For those interested in deepening their green/climate change knowledge, a group of universities including the University of Washington, have created an online year-long certificate course called "Decision Making For Climate Change." It's mostly geared for people working in municipal, regional, state and federal government as well as environmental planners and managers, those in corporate operations and sustainability consultants. Still, anyone can apply.
The program begins this fall with a course called "Strategic Planning for Adaptation to Climate Change" offered by the University of Washington. As you would expect, it's all about strategic planning for adapting to and minimizing climate change.
Next comes "Climate Literacy" with the University of British Columbia. Students will learn the factors influencing climate change including the interactions among the atmosphere, oceans, solid earth and biosphere. They'll also learn about the causes of global warming as well as greenhouse gases, physical carbon flows, the carbon cycle, climate modeling the social
impacts of climate change.
In the spring, University of California at Irvine Extension will offer "The Business of Mitigating Climate Change" to help students assess the financial, environmental and business aspects of mitigation efforts.
Finally, there's "Policy Responses and Options" by Northwestern University in the summer of 2010. Students will study existing government policies such as the Kyoto Accord and the European Union Emission Trading System.
-- You can reach Carrie Sturrock at firstname.lastname@example.org