Full course description
Foundations in Greenhouse Gas Accounting - I
In this course, you will be introduced to the emerging field of GHG emissions accounting and develop the skills needed to identify, verify, and report a corporation's GHG emissions. Increasingly businesses are recognizing that tracking and managing GHG emissions can result in measurable environmental, social, and economic benefits. You will be introduced to the basic skills and techniques needed to generate GHG emissions inventories for entities or corporations, including the requirements for reporting and verifying entity-level direct emissions (e.g., Scope 1) and indirect emissions from purchased electricity (e.g., Scope 2). This is the first course in a series of four courses that satisfy the requirements for the Professional Certificate in Greenhouse Gas Accounting.
Course Modality: This course is offered online and is self-paced. This course will utilize Canvas, an online learning management system. Upon registration, please visit your student dashboard to access Canvas.
Course Instructor: Deborah Huntzinger
The course begins upon registration. You will have one year to complete this course.
Cost: $499
For more information, contact: ContinuingEd@nau.edu
About this program:
NAU provides one-of-a-kind professional training in carbon accounting, with pathways for both current students and working professionals.
Over the past decade, there has been steady growth in climate action by corporations, with many large companies ambitious, long-term GHG emission reduction and/or “net-zero” emission targets. Companies see aggressive emission reduction goals as good for business and a way to market themselves as climate-friendly. However, companies cannot manage what they don’t measure. Therefore, the need for skilled GHG accountants is growing exponentially. In addition, in March of 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed a rule change that would require all publicly traded companies in the U.S. to report their climate-related financial risk. The SEC proposed rule would also require companies to disclose their GHG emissions inventory, which has become a commonly used metric to assess a company’s climate-related risk or exposure. Companies are increasingly being scrutinized by the insurance industry, consumers, and investors - all of which view GHG emissions as a liability and an increased financial risk. For companies to remain compliant with the SEC’s new proposed rule, they will either need employees trained in the specifics of GHG accounting or must hire consultants with this expertise.
Hands-on, flexible learning designed in collaboration with industry leaders.
The non-credit Certificate in GHG Accounting includes four (4) courses. Each course is online and students move at their own pace. The courses are designed to be taken in series with content building on previous courses in order to promote skill development and proficiency in GHG accounting. The courses are all online and self-paced so you can complete them at your own convenience. We anticipate that most individuals can complete all four courses and finish the program within about 4 to 8 months, depending on how much time they devote each week. Each individual course is $499 and has an expiration date of one year.
You will receive a non-credit certificate of completion and a digital badge from NAU at the end of the 4-course series.
Dr. Huntzinger has been a Professor of Climate Science within the School of Earth and Sustainability. She is an engineer by training, with a bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. in Geological Engineering. Throughout her career, her research interests have focused on improving the understanding of complex environmental systems and our ability to forecast their future variability. Much of Dr. Huntzinger's current research interests are in advancing the understanding of the land carbon cycle’s interactions and feedback with Earth’s changing climate. In addition, she is working to improve both the approaches and data supporting greenhouse gas accounting at the organizational and corporate levels. She has taught the principles of GHG accounting to students for over 10 years. She developed this certificate program after observing the growing need for robust training in GHG emissions accounting.
ACCESSIBILITY
Professional disability specialists are available at Disability Resources to facilitate a range of academic support services and accommodations for students with disabilities. If you have a documented disability, you can request assistance by contacting Disability Resources at 928-523-8773 (voice), ,928-523-8747 (fax), or dr@nau.edu (e-mail).