A current list of online sustainability courses and bootcamps to help take your business and/or your career to the next level.
Taking online courses on sustainability can provide you with knowledge, skills, and opportunities that can benefit both you and the world around you.
As a business owner, taking online courses on sustainability can be beneficial for several reasons:
On the other hand, as a professional, you can benefit from taking an online course on sustainability in many ways, too:
So, overall, taking online courses on sustainability can provide ethical business owners and individual professionals with the knowledge, skills, and connections they need to advance their businesses, careers, and make a positive impact on the environment and society.
As environmental regulations continue to tighten and stakeholders are becoming more interested in sustainability initiatives, businesses are faced with a unique challenge to tackle climate-related issues that they may know little about. Strict 2030 sustainability goals are forcing organizations to quickly learn and initiative sustainability goals in a short period of time. Below is a list of courses designed for individuals or corporations to take to broaden their understanding of climate issues and how they impact a businesses’ bottom line.
Introduction to Sustainability
Institution: University of Illinois
Length: 25 hours
Cost: Free
A highly rated introductory-level course that explores how today’s societies face global challenges like ecosystem degradation and resource limitations. The course focuses on core concept areas of sustainability theory like population, ecosystems, global change, energy, agriculture, water, economics, ethics, and history. A shareable certificate is earned upon completion of the course.
Institution: IESE Business School
Length: 16 hours
Cost: Free
The course is based on Professor Mike Rosenberg’s book Strategy and Sustainability. The thought-provoking and engaging course explores the relationship between a businesses’ need to increase its bottom line while protecting the planet. Rosenberg recognizes that sustainability initiatives often require short-term financial commitments with uncertain long-term outcomes. He takes a hard-nosed and clear-eyed approach to filter out the noise when making these tough decisions.
Become a Sustainable Business Change Agent Specialization
Institution: University of Colorado – Boulder
Length: 5 months
Cost: Free
The University of Colorado – Boulder is a top-ranking university when it comes to Sustainability. This program is broken up into four separate courses: First Steps in Making the Business Case for Sustainability, More on Change and Sustainability, Sustainable Business: Big Issues, Big Changes, and a Creating A Sustainability Capstone. The purpose of the program is to teach companies how to be an effective change agent. At the end of the course, the student should be able to create an effective sustainability proposal and know who to convince and what they need convincing on.
The Sustainable Development Goals
Institution: The University of Copenhagen
Length: 10 hours
Cost: Free
In 2015, the UN announced its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which were adopted by over 193 of its members. The course provides a thorough overview of the SDGs and their history. It teaches businesses what the goals are, how they can be measured, and how they are relevant to humanity. It closely focuses on what it considers to be the most urgent goal, which is Climate Action. Professor Katherine Richardson is well-qualified to teach the course as a member of the 15-person committee chosen by the UN General Secretary in 2016.
Strategizing: Management for Global Competitive Advantage Specialization
Institution: Macquarie University
Length: 6 months
Cost: Free
Comprised of five separate courses, this program is offered in English, Arabic, French, Portuguese, Italian, Vietnamese, German, Russian, and Spanish. The program sets out to future-proof your business strategy which includes topics such as strategic management, global supply chain management, disruptive innovation, and sustainability. The third course, Global Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility: Be Sustainable, takes a deep dive into how organizations can balance financial success with sustainable initiatives that have a positive impact on society.
Basics of Sustainability: Learn in Simple Language
Author: Dhananjay Kulkarni – Dhananjay Kulkarni is a Sustainability Trainer and Consultant who has a Post Graduate Diploma in Ecological Sustainability and Development (PGDESD) and Environmental Management (EM) from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (BE). Dhananjay Kulkarni helps organizations, communities, and individuals develop sustainable practices and strategies that take into consideration economic, social and environmental aspects. He is an expert in environmental management and circular economy, and his work involves conducting training programs, developing sustainability frameworks, and providing consulting services to clients in multiple sectors.
Length: 1,5 hours
Cost: $64.99
From pollution to population growth, plastic pollution to ecosystem degradation, and increased lifestyle diseases to psychological issues. Although these are very complex and dynamic, we need to understand the problem at its core. In this course, Sustainability is explored in its entirety, with multiple examples and interactive activities.
