understanding of climate risks by creating a presentation that outlines the physical, employee, customer, supplier, financial, and regulatory risks to a specific business.
Show steps
  • Choose a specific business or industry to focus on.
  • Research the climate risks relevant to that business.
  • Develop a presentation outlining the risks and potential impacts.
  • Present your findings to a small group or online forum.
Develop a Sustainability Plan for a Business
Apply your knowledge by developing a comprehensive sustainability plan for a business, addressing its environmental impact and outlining strategies for improvement.
Show steps
  • Select a business and research its current environmental practices.
  • Identify areas where the business can improve its sustainability.
  • Develop a detailed plan with specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals.
  • Present the plan to stakeholders or in an online forum.
Create a Carbon Footprint Calculator
Develop a tool that businesses can use to measure their carbon footprint, enabling them to understand their impact and identify areas for reduction.
Show steps
  • Research existing carbon footprint calculators and methodologies.
  • Design a user-friendly interface for data input.
  • Develop the calculations and algorithms for determining carbon footprint.
  • Test and refine the calculator with real-world data.
  • Share the calculator with businesses or in an open-source repository.

Career center

Learners who complete Climate Change - The Impact on Business will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Sustainability Consultant
A Sustainability Consultant helps organizations reduce their environmental impact and improve their sustainability practices. This role often involves assessing a company's current operations, identifying areas for improvement, and developing strategies to achieve sustainability goals. This course helps you understand the causes and impacts of climate change on businesses, enabling you to better advise companies on how to mitigate physical risks, manage the impact on employees and customers, and navigate the regulatory environment. The course's focus on identifying opportunities for innovative businesses in the face of climate change is particularly relevant, allowing a Sustainability Consultant to guide companies toward sustainable and profitable solutions.
Environmental Analyst
An Environmental Analyst researches and assesses environmental issues, providing data and recommendations to organizations or government agencies. This career involves collecting and analyzing environmental data, evaluating the impact of projects on the environment, and developing strategies to minimize environmental damage. This course provides you with a solid understanding of the impacts of climate change on business, including physical risks, impacts on employees, customers, and suppliers, and the role of business finance and regulation. With the knowledge learned in the course, an Environmental Analyst can offer more informed and relevant assessments, especially concerning the business sector.
Chief Sustainability Officer
The Chief Sustainability Officer leads a company's sustainability initiatives, developing and implementing strategies to reduce environmental impact and promote social responsibility. The role requires a deep understanding of climate change, its impacts on business, and potential solutions. This course helps build a foundation in these areas, covering the causes of climate change, the risks to business, and the opportunities for innovation. The course's emphasis on leadership and avoiding harmful activities directly aligns with the responsibilities of a Chief Sustainability Officer, aiding in the development of effective and ethical sustainability strategies.
Corporate Social Responsibility Manager
A Corporate Social Responsibility Manager develops and implements CSR strategies that align with a company's values and contribute to positive social and environmental impact. This role involves assessing a company's current CSR practices, identifying areas for improvement, and developing programs to address social and environmental issues. This course may be useful by providing insights into the impacts of climate change on business, including the physical risks, the impact on employees, customers, and suppliers, and the role of business finance and regulation. The course's focus on helping participants understand their impact and avoid harmful activities is particularly relevant, as it equips CSR Managers with the knowledge to develop responsible and effective CSR initiatives.
Environmental Compliance Officer
An Environmental Compliance Officer ensures that an organization adheres to environmental regulations and standards. This involves monitoring operations, conducting audits, and developing strategies to minimize environmental risks. This course may be useful to gain a better understanding of the regulatory environment surrounding climate change and its impacts on business. The course's focus on helping participants understand their impact and avoid harmful activities is directly applicable to the responsibilities of an Environmental Compliance Officer.
Business Development Manager
A Business Development Manager focuses on identifying and pursuing new business opportunities to drive growth and revenue. A key part of this role involves understanding market trends and identifying areas for expansion. This course helps build a foundation in the opportunities that climate change may offer to innovative businesses. The course's content on capitalizing on climate change, understanding impacts, and leadership can directly inform a Business Development Manager's strategies, enabling them to identify and pursue sustainable business ventures.
