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Discover climate course materials and resources.
Search the shared repository of simulations, case descriptions and course syllabi to enhance your own climate-related teaching.
- Course
MBA course syllabus covering energy finance and related renewable energy and green finance.
- Topics on: Energy
- Case Description
Allbirds, Inc., the sustainable footwear company whose sneakers were rocked by public figures from Barack Obama to Leonardo DiCaprio, was a promising startup in 2016. But by end of 2022, its stock price had plummeted to ~4% of its previous high. Born out of co-founder Tim Brown’s frustration for the lack of comfortable, minimalist sneakers on the market, Allbirds aimed to address both ease of wear and sustainability as a “purpose-native company built upon a system that leverages nature in a responsible way.” It was met with an almost immediate cult following in Silicon Valley, perceived as both luxurious and responsible. However, the company struggled to realize its anticipated growth, and now, CEO Joey Zwillinger must explore how to turnaround the brand.
- Topics on: Marketing, Net Zero Strategies, Strategy
- Case Description
In November 2023, top of mind for Kristen Siemen, chief sustainability officer at General Motors (GM), was how to increase consumer adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). After committing to be carbon neutral by 2040, the automotive giant has its work cut out for it: while EV purchases increased to 14% in 2022, consumer concerns, such as range anxiety and cost sensitivity, are limiting adoption. Kristen Siemen must consider how the marketing, sustainability, and communication teams should continue to work collaboratively to address this slowdown in market penetration and how to optimally position GM to reach its goal of carbon neutrality.
- Topics on: Marketing, Net Zero Strategies, Reporting and Measurement, Strategy
- Resource
This synthesis paper was prepared by the Antioch Center for Climate Preparedness and
Community Resilience Team, with support from the Climate Resilience Fund, through the
Coordination and Collaboration in the Resilience Ecosystem 2021–22 grants round.
This paper introduces and amplifies principles and best practices for centering equity
in climate resilience planning and action. The audience is primarily users of the U.S.
Climate Resilience Toolkit and its Steps to Resilience. Climate resilience is the “capacity of social, economic, and environmental systems to cope with a hazardous event or
trend or disturbance, responding or reorganizing in ways that maintain their essential
function, identity, and structure, while also maintaining the capacity for adaptation,
learning, and transformation.”
Equity is a frame, a goal, and a process, and as such, it cannot be boiled down to a
linear step-by-step recipe. A summary of best practices is a useful way to begin understanding of the subject matter. It does not substitute for lived experience and cannot
do justice to a topic as complex as equity. Becoming an equity-focused climate resilience practitioner requires years of open-minded and open-hearted study and immersing oneself in environmental justice communities to understand lived experiences.
The ten-practice approach we have outlined in this paper is a simplification of a nonlinear, circular process based on mutual feedback and evolving relationships. Climate
resilience practitioners can approach this document with the understanding that using
this guide may begin a genuine transformation in approaching climate resilience,
adaptation and mitigation efforts in collaboration with communities.
The analysis, principles, practices, and other resources presented in this paper draw
from peer-reviewed scholarly literature as well as—importantly—from gray literature
(e.g., county/municipal, nongovernmental organization and think tank reports) in
addition to our own research in collaboration with community partners, Eastie Farm
and Communities Responding to Extreme Weather (CREW). Our research also included semi-structured interviews with subject matter experts and observation to understand
ways to authentically engage with communities in centering equity. Our goal is to
highlight and amplify the exemplary contributions to practice from these sources.
Transformation is beginning. Large cities in the U.S., which tend to be places where
people of color and large inequities are concentrated, are increasingly recognizing
the importance of equity to climate resilience. Our review of the literature surfaced a
number of recent climate resilience plans in which equity plays a large role. We highlight these plans in this paper’s section of Case Studies (see Appendix A). However,
these approaches are still relatively new, with much to improve on. They are also far
from being mainstream in the field of climate resilience and sustainability. Our intention is that this guide will contribute to popularizing this approach and provide a starting point for implementing best practices to centering equity in climate resilience.
