Climate Change Education from edX

This course explores the basic science behind climate change and presents the tools to teach it in a positive, engaging and participatory way. The course also introduces some of the ethical and social issues around climate change.

This course makes use of videos, lesson plans and online games developed by the IDB's "Rise-Up: Education Against Climate Change" initiative. The aim is to assist you in the launch of climate change education and actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change in your school community.

This is a hands-on course, with examples coming directly from Latin America and the Caribbean.

61% of the students who have taken the course affirm that they have improved their ability to formulate, implement and / or evaluate public policies.

52% of the students have said that the course has served them to improve services to citizens as public officials.

This course is "self-paced" so you can enroll at any time, even if the course has been open for a while. You can take it at the time that is most suitable for you inside the enrolment period of the course.

If you opt for the Audit track, you will have unlimited access to the course content, but you won't be able to complete the assessed activities or receive the certificate.

If you opt for the Verified track , you can access the course in an unlimited way and complete the qualified evaluations until the closing date, after making a payment of $25 . If you pass, in addition to the verified certificate, you will obtain a digital badge *that allows you to change the way you share your academic and professional achievements, as for example, on social media.

Did you know there is a financial aid to opt for the verified certificate? * **

EdX offers financial assistance for learners who want to earn Verified Certificates but who may not be able to pay the Verified Certificate fee. Subscribe to the course and apply for financial assistance.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Basic science behind climate change
Main social and ethical issues behind climate change
Main consequences of climate change to water, energy, environment, soil and our health

What we can do individually, as a school and as a community to live a more sustainable and healthy life
How to use games, debates, experiments, theater, newspapers and other tools to support and enhance learning

Basic science behind climate change
Main social and ethical issues behind climate change
Main consequences of climate change to water, energy, environment, soil and our health
What we can do individually, as a school and as a community to live a more sustainable and healthy life
How to use games, debates, experiments, theater, newspapers and other tools to support and enhance learning

Syllabus

Module 1: Our climate is changingIntroduction to climate change, including what it is, difference between climate and weather and causes of the greenhouse effect.Presentation of the use of images and newspapers in class activities.

Module 2: Energy and the climate changeIntroduction to the energy cycle, the different types of energies and the existing renewable and nonrenewable sources of energies.Presentation of the use of comics and the school’s space to support learning.

Module 3: Water and the climate changeIntroduction to the importance of water to our lives and the main consequences of climate change to the water cycle.Presentation of the use of offline games and videos in class activities.

Module 4: Soil and the climate changeIntroduction to the different types of farming practices, it’s social, economic and environmental impact and the effect of climate change on food availability and quality.Presentation of the use of experiments and debates in class activities.

Module 5: Landscape and the climate changeIntroduction to the factors that shape our landscape, including natural disasters and human actions and the importance of forests and wetlands to the Earth ecosystem.Presentation of the use of the community and stories to support learning.

Module 6: Sustainable environmentsIntroduction to the effect of the megacities to the environment and how we can mitigate it through intelligent consumption and sustainable cities.Presentation of the use of mockups and role-playing in class activities.

Module 7: Healthy environmentsIntroduction to the elements that make up a healthy environment, the risks of climate change to our health and what we can do to ensure a healthy and safe environment in the school and the community.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores basic climate science, which is standard industry knowledge in meteorology and geology

Taught by Emma Naslund-Hadley and Juan Paredes, who are recognized experts on climate change

Given by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which is a recognized authority on Latin American and Caribbean affairs

Develops climate change education and mitigation / adaptation actions, which are in high demand in the public sector, schools, and many industries

Examines climate change through a Latin American and Caribbean perspective, which may be highly relevant for those in the region

Offers a hands-on approach with examples from Latin America and the Caribbean, which may be appealing for learners in the region

Improves ability to formulate, implement, and / or evaluate public policies for climate change, which is in high demand for public sector employees

Enhances services to citizens on climate change as public officials

Provides digital badges for verified learners, which may add credibility to learners' achievements

Offers financial aid for learners who may not be able to pay the Verified Certificate fee

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 Education with these activities:

Review your understanding of graphing and data analysis.

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This activity will help you to refresh your understanding of graphing and data analysis skills, which are essential for understanding climate change data.

Browse courses on Graphing

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Review your notes from your previous math or statistics course.
Take a practice quiz on graphing and data analysis.
Watch a tutorial on graphing and data analysis.

Review your understanding of the Earth's climate system.

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This activity will help you to refresh your understanding of the Earth's climate system, which is essential for understanding climate change.

Browse courses on Climate System

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Review your notes from your previous Earth science or environmental science course.
Take a practice quiz on the Earth's climate system.
Watch a tutorial on the Earth's climate system.

