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Certificate in Climate Action Planning

The Certificate in Climate Action Planning is a fully online program designed to help individuals create and implement climate action plans. This program is a result of a joint partnership between the Gonzaga Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment and the Center for Lifelong Learning.

Introduction

Communities across the country and around the world are increasingly interested in mitigating their contributions to the climate crisis and adapting to extreme heat, wildfire, and flooding. To do that, they need a climate action plan (CAP). A climate action plan is a road map that guides a local community to achieving its emission-reduction goals, while making it more resilient to climate change.

Topics Covered

• Community engagement, collaboration, and communication strategies
• Climate impact and vulnerability assessment
• Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accounting
• Strategies for mitigating GHG emissions and creating resilient communities
• Climate and social justice
• Implementation, monitoring, and reporting

What You'll Learn

• Engage with partners in politically diverse climates
• Understand the principles of greenhouse gas accounting
• Use climate modeling tools to conduct a climate impact assessment
• Conduct a climate vulnerability assessment with attention to equity and social and environmental justice
• Take steps to creating a climate action plan

Who Should Participate

• Urban, municipal, and environmental planners (APA/AICP credits provided)
• Consultants who support municipalities
• Tribal members seeking tools to help their communities become more resilient
• University, business, non-profit, and parish employees looking to develop climate action plans
• Educators interested in growing their knowledge of climate action planning

Program Details

Duration and Format

• Duration: 4.5 months/18 weeks, from mid-September through mid-February, annually
• Format: Weekly classes via ZOOM on Tuesdays, 4:00-5:30 p.m. Pacific Time

Time Commitment and Credits

• Time commitment: Students report spending 3-5 hours per week of reading and work outside of class sessions
• Credits:
  • APA/AICP: This course has been approved for 70 CM credits
  • Counts as 7 Continuing Education Credits and 70 K-12 OSPI clock hours in WA State

Grading and Cost

• Grading: Pass/Fail basis
• Cost: $3,500
  • Installment plans available
  • Scholarships available
  • 10% discount for Gonzaga graduates

Textbook and Prerequisites

• Textbook: Climate Action Planning: A Guide to Creating Low-Carbon, Resilient Communities
• Prerequisites:
  • No prior environmental/climate/sustainability knowledge or experience is required
  • To enroll, you must have at least five years of any kind of work experience (which can include jobs held during high school) OR a Bachelor's degree

About the Instructor

Meet Kara Odegard, the Founder and Owner of Measure Meant, a consultancy working with organizations, tribal nations, and cities to build transformative sustainability programs. She spent four years guiding climate action planning for the City of Spokane, resulting in a comprehensive climate action plan that now serves as a template for other municipalities.