Online Courses for Sustainability for 2023
Ten Affordable Programs from Wharton, Duke & other Top Universities
As sustainability becomes more important to businesses, the demand for employees with expertise in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) is increasing. With the popularity of ESG investments and net zero pledges growing, so is the need for talent. As a result, business leaders need to find ways to stay ahead of the curve and develop their knowledge and skills in this area.
Investing in an online course is an excellent way for business leaders to gain the insights they need to make informed decisions about their organization’s ESG initiatives. In addition, taking an online sustainability course can increase your value as an employee, since employers are increasingly looking for individuals with sustainability expertise. It can also help you stand out from the competition in job applications.
But online sustainability courses don't need to break the bank. There are some excellent programs offered by top institutions on online learning platforms such as Coursera.
In this article, we’ll explore the top online sustainability programs available for business leaders including what each program covers and its benefits. First, we’ll briefly cover why green jobs have become so popular and how to go about getting one.
If you are looking for different information on sustainability journey, click on the links below:
Corporate sustainable practices and sustainable development
As sustainable practices become more prevalent, businesses that don't integrate them will fall behind. Meeting sustainable standards can improve efficiency, cut costs and lead to innovative solutions to boost your people, profit, and the planet.
This includes sustainability efforts such as reducing energy use, increasing resource efficiency, investing in green technology and renewable energy, partnering with local organizations that are working towards sustainability goals, and offering financial incentives for employees to use environmentally friendly transportation.
To reach their targets, many companies set sustainable development goals with measurable targets and KPIs, including climate change mitigation, energy efficiency, waste management, water conservation, biodiversity protection, and ethics. Executives across the entire organization are needing to hone their sustainability knowledge to meet their performance goals.
By embracing these trends, organizations can lead the way to a more prosperous, eco-friendly future. Sustainability initiatives also create jobs and drive economic growth and those who prioritize sustainability create a positive cycle by encouraging their employees and customers to adopt more sustainable lifestyles.
Ultimately, businesses that strive for greater sustainability help to build an even brighter future for all.
The rise of green jobs
Green jobs are a part of the global trend in sustainability, with an emphasis on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) in business. The number of jobs classified as green or related to ESG has grown significantly over the past decade. This growth reflects a growing demand for professionals who can develop, implement and monitor sustainable business practices.
Green jobs encompass a broad range of roles, from energy auditors to sustainability strategists and also across the spectrum of environmental sustainability and social sustainability. These positions have become increasingly important as companies strive to reduce their environmental impact and strengthen their ESG performance. As such, many companies are now actively recruiting green professionals with the know-how necessary to help them meet their objectives.
Today, green jobs are not only found in the private sector but also the public and nonprofit sectors. Governments and non-governmental organizations have also taken steps to encourage sustainability initiatives among their communities and staff.
With an ever-increasing emphasis on ESG, the demand for green professionals will likely remain high in the coming years. As such, those looking to pursue a career in sustainability will find plenty of opportunities available.
Green jobs are highly coveted by job seekers who hope to make a positive change for the general public, society, and the world. Free online courses focusing on environmental sustainability and shaping human actions for the betterment of future generations have become popular resources to explore.
How do you become a sustainability manager?
Sustainability management requires deep knowledge and expertise. Depending on the company and the exact role, an understanding of environmental science, greenhouse gas emissions, economics, business principles, corporate sustainability, and organizational management may be required. Those in sustainability management will also need to be able to think critically and develop new business models, and innovative strategies.
Many sustainability managers hold a master's degree specializing in sustainability management or have completed some other type of sustainability education. While it would be nice to have a master's degree in sustainability from Columbia University or Harvard Business School, the reality is that many sustainability managers don't have formal educational backgrounds in the field. Instead, they often develop their knowledge and skills through work experience or online learning.
Ultimately, a career in sustainability requires passion and dedication, as well as the willingness to constantly improve your skillset. If you're passionate about sustainability, it could be just a career for you.
Topics covered by online sustainability courses
Online sustainability programs cover a wide range of topics related to ESG and sustainable business practices. Sustainability is a broad and nuanced field that can be incorporated across an organization.