- Topics on: Adaptation, Justice, Resilence
- Resource
Educating for Climate Action and Justice: Guidelines for Excellence is part of a continuing series
of documents published by the North American Association for Environmental Education
(NAAEE) as part of the National Project for Excellence in Environmental Education. The project
is committed to synthesizing the best thinking about environmental education through
an extensive review and discussion process. Hundreds of individuals and organizations
representing all aspects of environmental education reviewed working outlines and drafts.
This project was funded by the Office of Environmental Education at the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) through the National Education and Training Program. The contents
of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of EPA, nor does mention of
trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
- Topics on: Justice, Resilence
- Resource
This guide to transformative skills for climate action expands climate literacy to encompass those inner skills, qualities and capacities that help translate scientific understanding into transformative shifts in the way we do things, individually and collectively. The hope is that this guide will help educators and practitioners shift culture and equip the whole of society with these essential inner resources.
Consultation Draft, 1.7
- Topics on: Impact, Justice, Policy, Resilence
- Resource
Climate Literacy: Essential Principles for Understanding and Addressing Climate Change presents information that is important for individuals and communities to know and understand about Earth’s climate, the impacts of climate change, and solutions. Principles in the guide can serve as discussion-starters or launching points for learning about the climate crisis and what’s being done to address it across the world. The guide aims to promote greater
climate literacy by providing this educational and communication framework of principles and concepts.
Developed by the U.S. Global Change Research Program.
To download this guide and related documents,see globalchange.gov/reports/climateliteracy-guide-third-edition and
climate.gov/climateliteracy
- Topics on: Planning, Policy, Resilence, Science
- Course
Many organizations are now (finally!) attempting to incorporate environmental sustainability initiatives into their strategic planning and day-to-day operations. The success or failure of these initiatives often rests on the ability of leaders to implement and manage the change process. This course will focus on the organizational change process, with particular focus on creating and managing transformational change around sustainability initiatives.
Note: Course taught at Baruch College, City University of New York
- Topics on: Planning
- Resource
The Climate Dictionary is an initiative aimed at providing an everyday guide to understanding climate change. It seeks to bridge the gap between complex scientific jargon and the general public, making climate concepts accessible and relatable to individuals from various backgrounds and levels of expertise.
The concept was driven by the belief that empowering people with knowledge is crucial in fostering action and collective responsibility towards addressing climate change. By utilizing a creative combination of compelling visuals, concise explanations, and engaging storytelling, “The Climate Dictionary” effectively communicated complex climate concepts in a user-friendly and visually captivating manner. The publication features a series of climate-related term or phenomenon. The content was meticulously crafted to cater to diverse audiences, catering to both the scientifically inclined and those with limited prior knowledge of the subject.
- Topics on: Adaptation, Finance, Justice, Policy, Science
- Resource
The En-ROADS Climate Solutions Simulator is a fast, powerful climate solutions scenario tool for understanding how we can achieve our climate goals through changes in energy, land use, consumption, agriculture, and other policies. The simulator focuses on how changes in global GDP, energy efficiency, technological innovation, and carbon price influence carbon emissions, global temperature, and other factors. It is designed to provide a synthesis of the best available science on climate solutions and put it at the fingertips of groups in policy workshops and roleplaying games. These experiences enable people to explore the long-term climate impacts of global policy and investment decisions.
En-ROADS is being developed by Climate Interactive, Ventana Systems, UML Climate Change Initiative, and MIT Sloan.
- Topics on: Decarbonization, Energy, Justice, Mitigation, Net Zero, Net Zero Strategies, Policy, Science
- Resource
Winner of the 2024 Business Book Awards (Change & Sustainability category)
Winner of the Bronze Axiom Business Book Award 2024 in the Philanthropy / Non Profit / Sustainability category.
This book should be core reading in every MBA and beyond!
Every manager and every employee in every function can embed climate solutions and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This book, written by experts in the field of sustainability in business, shows you how.
