Program Overview

Climate Leadership Certificate

The Climate Leadership Certificate provides the training and experience needed for students to apply a variety of skills to critical work in climate action and justice, as well as other vital areas of sustainability, including social justice, economic vitality, and well-being. Throughout the one-and-a-half year program, students engage in curriculum targeted at sustainability literacy, planning, and leadership, while also participating in hands-on practicum work with a variety of sustainability organizations in Whatcom County and the Methow Valley.

Program Details

• The program is one and a half years long.
• It focuses on sustainability literacy, planning, and leadership.
• Students participate in hands-on practicum work with sustainability organizations.
• The program covers areas such as climate action, social justice, economic vitality, and well-being.

Student Perspectives

Lael Williams

What does your dream climate-related job look like?

My ideal climate-related job would be working as a city planner. Currently, urban areas across the country are feeling the effects of climate change through increased extreme weather events such as flooding, heat waves, and drought. As a city planner, I would work with other city officials and community stakeholders to create programs that aim to mitigate both current and projected threats. Ideally, I would work in a larger city that has many different projects happening. The projects that I would be most excited about in this position would be working with communities that want to incorporate more public spaces in their area.

What are you looking forward to about this certificate program?

I look forward to gaining the experience of developing and implementing a long-term project on campus that extends over multiple quarters. I am also excited to get to know my peers in the CLC program and cheer each other on as our projects grow over time.