Author: Sahar Mansoor – Awarded as ‘The Most Inspiring Indian of the Year 2017″ by Google India and as one of six women re-defining career paths of the 21st century in 2018 by MTV, Sahar Mansoor is also known as the CEO and founder of Bare Necessities (BN), an Indian hub for zero-waste living that creates zero waste personal and lifestyle products. Sahar holds a degree from the University of Cambridge in environmental policy and has worked on renewable energy projects for organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva and the SELCO Foundation. She is a freelance writer for the Huffington Post in the UK and India. In 2018, Sahar attended an executive education program on social entrepreneurship at INSEAD Business School.
Length: 2,5 hours
Cost: $54.99
The Zero Waste Living 101 is a self-paced course split into 11 sections: introduction, personal care, closet, kitchen, homecare, gifting, occupation, city, travel, lifestyle, and circular economy.
The course helps people to start transitioning to a zero waste lifestyle. It provides realistic and feasible changes that you can make at a personal level to help the transition of communities to a healthier path! It is in english and includes 4 downloadable resourses, 51 articles and guarantees a full lifetime access. The course was designed for everyone who is interested in a journey to Zero Waste from start and also to the ones who have already initiated and are looking for new ideas and inspiration.
Introduction to Circular Economy
Author: Sahar Mansoor – Awarded as ‘The Most Inspiring Indian of the Year 2017″ by Google India and as one of six women re-defining career paths of the 21st century in 2018 by MTV, Sahar Mansoor is also known as the CEO and founder of Bare Necessities (BN), an Indian hub for zero-waste living that creates zero waste personal and lifestyle products. Sahar holds a degree from the University of Cambridge in environmental policy and has worked on renewable energy projects for organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva and the SELCO Foundation. She is a freelance writer for the Huffington Post in the UK and India. In 2018, Sahar attended an executive education program on social entrepreneurship at INSEAD Business School.
Length: 7,5 hours
Cost: $54.99
This Circular Economy course guarantees a full lifetime access to the materials. The course holds 7.5h of videos and it is oganized in 10 chapters, each following a deisgn thinking approach: What is Circular Economy?, What is a Shared economy?, Understanding the true cost of all our actions, Regenerative Agriculture and sustainable farming, Circular models in products we use, Circular Fashion, Circular packaging, Circular technology, Circular cities, Entrepreneurship and Intrapreneurship, and What do people just like you have to say?
Understanding SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals )
Author: Dario Ruggiero – The italian Dario Ruggiero holds a degree in Economics and Management and has over 15 years of experience in economic research. In 2011 he founded the Long Term Economy Association. Since then he has had international interviews with many people engaged with sustainability, from researchers to businessmen. He has already made several courses on sustainability and he is Chair of the Global Goodwill Ambassador foundation, where he foresees the development of UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Length: 4 hours
Cost: $64.99
Aimed at providing understaning of the objectives and the structure of the United Nations’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) this course was planned to be suitable for everyone, whether you are young and curious, businessmen, have an NGO or you are promoting an important project for your community. The course lasts 4 months and incluse at least 3 web-meetings (2 aimed at discussing problems with SDGs’ management and 1 with an expert from the UN or a case study). This course is separated in four chapters: 1) introduction; 2) SDG clusters; 3) reporting SDGs; 4) conclusions. In the short introduction, the focus is on the story of SDGs, and differences between MDGs and SDGs. The second chapter focus on an overall systemic view and understand how you are contributing or can contribute to SDGs. The third cahpter is about “communicating” them in your activities, business plan and/or balance sheets. The communicational aspect is crucial because it lays the basis for the positive external impact you want to have with all your stakeholders. On a final note, it is important to disclosure that the course can be access both through a mobile device or television, and that participants get a certificate upon conclusion.
Corporate ESG and Sustainability – 101 Level Masterclass
Author: Layli Miller-Muro – Layli is a highly educated professional, having earned her J.D. and M.A. (in International Relations) from American University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Agnes Scott College, and receiving an Honorary Doctorate from Northern Illinois University. She has also completed Executive Education Certificates in Non-profit Management from Harvard University and Stanford University, as well as a certificate in ESG and Sustainable Capitalism from Berkeley Law School. Layli Miller-Muro is an experienced social impact consultant, advisor, trainer, and keynote speaker. She has worked as a corporate attorney, government attorney, and human rights advocate, and is now a consultant and advisor to organizations for their ESG and social impact efforts. For over 20 years, Layli served as the CEO of the Tahirih Justice Center, which provides services to over 31,000 women and girls, and won numerous awards under her leadership, such as the Washington Post Award for Management Excellence. She has been recognized for her outstanding work and is a sought-after speaker and lecturer.
