Lesson 1: Climate

As a result of completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Identify and explain the Greenhouse Gas effects.
2. Differentiate between weather and climate.
3. Describe some of the validated effects of climate change for the planet.
4. Apply your understanding of climate principles by defining relevant ecology-related climate terms.

Lesson 2: Science & Controversy

As a result of completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Identify and explain the key controversies over natural versus man-made climate changes.
2. Differentiate types of methods used to identify past climate patterns.
3. Describe and analyze the impact of the climate science “stolen email scandal” on the public at large in terms of climate change opinion.
4. Apply your understanding of the scientific conflicts by summarizing the key points of each perspective.

Lesson 3: Carbon Footprint

As a result of completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Define a carbon footprint and identify factors which create it.
2. Discuss some of the difficulties businesses have in measuring their corporate carbon footprint.
3. Identify at least 5 things that an individual can do to reduce a personal carbon footprint.
4. Apply your understanding of carbon footprints by identifying three useful information resources about specific aspects of carbon footprints.

Lesson 4: Carbon Offsets

As a result of completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Define a carbon offset.
2. Explain the process of creating a clean air project.
3. Summarize the positive in favor or and against the use of carbon offsets.
4. Apply your understanding of carbon offsets by by calculating your own personal footprint and discussing the use of offsets in minimizing that number.

Lesson 5: Greenhouse Gas Tracking

As a result of completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Identify the goals for the EPA’s GHG tracking requirements
2. Describe the rationale under which the EPA has said it is obligated to monitor GHGs
3. Discuss some ways this new regulation will impact US businesses
4. Apply your understanding of GHG tracking by summarizing the new EPA requirements and predicting potential implementation issues.

Lesson 6: International Framework 1

As a result of completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Identify the purpose and key flexible mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol.
2. Define and explain the concept of additionality.
3. Discuss some of the controversies surrounding the US position regarding the Kyoto Protocol.
4. Apply your understanding of the Kyoto Protocol by identifying and defining key Kyoto Protocol terms.

Lesson 7: International Framework 2

As a result of completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Describe the EU ETS and its fundamental principles.
2. Analyze how the EU ETS works with carbon as a commodity.
3. Explain the function and purpose of CDMs.
4. Apply your understanding of the EU ETS by summarizing the functioning of the program and critiquing its effectiveness.

Lesson 8: US Regional Markets

As a result of completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Identify three US domestic regional schemes and describe their major focus.
2. Summarize and analyze the opposing side positions in the debate of Greenhouse Gas cap-and trade.
3. Discuss how the US carbon market is currently functioning.
4. Apply your understanding of US regional markets by describing how the schemes operate and predicting their potential success.

Lesson 9: US Federal Policy & Politics

As a result of completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Summarize and analyze the current US political situation regarding environmental legislation.
2. Explain how two court cases involving the EPA have put pressure on the US government to be responsible for regulating GHGs.
3. Discuss some of the issues involved the Waxman-Markey bill.
4. Apply your understanding of current US federal environmental policy by summarizing key political and environmental factors influencing the “federal government leaders” today.

Lesson 10: North American Carbon Markets

As a result of completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Compare and contrast compliance and voluntary carbon markets.
2. Differentiate the carbon market from the stock market.
3. Describe how carbon markets relate to cap-and-trade legislation.
4. Apply your understanding of North American carbon markets by identifying the key players and explaining how the voluntary markets operate.

Lesson 11: Sustainability

As a result of completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Explain and evaluate the classic Brundtland definition of sustainability.
2. Define sustainability and discuss some of the necessary conditions needed to create a “sustainable world”.
3. Identify and explain the three E’s of sustainability.
4. Apply your understanding of sustainability thinking by comparing and contrasting various disciplines and fields that are involved in the sustainability movement today.

Lesson 12: Ecological Intelligence

As a result of completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Define and explain the concept of ecological intelligence.
2. Discuss the process of radical transparency.
3. Summarize the steps in developing an impact assessment.
4. Apply your understanding of ecological intelligence by defining and appraising the life system impacts of two products.

Lesson 13: Sustainability & Corporate “Greening”

As a result of completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Identify and explain the “triple bottom line”.
2. Discuss and analyze some of the key motivations for corporations to implement sustainability practices.
3. Identify some specific corporate sustainability practices that have been implemented and predict their effects.
4. Apply your understanding of corporate sustainability efforts by reviewing and critiquing three corporate sustainability statements

Lesson 14: Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED)

As a result of completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Define what LEED is and how the certification process is managed
2. Describe the 5 key categories under which buildings are evaluated for potential LEED certification
3. Explain how LEED design & construction requires a  ”full-building approach” for planning and implementation
4. Apply your understanding of LEED by identifying and explaining three key concepts supported by the USGBC.

Lesson 15: Resources for Carbon Professionals

As a result of completing this lesson, you will be able to:

1. Discuss several different types of jobs/positions a carbon professional could fulfill.
2. Identify some resources that can be used in sustainability consultation.
3. Explain what the concept of “finite pool of worry” is and how that relates to perceived environmental risks.
4. Apply your understanding of resources for carbon professionals to your own career by listing specific career applications and evaluating their potential usefulness.