Climate Change: From Science to Solutions

According to NASA, 2024 was the world’s hottest year on record, with global temperatures 1.28 degrees Celsius above the agency’s 20th-century baseline (1951-1980). This alarming milestone underscores an accelerating trend: the warmest years on record have all occurred in the past decade, driven by a dramatic rise in heat-trapping gasses, including carbon dioxide and methane. As the world continues to face a growing number of climate-driven catastrophes—from extreme storms to droughts to wildfires—the urgency for action has never been clearer. Governments, organizations, and investors must come together to help secure a livable future for all. 

In this timely five-day course, you’ll take a deep dive into the complex challenge of climate change. Through a blend of live virtual lectures, case study analyses, and interactive activities, you’ll explore the science, policy, technology, and economics at the heart of this existential crisis. You’ll begin the program by exploring the environmental and human-drivers that shape past, present, and future climate change. As the course progresses, you’ll examine a range of mitigation strategies, including the use of cutting-edge green technology. You’ll conclude by focusing on policy and governance considerations, addressing how varying climate action requirements across jurisdictions can impact individuals, organizations, and businesses.

Grounded in the latest, breakthrough climate change research, the curriculum features lectures from leading experts at the MIT Center for Sustainability Science and Strategy, and opportunities to use open-source computational tools that can help visualize the impact of climate decisions. You’ll emerge from the experience with a comprehensive understanding of the climate crisis as it stands today—and actionable tactics you can implement to enhance your organization’s long-term sustainability strategy.

• Explore the key factors that control the earth’s climate, including both natural and anthropogenic influences, and their relative importance
• Synthesize and interpret evidence for climate change impacts on the environment and on human activities
• Evaluate technologies and formulate management strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change
• Analyze, design, and appraise collaborative policy solutions to address greenhouse gas emissions

Core Competencies

• Understanding the scientific factors that fuel climate change and their broad impacts on the environment, economy, and society
• Implementing strategies and technologies to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change
• Designing collaborative policies to address a range of climate challenges

 This program is designed for professionals across a wide range of industries who are interested in sustainability and climate solutions. The course is particularly relevant for:

• Sustainability managers, analysts, and consultants looking to deepen their knowledge of climate change and evaluate a variety of climate strategies and solutions for their organizations.
• Entrepreneurs and founders in the climate space who need a more advanced understanding of the scientific, technological, and policy aspects of climate change.
• Corporate sustainability leaders who are looking to assess sustainability initiatives and reduce carbon footprints within their organizations.
• Government and nonprofit professionals working on climate policy, climate action plans, or environmental advocacy who want to broaden their understanding of the climate crisis.