Select one of the options below:
Section 801 - Corporate Net-Zero Strategy – Charlie Quann
Gain hands-on experience in corporate greenhouse gas (GHG) management and net-zero transition planning. This project-based course builds foundational skills in stakeholder benchmarking, GHG accounting, and science-based target setting—skills valued at over $100,000 in the consulting market. Students will learn to analyze corporate emissions, develop actionable reduction pathways, and design credible transition strategies that meet evolving global standards. By the end of the course, participants will be prepared to support or lead corporate decarbonization initiatives, advancing both professional and organizational climate goals.
Online, or In-Person
In-Person Location: Natural & Environmental Sciences Building, Rm. B218
Section 802 - Voluntary Carbon Markets: Quality and Risk Assessment – Sarah Federman
Dive into the technical, social, and regulatory dimensions of the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM). This applied course examines how quality, credibility, and risk shape carbon credit projects, especially nature-based removals. Students will evaluate project additionality, permanence, and co-benefits while comparing standards and frameworks influencing market legitimacy. Through collaborative assessment of real-world projects and “client-ready” presentations, students will develop practical tools for evaluating market integrity and contributing to the advancement of credible, high-quality carbon removal efforts.
Section 803
*This section has been moved to a permanent course, please visit ESS 525 - Scope 3 Greenhouse Gas Emission Accounting with Dr. Grant Ivison-Lane.
Section 804 - Introduction to Carbon Finance – Lauren Gifford
Explore how financial systems can accelerate climate solutions. This course introduces carbon markets, offsets, and natural capital investment, focusing on how finance drives decarbonization and ecosystem sustainability. Students will examine the role of market-based instruments, non-state actors, and the net-zero movement in shaping global climate policy. Through applied case studies, students learn to interpret and evaluate carbon finance mechanisms, engage in climate finance discourse, and provide informed input on emerging policies. Graduates will be equipped to design strategies and tools that align financial incentives with ecosystem conservation and climate action.
Written consent of instructor. As the understanding of ecosystem processes is expected, please contact the instructor with any questions related to preparation for the course.