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Simon Allain

I designed this course for every manager who would like to start measuring and reducing the CO2 emissions of its organization. 

The training content is based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) and 

This is not a complete GHG accounting course following one of the main methodologies (GHGP or ISO 14064 for example). This type of "advanced" course is usually 3 to 4 days long, with a certification at the end and a cost of more than $1.500. 

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I designed this course for every manager who would like to start measuring and reducing the CO2 emissions of its organization. 

The training content is based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) and 

This is not a complete GHG accounting course following one of the main methodologies (GHGP or ISO 14064 for example). This type of "advanced" course is usually 3 to 4 days long, with a certification at the end and a cost of more than $1.500. 

The course I offer on Udemy is an "essentials" course, with about 1h of video content + about another hour of quizz. Usually learners take around 3 to 4 hours to complete it. It's a good first step that you can take to understand well how to start measuring and reducing CO2 emissions for your company. 

The course is as condensed and as immediately actionable as possible. Concrete examples and exercises enable you to practice what you learned after each section. 

After taking it, you should have a clear view on how to conduct a CO2 inventory for your organization. The next step will be to dive in depth in a GHG accounting framework (GHG protocol, ISO 14064, etc) and take a training to know how to conduct an GHG inventory following that framework.

It covers the following topics :

1. Introduction : global warming and the international framework on climate change

Understand the enhanced greenhouse effet, its impact on global warming and the international framework on action against climate change

2. CO2 inventory : What is it? Why doing one? How to do it?

Definition of the CO2 footprint / CO2 inventory of a company, overview of the Set organizational and inventory boundaries

Before starting to list sources, collect data and calculate emissions, it is necessary to take a moment to set the organizational and inventory boundaries, in a complete, transparent and coherent way.

4. Identify emission sources and collect data

Get to know the method for listing emission sources and starting to collect data before calculating the emissions for each source.

5. Calculate emissions

Know how to calculate the CO2 emissions for a given source, using the appropriate activity data and emission factor

6. Analyze results, set reduction targets and build an action plan

Analyze the inventory's results, set science-based reduction targets and build an action plan to reach them

7. Manage emissions : monitoring and continuous improvement

Set up a CO2 management and inventory continuous improvement system in your organization

8. Reporting and external communication

Communicate in a proper way on your organization's CO2 emissions, reduction targets and action plan, avoiding greenwashing

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Understand greenhouse effect, global warming and the international framework on climate change
  • Know the main international methods for co2 inventory (ghgp, iso 14064-1), their principles and how an organization can conduct a co2 inventory
  • Set organizational and inventory boundaries
  • Identify emission sources and collect data
  • Choose appropriate emission factor and activity data
  • Calculate emissions for each source
  • Analyze results, set reduction targets and build an action plan
  • Manage emissions : monitoring and continuous improvement
  • Reporting and external communication on co2 inventory and management

Syllabus

Understand the enhanced greenhouse effet, its impact on global warming and the international framework on action against climate change
Introduction
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides an overview of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP), which is a widely recognized standard for carbon accounting and reporting
Offers a condensed and actionable approach to understanding how to start measuring and reducing CO2 emissions for an organization
Covers setting organizational and inventory boundaries, which is a critical step in conducting a comprehensive CO2 inventory
Teaches how to analyze inventory results, which is essential for setting science-based reduction targets and building effective action plans
Intended as a first step before diving into more in-depth GHG accounting frameworks like the GHG Protocol or ISO 14064
Emphasizes the importance of proper communication on an organization's CO2 emissions, reduction targets, and action plan, which helps in avoiding greenwashing

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Reviews summary

Practical co2 inventory essentials

According to learners, this course is an excellent introduction and a good starting point for understanding how to conduct a CO2 inventory. Many praise the content for being clear and concise, finding it well-structured and easy to understand. Students appreciate the practical advice and actionable steps provided, which help in applying the concepts learned. The course is considered ideal for those needing the essentials as a first step before potentially diving into more complex frameworks. The knowledgeable instructor is also frequently highlighted positively.
Good starting point before deeper study.
"This is a good first step to get started."
"Recommended as a starting point."
"The course is a perfect starting point to understand the carbon footprint..."
"A really good and concise starting point for anyone interested..."
Instructor is expert and explains clearly.
"The instructor is clear and knowledgeable."
"Very good and clear information with an expert."
"Knowledgeable instructor, very clear and concise."
"Knowledgeable teacher."
Useful steps for real-world application.
"Gives a good overview... and some practical advice for applying this knowledge."
"Provides practical steps for calculating and reducing emissions."
"The practical steps on how to apply the methodology are useful."
"Practical and great to understand all the essential steps."
Content is easy to understand and well-structured.
"The instructor is clear and knowledgeable."
"The course is very well structured, clear and straight to the point."
"The course is clear, concise and well structured, very good for people who are starting."
"Very clear information and concise."
Great first step for CO2 inventory basics.
"Excellent introduction to carbon footprint inventories."
"Good introduction to carbon footprint inventories for organizations, concise."
"Good course for first approach on how to conduct a CO2 inventory."
"It was a great first step for me to understand the process of building a CO2 inventory."

