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With extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and alarming loss of biodiversity, there is no better time than now to learn about climate change. This living emergency demands urgent attention, but the problem of environmental degradation is so vast that it is not always easy to understand.
Being informed about weather issues is essential to lobbying for solutions, and taking any of the following courses is a great way to start learning. Experts from Harvard, Yale, the University of Leeds and the Smithsonian Institution will teach you the science behind climate change and how it intersects with other global problems.
Many of the courses listed here are free or auditable, and certification prices range from $ 49 to $ 370, depending on the course chosen and the learning platform.
10 online environmental courses and books to help you better understand climate change:
Sustainable development concepts: an introduction to the key issues
Free; $ 59 for a certificate
This course at the University of Leicester examines the concepts of sustainable development and its relationship to socio-political issues such as wealth inequality. It addresses the effects of human activity on the environment and the implications of the agricultural and industrial revolutions. By analyzing different approaches to global problems, you will learn to view sustainability from a natural science, political, and economic perspective. If you are interested in learning about sustainable development and collective action against climate change, this course is for you.
Global Warming I: The Science and Modeling of Climate Change
Free; $ 49 for a certificate
In this introductory course on climate change, the science of global warming is broken down so that it is easily understandable. The class addresses the structure of the atmosphere, the greenhouse effect, and how both impact the climate and the planet’s climate. Instructor David Archer, professor of geophysical sciences, believes that mitigating the human impact on climate change is “a challenge that humanity could overcome if we chose to.” It’s a great course for you to update your knowledge of the basic scientific concepts of global warming.
The effects of climate change on health
Free; $ 149 for a certificate
The Health Effects of Climate Change, offered by Harvard, is one of the most popular courses in environmental studies. Explain how global warming has a tremendous impact on public health and directly affects the lives of each individual. The class focuses on exploring solutions to reduce the effect of global warming on food security and air quality. He also talks about how climate change increases the prevalence of infectious diseases, a topic especially relevant at this time.
The atmosphere, the ocean and environmental change
Free
This class covers a wide range of topics that give you a comprehensive foundation on the fundamentals of meteorology. It looks at climate, air pollution, the ozone layer, ocean currents, and even the history of the Earth’s climate. It also includes 35 free video lectures with lab exercises and tests that challenge your understanding of the planet’s scientific processes. This is a good course to take if you are interested in how climate change affects weather patterns and causes extreme weather events.
Acting on Climate: Steps for Individual, Community and Political Action
Free; $ 49 for a certificate
If you think the weather issues are too overwhelming for one person to make a difference, you should take this course. With the help of leading climate change experts and professional leaders, you can turn your concern for the environment into tangible action. The course explores how individual climate actions regarding food, energy, and transportation can influence community and political action. By participating in environmental initiatives, it is possible to make a big positive impact in your local community.
Communication on climate change
Free; $ 49.99 for a certificate
This Smithsonian Institution course looks at public perception of climate change and explores communication strategies that can foster action. You recognize the need for meaningful discussions about climate solutions and develop your skills as an effective communicator. By discussing the Earth’s climate history and current climate challenges, the course equips you with the knowledge to successfully lead educational discussions on environmental issues.
Environmental challenges program
Free; $ 370 for a certificate and £ 300 for final assessment to receive college credit
Taking this five-course program from the University of Leeds will give you a solid background in natural resource management. The program covers the relationship between people and nature, especially the human impact on the natural environment. It uses case studies to explain the need for an interdisciplinary approach in sustainable policy formulation. The show also shows how war and conflict, language and justice affect the planet’s natural resources by analyzing environmental challenges through economic and social perspectives.
“The Earth of the Future: A Radical View of What’s Possible in the Warming Age” by Eric Holthaus
Free with 30-day Audible trial; $ 14.95 a month after trial ends
Discussions about climate change are often grim, but “The Land of the Future” shows that all hope is not lost. By imagining a positive vision of the future, author Eric Holthaus, along with climatologists, futurists, and climate change activists, demonstrates that transformational change is possible. The book teaches you that reversing the effects of climate change can be achieved by implementing radical solutions. Although the current state of the environment can be overwhelming, Holthaus encourages you to imagine a better world and then move on with the firm intention of achieving it.
“How to Ditch Plastic: A Guide to Changing the World, One Plastic Bottle at a Time” by Will McCallum
Free with 30-day Audible trial; $ 14.95 a month after trial ends
If you know how dangerous plastic is but don’t understand the extent of plastic pollution, this book is for you. Will McCallum shares startling statistics that demonstrate how necessary it is to break free from dependence on plastic. The book gives you concrete actions to gradually reduce your use of plastic at home, in the supermarket, and even while traveling. Through these little steps, you can easily start your plastic-free journey and encourage others to do the same.
“Discreet Consumption: The Environmental Impact You Don’t Know You Have” by Tatiana Schlossberg
Free with 30-day Audible trial; $ 14.95 per month after trial ends
Climate change is often seen as something that concerns only a handful of large corporations and industries. Tatiana Schlossberg helps you understand that every decision you make regarding food, fuel, fashion, and technology contributes to pollution. The book shows you that you can reduce your environmental impact simply by making more conscious decisions every day. By describing how pollution and climate change connect all of humanity, the book emphasizes the power that each individual has to make a significant difference.
