Full course description
Greenhouse Gas Mitigation and Management
This non-course introduces you to the best practices for designing emission reduction goals, evaluating the business case for greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation/management projects, and assessing the impacts of GHG projects to ensure they achieving their intended goals. To reduce GHG emissions, corporations and institutions are adopting a variety of climate change and/or GHG mitigation goals. In order to do so, organizations need to be able to identify and select the most appropriate mitigation projects based on effectiveness, cost, return-on-investment, and other factors. They also need to assess and report progress toward their goals in a relevant, complete, transparent, and accurate manner that is consistent with accepted methodologies. Some mitigation goals can be achieved by a combination of emission reductions within the boundary of an organization and through purchased offsets provided via carbon markets. This course introduces you to best practices for GHG emissions management and mitigation, and builds off the foundation developed in the first three courses of the certificate. It is the final course in the Certificate in GHG 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
Cost: $ 499
You will have one year to complete this course, although most students will complete it earlier.
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. Deborah 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).