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 Carbon footprint essentials : how to conduct a CO2 inventory with these activities:
Review Basic Environmental Science Concepts
Reinforce foundational knowledge of environmental science to better understand the context of carbon footprint calculations.
Browse courses on Greenhouse Effect
Show steps
  • Review the basics of the greenhouse effect.
  • Understand the carbon cycle and its impact on the atmosphere.
  • Familiarize yourself with the key concepts of climate change.
Read 'Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming'
Gain a broader understanding of climate change solutions and the role of carbon footprint reduction.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Drawdown'.
  • Read the introduction and overview of the book.
  • Explore the different solutions presented in the book.
Calculate Your Personal Carbon Footprint
Apply the principles learned in the course to a real-world scenario, solidifying understanding of emission sources and calculation methods.
Show steps
  • Research online carbon footprint calculators.
  • Gather data on your energy consumption, transportation habits, and diet.
  • Use a calculator to estimate your personal carbon footprint.
  • Analyze the results and identify areas for reduction.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Read 'The Climate Book' by multiple authors
Expand your understanding of climate change with insights from leading experts.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'The Climate Book'.
  • Read the introduction and table of contents.
  • Select chapters of interest to read.
Develop a CO2 Reduction Plan for a Small Business
Synthesize course knowledge to create a practical plan for reducing emissions in a business setting.
Show steps
  • Choose a small business to focus on.
  • Identify the business's main emission sources.
  • Research potential reduction strategies.
  • Create a detailed CO2 reduction plan with specific targets and actions.
Write a Blog Post on Carbon Offsetting
Research and explain the concept of carbon offsetting, its benefits, and potential drawbacks, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of emission reduction strategies.
Show steps
  • Research carbon offsetting and different offsetting projects.
  • Outline the key points of your blog post.
  • Write a clear and informative blog post.
  • Edit and proofread your post.
Volunteer with a Local Environmental Organization
Gain practical experience in environmental sustainability and contribute to real-world emission reduction efforts.
Show steps
  • Research local environmental organizations.
  • Contact an organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
  • Participate in a volunteer activity.
  • Reflect on your experience and its connection to carbon footprint reduction.

