Micro Course Equips Local Councils to Prepare for Climate Challenges
The first cohort of Griffith University’s new climate risk management short course for local government will be on their way to making their organisations ‘climate ready’ when the course launches today.
Becoming Climate Ready – developed by Griffith’s Climate Ready Initiative, the practice arm of the Climate Action Beacon and housed under Griffith Business School – is a 10-week online micro-credential course to build organisations’ capability to adapt and mitigate against the impacts of a changing climate.
The 8 course modules will provide foundational knowledge and build staff capability for climate risk management in local government across Australia.
It is designed for executives, senior leaders, and managers of local councils across all service areas such as service delivery, corporate strategy and finance, risk and disaster management, community and economic development, and sustainability and climate change, and will offer professional development to help organisations become ‘Climate Ready’.
Course Co-Convenor Professor Brendan Mackey said: “Local councils are at the heart of the community, and the services provided are critical to support the foundations for people across Australia to build a prosperous economy, liveable communities, and a healthy environment.”
Course Developer Cheryl Briars said: “Proactively managing climate risk through adaptation and transitioning to a net zero economy can not only help to respond and manage climate risk, but also take advantage of the opportunities that arise from a changing climate.”
Participants will develop knowledge and skills to be able to:
- Understand the role of executive leadership, governance arrangements and responsibilities that are needed to support climate risk management.
- Identify how to communicate and engage others in climate risk management.
- Identify physical and transition climate risks and how they relate to different service areas in local government.
- Integrate climate risk into existing corporate risk management practices.
- Examine climate risk capacity and capability gaps and opportunities across the organisation.
- Understand the opportunities for monitoring and reporting on climate risk management, and the increasing requirements climate financial risk disclosure.
Climate Ready Initiative Program Manager Amy Lomax said: “CRI is a partnership-based social impact initiative that works with society to help shape a prosperous and just future for all. We seek to enable climate action by unlocking the economic and social development pathways that value net-zero emissions and climate resilience.
“The course draws on practical experience and expertise from some of our CRI Associates and academics across Griffith University.”
Seeking interest for future cohorts now!
- 2024 cohorts: April (commenced), August, September, and October.
- Course Duration – 10 weeks
- Online Learning – Mix of self-paced learning modules and three (3) interactive workshops and activities.
Participants will earn a Griffith University accredited Digital Badge upon completing the course which can be shared across various online platforms showcasing demonstrated skills and achievement.
The next Becoming Climate Ready Cohort will commence in August 2024.