Managers in the public, private, academic and voluntary sectors are being encouraged to use any down time resulting from the coronavirus outbreak to pursue a new online climate change qualification.
The Perth-based Royal Scottish Geographical Society is leading on Climate Solutions – a new qualification in climate understanding and solutions, endorsed by the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and part-funded by the Scottish Government.
Consisting of four online modules and a full day workshop, the programme aims to provide a thorough understanding of climate change, climate science, relevant policies and the solutions and tools available for businesses to use.
The programme is being developed by RSGS in association with the universities of Edinburgh and Stirling, and the Institute of Directors, along with digital qualification providers Jump Digital.
RSGS chief executive Mike Robinson told The Courier the course was aimed at managers who can “make a difference” within their organisations.
“Climate Solutions is going live in the next couple of weeks and in some ways it might be perfect timing if people have more time at home,” he said.
“Obviously climate change was declared last year as an emergency by most governments and local authorities, universities and many others.
“Of course we’ve seen a very strong emergency response to coronavirus. But we haven’t seen that for climate change yet.
“One of the things we wanted to do was help people understand what the solutions are to climate change – get them embedded with managers and businesses and public bodies and help share learning.”
Mr Robinson said the course is all online with video contributions narrated by everyone from Scottish geographers Vanessa Collingridge and Professor Iain Stewart to former Bank of England governor Mark Carney, former Irish president and climate change activist Mary Robinson and former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