Career center

Learners who complete Carbon footprint essentials : how to conduct a CO2 inventory will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Sustainability Manager
A Sustainability Manager leads and coordinates an organization's sustainability initiatives, often involving setting goals, tracking progress, and reporting on environmental performance. This course directly supports the work of a sustainability manager. The course provides the essentials for conducting a carbon inventory, which is critical for assessing and managing an organization's environmental impact. The course will also help a Sustainability Manager to analyze results, set reduction targets, build action plans, and manage emissions through monitoring and continuous improvement.
Carbon Project Developer
A Carbon Project Developer creates and manages projects that reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions, often for carbon offsetting purposes. This course helps a developer understand the fundamental steps in quantifying carbon reductions. The course covers critical areas such as setting organizational and inventory boundaries, identifying emission sources, calculating emissions, and managing emissions through monitoring and continuous improvement, all necessary for developing credible carbon projects. It may also help them with reporting and external communication.
Sustainability Consultant
A Sustainability Consultant advises organizations on how to operate in a more environmentally responsible manner. This often involves assessing their current practices, identifying areas for improvement, and developing strategies to reduce their environmental impact. Taking this course on carbon footprint essentials may help a consultant understand how to guide businesses through the process of measuring and reducing their carbon emissions, a critical component of sustainability. The course provides a solid understanding of carbon inventories, setting boundaries, identifying emission sources, calculating emissions, and creating action plans, all essential for a sustainability consultant.
Environmental Consultant
An Environmental Consultant advises clients on a wide range of environmental issues, from regulatory compliance to remediation strategies. This course may provide a consultant with the ability to address carbon footprinting for their clients. The course covers key areas such as setting organizational boundaries, identifying emission sources, calculating emissions, analyzing results, and setting reduction targets. An environmental consultant who has completed this course will also be well-versed in reporting and external communication, avoiding greenwashing.
Corporate Social Responsibility Manager
A Corporate Social Responsibility Manager develops and implements CSR strategies for an organization, ensuring that the company operates ethically and sustainably. This course on carbon footprint essentials may assist a CSR manager to measure and manage their company's carbon emissions. The course is especially helpful because it covers understanding the greenhouse effect, setting organizational boundaries, identifying emission sources, calculating emissions, analyzing results, setting reduction targets, and building action plans. A CSR manager who has completed this course will also be well-versed in reporting and external communication.
Environmental Analyst
An Environmental Analyst researches and analyzes environmental data to assess the impact of human activities on the environment. They often work for government agencies, consulting firms, or non profit organizations. This course may equip an analyst with the tools to quantify an organization's carbon footprint. The course will be especially helpful as it covers setting organizational boundaries, identifying emission sources, calculating emissions, and managing emissions through monitoring and continuous improvement. An environmental analyst who has completed this course will also be well-versed in reporting and external communication, avoiding greenwashing.
Climate Change Analyst
A Climate Change Analyst researches and analyzes data related to climate change, assessing its impacts and developing strategies for mitigation and adaptation. This course may give an analyst practical skills in carbon accounting. The course provides a good first step to understanding how to measure and reduce CO2 emissions. It helps with understanding the international framework on climate change, setting organizational and inventory boundaries, identifying emission sources and collecting data, calculating emissions, and analyzing results.
Environmental Compliance Officer
An Environmental Compliance Officer ensures that an organization adheres to environmental regulations and standards. This course may empower an officer to understand and manage carbon emissions as part of their compliance efforts. The course covers key areas such as setting organizational boundaries, identifying emission sources, calculating emissions, and continuous improvement, all critical for ensuring environmental compliance related to carbon emissions. The course will enable an Environmental Compliance Officer to properly report and communicate their organization's carbon footprint.
Environmental Engineer
An Environmental Engineer applies engineering principles to solve environmental problems, such as designing systems for pollution control and waste management. This course may give an engineer insight into carbon footprinting methodologies. The course covers key areas such as setting organizational boundaries, identifying emission sources, and calculating emissions, which are all relevant to designing effective environmental solutions. The course may also help an Environmental Engineer to communicate properly and avoid greenwashing.
Energy Auditor
An Energy Auditor assesses the energy efficiency of buildings and systems, identifying opportunities to reduce energy consumption and costs. This course may broaden an auditor's understanding of carbon emissions related to energy use. The course provides concrete examples and exercises that enable learners to practice what they learn in each section, which may be helpful for any energy auditor. By understanding how to conduct a carbon inventory, an energy auditor can better advise clients on holistic approaches to energy management.
Supply Chain Analyst
A Supply Chain Analyst examines and optimizes a company's supply chain to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and minimize risks. Increasingly, this role includes assessing and reducing the environmental impact of the supply chain. This course may provide a Supply Chain Analyst with the tools to measure and manage the carbon footprint of their organization's supply chain. The course is especially helpful because it offers a clear view on how to conduct a CO2 inventory for an organization, analyze results, set reduction targets, and build an action plan.
Regulatory Affairs Specialist
A Regulatory Affairs Specialist ensures that a company's products and operations comply with relevant laws and regulations. They often work in industries with strict environmental or safety standards, such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, or manufacturing. This course may help a Regulatory Affairs Specialist gain a deeper understanding of carbon emissions reporting requirements and regulations. The course provides a clear view on how to conduct a CO2 inventory for an organization. It can also help the specialist communicate properly and avoid greenwashing on an organization's CO2 emissions, reduction targets, and action plan.
Investment Analyst
An Investment Analyst researches and analyzes investment opportunities to provide recommendations to portfolio managers or clients. This course may equip an investment analyst to assess the environmental risks and opportunities associated with investments. The course covers the international framework on climate change and carbon inventory, analyzing results, setting reduction targets, and managing emissions. An investment analyst who has completed this course will also be able to report and communicate their findings.
Data Analyst
A Data Analyst is responsible for collecting, processing, and analyzing data to extract meaningful insights that can inform business decisions. Data analysts help organizations understand trends, patterns, and relationships within their data. This course may enable a Data Analyst to work with carbon emissions data. The course is helpful because it covers identifying emission sources, calculating emissions, analyzing results, and managing emissions. A data analyst who has completed this course will be able to deliver results and create strategies for their organization.
Product Manager
A Product Manager guides the strategy, roadmap, and feature definition for a product or product line. This often involves understanding customer needs, market trends, and competitive landscape to deliver successful products. This course may provide a product manager with the tools to evaluate and report a product's carbon footprint. The course covers setting organizational and inventory boundaries, identifying emission sources and calculating emissions, and reporting and external communication on CO2 inventory and management.

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 Carbon footprint essentials : how to conduct a CO2 inventory.
Provides a broad overview of potential solutions to climate change, offering context for understanding the importance of carbon footprint reduction. It presents a wide range of strategies, from renewable energy to changes in land use, and quantifies their potential impact. While not a technical manual, it serves as excellent additional reading to inspire action and provide a broader perspective on the course material. It is commonly referenced in discussions about climate solutions.
Provides a comprehensive overview of climate change from many leading scientists and thinkers. It is useful for understanding the science, impacts, and potential solutions to climate change. It adds breadth to the course by providing diverse perspectives and insights. It valuable resource for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the climate crisis.

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