Education is a crucial factor in the urgent fight against the environmental crisis. Knowledge concerning this phenomenon helps business leaders to comprehend and tackle the consequences of climate change. It also encourages them to switch their behaviour and adapt to this global emergency. Enrolling in a business sustainability course can be a transformative step for leaders seeking to navigate these challenges effectively. As often stated by UNESCO, education is a crucial factor in helping to curb climate change. We all have a role to play, and if businesses are to have an impact, they need to educate themselves on climate. Climate action cannot be taken without the tools and knowledge. Keep reading to learn why businesses must educate themselves on sustainability and climate change.
Why education is key for addressing climate change
Education is an essential tool in addressing climate change. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) assigns the responsibility to the Parties of the Convention to undertake public awareness and educational campaigns on environmental issues and to make sure public participation in information access and programmes on climate change.
Education encourages and inspires people to alter their behaviour and attitudes, which allows them to make informed decisions. Young people can be taught the effects of climate change and learn how to adapt to it in the classroom. Ultimately though, education empowers everyone but particularly motivates the youth to take action. Being well-versed in climate change and understanding the facts helps to eliminate fear, and people can better connect with this problem.
How being well educated on climate helps businesses
There are several ways being well educated on climate action can help your business thrive in the future green society. Below are some of the advantages that come with learning the tools for climate action.
Education helps businesses identify opportunities and risks better
Sustainability or climate education gives you a greater understanding of the issues we face and similarly, you can better recognise the climate opportunities and risks that are material to your business operations. In addition, business leaders can pinpoint areas where they can develop and grow. As the world shifts to a low-carbon economy, there will be more opportunities for enterprises to create new services and products and innovate. By comprehending these opportunities, businesses can take advantage of these opportunities and remain competitive in the long term.
It demystifies climate change and helps to alter mindsets and behaviour
Climate education does not just inform, but it inspires and encourages people to alter their fundamental perspectives, behaviours, and mindsets. Practiced widely in a business, it motivates team members to plan and act against risks, adapting to the crisis. Educating about climate change impacts and the urgency of action can inspire even the disinterested to change behaviors, supporting initiatives focused on climate resilience.
Climate education allows businesses to better report on climate-related activities
Worldwide best practices, such as the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), actively standardise climate-related disclosures. Governments in many different countries have announced they are making TCFD reporting mandatory.
Now more than ever before, businesses are being pushed to report on their internal climate-related practices as countries move toward low-carbon economies. To keep up with these continuous waves of changes, businesses have to be well-versed and educated on these reporting framework requirements.
It can affect your business continuity plans
If you want your business to stay viable in the long term, you need to comply with the new industry best practices and government mandates. Climate education can help a significant amount here. For businesses to be climate-resilient, workers and corporate leaders have to remain up-to-date on the latest climate change and policy developments. Business development and learning programs must consistently implement this kind of education to fully leverage climate-related advancements and opportunities.
Climate change training helps organisations stay compliant with regulations
Governments across the globe are taking steps to address climate change. With this, businesses are being subjected to new standards and regulations all the time. Therefore, climate change or sustainability education can assist businesses in keeping informed and compliant with these regulations.
How businesses can become climate and sustainability literate
Businesses must educate their consumers on sustainability and the importance of taking climate action, but they must first educate themselves. There are a lot of resources available today to help businesses do exactly that. From training programmes to books and reading materials to podcasts, and tools.
The SME Climate Hub is one such example. As a non-profit global initiative that empowers small to medium-sized companies, the SME Climate Hub provides lots of resources and tools so businesses can become resilient for the future and act on environmental issues.
The Hub is an initiative of the We Mean Business Coalition, the United Nations Race to Zero campaign, and the Exponential Roadmap Initiative in partnership with Normative and the Net Zero team at Oxford University. They offer resources including tools for measurement initiation, reports, SMEs stories, and networking opportunities.
At the Institute of Sustainability Studies (ISS), we offer sustainability courses to help businesses of all sizes gain practical insights, tools, and expert guidance they need to build a more environmentally friendly and resilient business. We have the Diploma in Business Sustainability and a Certificate in Business Sustainability course.
This programme offers a step-by-step planning framework and allows you to engage and learn from other businesses. Our Diploma in Business Sustainability course covers a comprehensive syllabus whereby we share case studies and practical tools and templates to help you gain the knowledge needed to put forward-looking sustainability plans into action. Our courses are curated by a panel of world-class faculty, leading experts in practical, global sustainability initiatives.
There are lots of other programmes and tools out there to help businesses become climate literate. For example, the Carbon Literacy Training by Anthesis Group, is a one-day programme. It offers employees an awareness of climate-related costs and impacts of their activities, with the motivation and ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Summary
Climate change education helps business leaders and employees better understand and address the effects of the environmental emergency. It empowers them with the skills, knowledge, attitudes, and values needed so that they can catalyse change.
Various training programs and tools are available to enhance business sustainability literacy amid growing pressure for action. Bridging the green skills gap in climate action is now more crucial than ever for businesses.