From business strategies to sustainable investments, to environmental protection, to supply chain, here are some of the topics where you could dive in: energy efficiency, circular economy principles, climate change, natural resources, water stewardship initiatives, global warming, sustainable energy, ecosystem degradation, biodiversity conservation efforts, sustainable food systems, carbon emissions, waste reduction methods, sustainability metrics, social impact, green marketing, sustainable branding, corporate social responsibility, and human rights policies (phew!).
Many courses feature case studies to help you better understand the principles and concepts discussed.
As sustainability is universally important, it has become part of the curriculum of a range of courses, from fashion to construction. So if your interest is more nuanced, a general course in your area of interest could also be a good place to start looking.
Where to find high-quality, low-cost or free online courses
Coursera, a popular MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) platform is one of the most economical and convenient ways to learn about sustainability. It offers a range of programs on sustainability and ESG from beginner to advanced levels. It collaborates with top universities like Stanford and Duke as well as Organizations like Google and IBM to create and offer online courses.
Coursera offers higher education where you can earn credentials or a university degree from reputable universities that are respected by top companies. It makes learning more affordable and convenient with a high-quality curriculum, low prices, and a flexible schedule that can easily be tailored to daily life.
Ten top online courses in sustainability
So here they are! Ten of our favorite, high-quality, affordable online courses on the Coursera platform.
They are created and taught by professors at some of the world's top universities and thanks to the innovation of MOOCS, are offered at a fraction of the price of typical university education (including three free online sustainability courses).
This four-course program provides a broad overview of ESG investing, delving into the origins and motivations behind this type of investment strategy. It then takes a close look at some of the different approaches that can be used when investing through an ESG-based lens.
Its four courses include 1) ESG Risks and Opportunities, 2) ESG Impact: Investor Perspective, 3) ESG and Climate Change, and 4) ESG and Social activism.
During this course you will learn everything from the pathways to materiality and how investors screen companies for ESG factors, to the importance of good governance when building corporate ESG policy to ESG frameworks, to creating a solid risk management plan. Whether you are a business executive, fund manager, or an advisor, you'll get a lot out of this comprehensive course.
The start date and schedule are fully flexible. The suggested course length is 4 months with a 2-hour weekly time commitment, however, you can work as fast as you like. You will receive a certificate from Coursera on completion.
The course costs $79 USD per month which kicks in after a free 7-day trial.
Do you want to become a sustainability analyst?
The ASU Sustainability specialization teaches about the role of a sustainability analyst, evaluates global sustainability issues faced by employers, and provides learners with everything they need to tackle these problems.
During this course, you will develop the skills and tools to make organizations more sustainable including goal-setting, reporting, and data analysis.
There are three Courses in this Specialization 1) Careers in Sustainability, 2) Sustainability Challenges for the Planet and Employers and 3) Foundational Sustainability Skills & Competencies
This specialization is designed to help you improve upon what you learned in the Google Project Management Professional Certificate program. Earn a dual credential when you complete a Google Career Certificate and this specialization. The cost is $49 USD per month which is charged after a free 7-day trial.
If your goal is to make your business more sustainable, then this course is for you. It gives a comprehensive overview of sustainable business model theory and innovation. You'll learn about how business models are essential tools in transformation processes. It allows you to explore different methods that could work for your company.
Developed by award-winning researchers in Europe who collaborated with both small and large businesses, this course will teach you about the challenges and opportunities companies encounter while working towards new models. You will also learn how to use theories and tools surrounding sustainable practices to manage innovation within a company.
The start date and schedule are flexible. It will take around 21 hours to complete this beginner's level course. Receive a certificate for Coursera on completion. The cost is $49 USD per month which is charged after a free 7-day trial.
The goal of this course is to assist people in making their organization's impact measurement and management practices more efficient, as well as help, align any ESG or impact activities with current global standards. The goal of this collaboration between UNDP SDG Impact and CASE at Duke University is to enable people to make choices that will have a positive impact on both people and the planet, per the SDG Impact Standards and the Operating Principles for Impact Management.
This course is for folks who work for investment funds, asset owners, or investment advisors or want to learn more about impact investing, ESG, social finance, or corporate reporting.
The start date and schedule are flexible. The instructors suggest that it should take 9 hours to complete. Receive a certificate for Coursera on completion. The cost is $49 USD per month which is charged after a free 7-day trial.