The climate crisis is one of the greatest challenges we face today, and it affects all aspects of business and society. Consequently, everyone needs to know the best high-impact climate solutions that can be embedded into their organisational area. In this book you will find ideas for your team, your department and your organisation to make this a reality. We provide you with implementation plans and inspiring case studies, with practical and helpful tools that will help you to scale up climate solutions effectively and efficiently. If you are an owner of a company or an executive in any organisation, you will benefit from this step-by-step guide on how to set up your own greenhouse gas management plan, how to set targets and how to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of your whole organisation. We explain key terms such as Net Zero, Carbon Neutral, carbon emissions equivalents and the three scopes. In order to halve our emissions worldwide by 2030 to achieve Net Zero by 2050, individual actions on a large scale are required, but also systemic changes. We look at the bigger picture in this book and also how you could effect change.
This is the first book to offer an easy-to-implement approach to decarbonise organisations and transform societies, and is appropriate for managers at any level. This book can also be used in business schools to inspire future managers and business leaders. Last, but not least, everyone can find ideas here that they can implement in their personal lives – let’s scale up together!
- Topics on: Finance, Investing, Policy
- Resource
Are you ready to boost your climate knowledge? This engaging, asynchronous e-learning course will help you discover key climate terms and mechanisms, prepare you with essential knowledge about hazards impacting your community and industry, and introduce you to effective adaptation and mitigation strategies at regional, national, and international levels. This 1.5-hour course is tailored to your location and industry and equips you to make a real impact in your field.
Learning Outcomes:
– Describe fundamental climate concepts including the greenhouse effect, feedbacks, mitigation, adaptation, and resilience
– Understand that humans depend on and are affected by Earth’s systems at the local, regional, and global level
– Describe the impacts of climate change on ecosystem health and human communities, including how those impacts are unevenly distributed
– Describe how human activities contribute to climate change and identify actions to reduce impacts
– Develop a basic understanding of how different industries interact with social equity, public health, economic prosperity, and environmental systems in the context of climate hazards
– Gain basic awareness of industry-specific, national, and global solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change
– Explore credible sources of information about climate change
- Topics on: Adaptation, Impact, Mitigation, Science
- Resource
Sustainability case and module collection link within the Harvard Business Publishing website.
- Topics on: Finance, Strategy
- Case Description
The case describes the Greenest City 2020 Action Plan, formally launched by the city of Vancouver in 2011, which is intended to make Vancouver the greenest city on the planet. Gregor Robertson, mayor of Vancouver, is the main champion of the ambitious strategic plan. While he has a successful past as a social entrepreneur and has implemented several green urban initiatives as mayor, he struggles with some areas and aspects of the plan. Moreover, a recent report has indicated that the city’s reputation has suffered. This all happens in the context of imminent elections, and he has doubts about the plan’s true value as a valid vehicle for improving quality of life for Vancouver’s residents and as a tool for attracting voters.
- Topics on: Impact, Planning
- Case Description
In 2013, Hampton Creek entered the mayonnaise marketplace with the world’s first plant-based, vegan mayonnaise “Just Mayo”. The creation of an egg-free version of mayonnaise had the potential to upset the market, especially for Unilever’s Hellmann’s brand.
- Topics on: Food, Impact
- Case Description
This series of cases (see also the A [UVA-E-0107], B [UVA-E-0108], D [UVA-E-0110], and E [UVA-E-0147] cases) takes students through five design-and-manufacturing decisions confronting Albin Kalin, managing director of Rohner Textil AG, a textiles manufacturer in northeastern Switzerland.
- Topics on: Food, Impact
- Case Description
This case describes DuPont’s sustainable seaweed program, in partnership with the New England Aquarium, and discusses the changing market landscape for seaweed: an undervalued ingredient widely used in much of the world’s food supplies, fertilizers, industrial gums, pharmaceuticals, biofuels, plastic, and more.
- Topics on: Circular Economy, Food, Strategy
- Case Description
In 2018, the city of Montreal debated a ban on the commercial use of wood-burning ovens used by the city’s famous and iconic bagel shops.
- Topics on: Analytics, Food, Investing, Reporting and Measurement, Strategy, Technology
- Case Description
Aleph Farms, an Israeli food-tech start-up, was hoping to play a major role in disrupting the conventional meat sector.
- Topics on: Food, Strategy, Technology
- Case Description
- Topics on: Food, Strategy, Technology