Boost your climate knowledge

While climate-related issues dominate personal, political and online discussions these days, many Albertans are still left with questions.

To increase understanding of climate change at a time when disinformation is rampant, Mobilizing Alberta, a University of Calgary initiative, has launched a free e-course titled Preparing Albertans for Climate Change.

The course was developed in partnership with the Prairie Climate Centre at the University of Winnipeg and Re.Climate, housed at Carleton University, and brought together several UCalgary collaborators. The online course offers valuable insights into climate change and its many impacts.

Dr. Nadia Delanoy, PhD, led the development of the online course’s digital assessment. The course aims to help people understand climate issues while reflecting on their personal roles with focused reflections built in for before and after completing the course, says Delanoy, an assistant professor in the Werklund School of Education.

A local lens

The course also uses a local lens, addressing Alberta’s specific climate context and connecting participants to local legislation and carbon net-zero movements. Delanoy emphasizes the importance of this, particularly in a province like Alberta, where climate-related conversations can feel disconnected from daily life.

“It balances the experiential approach to the content so that people can engage at their own level and pace with what’s actually required from a governmental perspective. And I think that will keep this program very sustainable,” says Delanoy.

Preparing Albertans for Climate Change is structured into several modules to cover key topics that are helping to create a more climate-resilient Alberta, and tangible actions individuals can take in day-to-day life. The modules include:

• Climate Change in Alberta
• Diversifying Energy
• Resilient Communities
• Transportation Choices
• Efficient Homes
• Sustainable Food Systems

Talking Climate Toolkit

The course features a Talking Climate Toolkit, designed to help community leaders, educators and local organizations facilitate conversations about climate change. Through videos and resources, the course explores the impact of climate change on all aspects of life, while discussing current initiatives and providing pathways for personal action.

Each module takes approximately 45 minutes to complete, with total time for completion taking approximately five hours. Designed for flexibility, the course materials can be used in classrooms, community meetings or other educational settings. Participants earn a certificate of completion.

Like Delanoy, Maria Granados, BA’19, part of the first cohort of UCalgary’s Certificate in Sustainability Studies, sees the course as essential for making climate information accessible to Albertans when there is so much information and disinformation circulating.

Granados worked on the course early on as a project lead for Re.Climate, more recently working on course redesign with Silver Spur Strategies.

“On a global scale, Canada is addressing climate change through commitments like the Paris Agreement and working to reduce carbon pollution,” says Granados. “At the provincial level, Alberta has its own emissions reduction plans, and municipalities and companies are also stepping up with their own initiatives.

“These efforts ripple into every part of our lives, from how we design and upgrade our energy and transportation systems to how we build homes and even the food we eat.”

This focus on connecting local and global climate action is echoed by Rachelle Haddock, MEDes’10, manager of Partnerships and Engagement in the Office of Signature Learning Experiences.

“There’s a flood of information out there on climate change, and it can feel overwhelming to navigate it all on your own,” says Haddock. “This e-course serves as a one-stop guide, simplifying complex issues and presenting them in a way that is directly relevant to Albertans.”

A range of initiatives to advance climate action

Beyond the creation of this course, UCalgary is dedicated to advancing climate action through a range of initiatives This work includes community engagement, partnerships with local organizations, and programs that promote climate action at both the individual and collective levels. It is guided by the Institutional Sustainability Strategy, which aims to integrate sustainability through the university’s academic, administrative and operational practices.

Re.Climate and the Prairie Climate Centre have their own extensive commitment to advancing climate action. Both organizations focus on developing and promoting innovative climate solutions through research and policy engagement.

Those wishing to learn more can access the course now. For more information, Mobilizing Alberta has also released a series of blog posts to address common misconceptions about climate action.