If you want to get involved in the renewable energy marketplace and support eco-friendly living practices where you live and among those around you?
Renewable energy is a constantly changing field, thanks to new technologies, market structures, and business models. This specialization focuses on providing practical and factual information, including real-world costs and technical performance data, as well as market trend analysis and web-based tools.
If you're interested in learning about renewable energy and a more sustainable future, this is the perfect option for you. By taking this course, you will gain an understanding of renewable energy technologies, projects, grid integration, and their potential future applications.
With a flexible start date and schedule, this course should take around 5 months to complete at a suggested pace of 3 hours per week. Receive a certificate for Coursera on completion. The course costs $49 USD per month which is charged after a free 7-day trial.
Are you interested in taking a Master's class in sustainability and development? Then this might be the course for you.
Envision and create solutions to sometimes seemingly impossible sustainable development issues. This course begins by examining the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how to achieve sustainable development goals through knowledge of pressing issues like climate change, poverty, well-being, and education. It also has a useful primer on data types and data visualizations that will be useful for any job in sustainability.
This six-course program takes 4-6 months to complete at a suggested 6-8 hours per week. You'll complete two projects that will give you hands-on experience. During the course, you will receive feedback on your projects from the instructors, be able to attend live sessions, and build a network of professionals as you work towards meeting your goals.
This course is more focused on international development sustainability efforts than business, although the content applies to the business context. The University of Michigan is 1 of the top 3 best graduate programs in sustainability according to CollegeChoice.
You receive a Mastertrack Certificate on completion that counts as credits towards the Master of Science in Environment and Sustainability program offered by The University of Michigan. The cost is $2,100
Are you a manager, business leader, or adviser who is navigating the complex set of issues that companies must face regarding sustainability?
This course will show you how important sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors are for businesses. You'll also learn how to come up with a business strategy and plan of action to deal with ESG issues so that you can implement them effectively.
This course provides senior management with a comprehensive framework to guide them in meeting their long-term responsibilities to shareholders, key stakeholders, and the planet.
This beginner's level course will take around 16 hours to complete. The schedule is flexible and you will receive a certificate on completion. The cost is $49 USD per month which is charged after a free 7-day trial.
Do you want practical experience in working with real-world data, with applications to important policy issues in today’s society? Then this course is for you.
This class will focus on how to use data when studying climate change and how to visualize that data through the use of bar charts, line charts, and scatterplots. Then you'll learn how to calculate and interpret a variety of summary statistics, including the mean, median, variance, percentile, and correlation. Through this process, the challenges of designing and implementing climate change policies will be revealed.
This class takes about 14 hours to complete and has a fully flexible start date and schedule. This is one of our free online courses.
The focus of this free online course is to examine the role that businesses can play in ensuring the sustainability of the planet or how businesses can work with society to preserve the environment.
It also addresses the role of employees in pressuring companies to take action through mechanisms such as Paris Climate Accord, Carbon Footprint, the circular economy, reverse logistics, recycling strategies, right to repair, Corporate Social Responsibility, Bottom of the Pyramid and developing economies, and fair trade business models.
Learn new expertise in research, analysis, and actionable ideas that can be applied in both your personal and professional life.
Check the website for the next start date for this beginner's level program. It takes around 15 hours to complete and you will receive a certificate on completion. The University of London's Bachelor of Science in Marketing is a 100% online program. If you are admitted to the full degree program, your courses will count towards your degree learning requirements.
This class takes about 15 hours to complete, has a fully flexible start date and schedule and you will receive a certificate on completion. This is one of our free online courses.
Are you an executive who wants to create responsible management practices in your business? Then this could be the program for you.
This educational opportunity is designed to help managers who are grappling with sustainability, responsibility, and ethics issues and help them understand how to handle them. During this course you will apply the knowledge and insights you are learning to problems in your own setting.
The goal is to identify individual actions that can lead to positive change at both the organizational and system levels. Also to learn to appreciate differing opinions and strategies for working together to solve crucial issues.
This beginner's level program is a collaboration between The University of Manchester and the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) initiative.
It will take around 22 hours to complete, has a fully flexible start date and schedule and you will receive a certificate on completion. This is one of our free online courses.