Review 'A Pocket Guide to Climate Change' by Mike Hulme

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This book provides an accessible overview of climate change, its causes, and its potential impacts. Reading it will help you to build a strong foundation for your understanding of the topic.

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Read the book.
Take notes on the key points.
Discuss the book with a friend or colleague.

Five other activities

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Practice calculating the carbon footprint of different activities.

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This activity will help you to develop a better understanding of how to calculate the carbon footprint of different activities and how to reduce your own carbon footprint.

Browse courses on Carbon Footprint

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Find a carbon footprint calculator online.
Calculate the carbon footprint of different activities, such as driving, flying, and eating meat.
Compare the carbon footprints of different activities.
Identify ways to reduce your own carbon footprint.

Create a presentation on the different types of greenhouse gases.

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This activity will help you to develop a deeper understanding of the different types of greenhouse gases and their role in climate change.

Browse courses on Greenhouse Gases

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Research the different types of greenhouse gases.
Create a presentation that includes information on the sources, properties, and effects of each type of greenhouse gas.
Present your presentation to your classmates.
Get feedback on your presentation from your classmates and instructor.

Participate in a peer-led study group on climate change.

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This activity will help you to learn from your peers and to develop a deeper understanding of the topic.

Browse courses on Climate Change

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Find a study group that meets regularly.
Participate in the study group discussions.
Work with your peers to develop a project on climate change.

Contribute to an open-source project related to climate change.

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This activity will help you to gain hands-on experience with climate change and to contribute to the open-source community.

Browse courses on Climate Change

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Find an open-source project related to climate change.
Contribute to the project in a meaningful way.
Get feedback on your contributions from the project maintainers.

Compile your notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams into a single document.

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This activity will help you to organize your learning materials and to make them more accessible for review.

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Gather all of your notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams from this course.
Organize the materials into a logical order.
Create a table of contents.

Career center

Learners who complete Climate Change Education will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Environmental Policy Analyst

Environmental Policy Analysts evaluate and create policies related to the environment. A background in climate change education could help you understand the impact of climate change, explore different methods to educate people about it, and help you develop and implement policies to address climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Policy Analyst

Sustainability Manager

Sustainability Managers work to improve the sustainability of organizations, including businesses, non-profits, and government agencies. Understanding climate change through this course may be helpful for those crafting policies to help organizations become more sustainable.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sustainability Manager

Environmental Engineer

Environmental Engineers work to protect the environment by developing solutions to environmental problems. A course in Climate Change Education could teach you more about the science of climate change and its impacts, which will enable you to design better solutions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Engineer

Climate Scientist

Climate Scientists study the Earth's climate and climate change. Studying climate change education can help you understand the causes, implications, and potential effects of climate change, which will help you when researching.

See salaries and explore the career path for Climate Scientist

Environmental Educator

Environmental Educators teach people about the environment and how to protect it. Climate Change Education can help you to teach others about climate change and its impacts, and how they can make changes to help mitigate and adapt to climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Educator

Renewable Energy Project Developer

Renewable Energy Project Developers manage and oversee the development of renewable energy projects, such as solar and wind farms. This course may be useful to understand the importance of renewable energy in mitigating climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Renewable Energy Project Developer

Natural Resource Manager

Natural Resource Managers manage natural resources, such as forests, water, and wildlife. This course may be helpful for understanding how climate change impacts natural resources and how managers can adapt.

See salaries and explore the career path for Natural Resource Manager

Environmental Consultant

Environmental Consultants help businesses and organizations understand and comply with environmental regulations. This course may be helpful for understanding the environmental implications of business practices, such as carbon emissions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Environmental Consultant

Conservation Scientist

Conservation Scientists work to protect biodiversity and ecosystems. This course may be useful to understand the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and how to protect it.

See salaries and explore the career path for Conservation Scientist

Urban Planner

Urban Planners design and manage urban areas. This course may be helpful for understanding how to make cities more sustainable and resilient to climate change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Urban Planner

Environmental Lawyer

Environmental Lawyers work to protect the environment through legal means. This course may be helpful to understand the legal framework surrounding climate change and how to use it to advocate for change.

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Science Writer

Science Writers communicate scientific information to the public. This course may be helpful for understanding climate change and how to write about it in a way that is clear and engaging.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Writer

Climate Activist

Climate Activists work to raise awareness about climate change and advocate for action. This course may be helpful to understand the science of climate change and how to communicate it to others.

See salaries and explore the career path for Climate Activist

Social Worker

Social Workers help people cope with social and environmental problems. This course may be helpful for understanding the social impacts of climate change and how to help people adapt.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

Community Organizer

Community Organizers work to bring people together to address community issues. This course may be helpful to understand how to engage communities in climate change action.

See salaries and explore the career path for Community Organizer