Supply Chain Analyst
A Supply Chain Analyst analyzes and optimizes supply chain operations to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and minimize risks. Given the increasing focus on sustainability, understanding the environmental impact of supply chains is becoming crucial. This course helps inform an understanding of the impact of climate change on suppliers, which is a critical consideration for supply chain resilience. The course's focus on physical risks and the regulatory environment may also be useful in assessing and mitigating risks within the supply chain.
Investment Analyst
An Investment Analyst researches and evaluates investment opportunities, providing recommendations to clients or investment firms. Environmental, social, and governance factors are increasingly important in investment decisions. This course may be useful in helping you understand the impact of climate change on business finance and the regulatory environment. This can inform an Investment Analyst's assessment of the risks and opportunities associated with specific investments, particularly in sectors affected by climate change.
Risk Manager
A Risk Manager identifies and assesses potential risks to an organization, developing strategies to mitigate those risks. Climate change poses significant risks to businesses, including physical risks, supply chain disruptions, and regulatory changes. This course may be useful in helping you understand the range of impacts that climate change will have on business. The course's focus on physical risks, impacts on employees, and the regulatory environment is particularly relevant, as it can help a Risk Manager to develop more comprehensive and effective risk mitigation strategies.
Facilities Manager
A Facilities Manager is responsible for the maintenance and operations of a building or facility. With growing awareness of climate change, there will be more opportunities in the role of Facilities Manager. This course may be useful in understanding the physical risks of climate change to a business. It may also be useful in understanding regulatory environment and business threats arising from the impacts of climate breakdown.
Urban Planner
An Urban Planner develops plans and strategies for the growth and development of cities and communities. As climate change increasingly impacts urban areas, understanding its implications for infrastructure, housing, and transportation is essential. This course may be useful in better understanding the physical risks of climate change, including the risks it may pose to business. It may also be useful to understand the business opportunities that may also arise.
Energy Auditor
An Energy Auditor assesses the energy efficiency of buildings and systems, identifying opportunities for improvement and cost savings. Understanding the drivers of climate change and the need for reducing carbon emissions is fundamental to this role. This course may be useful to equip one with a better understanding of the causes of climate change and some potential responses one can make to the impact of climate change.
Logistics Coordinator
A Logistics Coordinator manages the flow of goods and materials within an organization, ensuring efficient and timely delivery. Given the potential for climate change to disrupt supply chains, understanding these risks is increasingly important. This course may be useful in understanding the impact that suppliers have on customers, and the impacts that climate change has on suppliers.
Customer Service Representative
A Customer Service Representative addresses customer inquiries and resolves issues, ensuring customer satisfaction. While not directly related to climate change, understanding the concerns and perspectives of customers regarding sustainability can be valuable in this role. This course may be useful in understanding how impacts on climate change has a direct impact on customers.
Human Resources Generalist
A Human Resources Generalist supports various HR functions, including recruitment, employee relations, and benefits administration. As companies increasingly focus on sustainability, HR may play a role in promoting environmentally friendly practices and engaging employees in sustainability initiatives. This course may be useful in understanding the impact that climate change has on employees.

Reading list

We've selected two 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 Climate Change - The Impact on Business.
Provides a critical perspective on the role of capitalism in driving climate change. It explores the systemic changes needed to address the climate crisis, offering valuable insights into the intersection of business, economics, and environmental sustainability. Reading this book will help you understand the broader context of the course and the challenges businesses face in a changing climate. It is more valuable as additional reading to provide depth.
Offers a practical and optimistic approach to addressing climate change by outlining 100 solutions that can reverse global warming. It provides a valuable resource for businesses looking to implement sustainable practices and capitalize on climate change opportunities. This book adds breadth to the course by presenting a wide range of potential solutions. It useful reference tool for identifying actionable steps.

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