Length: 4,5 hours
Cost: $74.99
It covers the concepts and practices of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues and sustainability in the corporate world. The course is designed for executives, investors, and professionals and covers topics such as the history and evolution of corporate ESG, current ESG trends and standards, measurement of ESG performance, and sustainable business strategies. The course covers topics such as the history and evolution of corporate ESG, current ESG trends and standards, how to measure ESG performance, corporate sustainability reporting and communications, and the role of ESG and sustainability in investment decision making, inclusing case studies from various industries. The course includes 4.5 hours of video content with 74 lectures and 16 downloadable resources, including a sample ESG report and a sample stakeholder engagement plan. Participants will have a solid understanding of ESG and sustainability and will learn to identify opportunities to integrate these concepts into their own business practices.
ISO 14001:2015 Internal Auditor
Institution: British Standards Institution
Length: 2 days
Cost: £1,175
This course is for those who are looking to track internal progress as environmental managers within their organizations. The two-day course covers environmental protection, conservation of natural resources, and energy efficiency. It focuses mainly on internal auditing strategies to track compliance within your business.
Climate Change: The Science and Global Impact
Institution: SDG Academy
Length: 50 hours
Cost: Free
Delivered directly by the United Nations, this course covers the science behind global warming and its associated impacts. The self-paced course is spread across eight modules with around 50 hours of material. The program covers HOW the climate has been changing and WHY it is actively changing to develop a system thinking approach to analyze the impacts of a changing climate on the natural world.
Become a Purpose-Driven Leader
Institution: Harvard Business School
Length: 3 weeks
Cost: $1,400
The prestigious Harvard Business School offers this three-week course that intricately illustrates how a business can thrive while simultaneously tackling some of the world’s largest climate issues. It explores a broader environmental, political, and social landscape that incorporates the roles of the government, investors, and customers. The course will have you primed to be a purpose-driven leader within your field.
Institution: Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Length: 10 weeks
Cost: Free
The program focuses on its flagship ‘circular economy’ concept. A circular economy is based on three main principles: elimination of waste and pollution, circulation of products and materials, and the regeneration of nature. The course explores these principles in depth. It also offers mentoring opportunities from alumni and offers a strong network of like-minded individuals. The program is free, although it has an application process where it’s possible to be denied.
Institution: USGBC
Length: Variable
Cost: Variable
Preparation courses for the LEED AP exams are offered directly by USGBC. The organization offers study bundles ranging from $269 all the way up to $679 (which includes the cost of the exams). There are five different LEED AP industry-specific specialties to choose from which all focus on green building and the world-renowned LEED rating system.
Cultural Sustainability’s Management & Leadership
Author: Frantz Dhers – Frantz Dhers is a 32-year-old French sociologist, who splits his time between Athens (Greece) and the Pyrenees mountains (France). He graduated from Université Paris 1 Panthéon – Sorbonne and he is the founder and CEO of Originals, a pioneering consulting firm that focuses on cultural sustainability and corporate cultural sustainability. Frantz was recognized as one of the “Top 100 world activists” in 2019 by IKEA and he has been providing cultural sustainability training since 2017 to local governments, global companies and citizens.
Length: 3 hours
Cost: $64.99
This course provides an understanding of cultural sustainability and how to integrate it into management, leadership and communication practices. The course covers a range of topics, including the history and development of cultural sustainability, its importance in contemporary society, and how to implement cultural sustainability practices within organizations. Students will learn how to identify cultural values and beliefs, analyze cultural impact, develop cultural management strategies, and engage stakeholders in the process of cultural sustainability. The course also covers topics such as intercultural communication, cultural diversity, and cultural change management. The course is suitable for anyone interested in the topic of cultural sustainability, including business professionals, managers, leaders, and students in a variety of fields. The course is designed to be accessible and engaging for learners of all levels, and no prior knowledge of cultural sustainability is required. The course includes video lectures, quizzes, and practical exercises to help students apply the concepts they learn in real-world situations.
Ultimate Solar Energy Design Course From Zero To Hero
Author: Ahmed Mahdy / Khadija Academy – Ahmed Mahdy is an electrical power engineer, an online instructor on more than 20 platforms and the creator of the “Khadija Academy” website, which offers courses on electrical engineering. Over the years, Ahmed has had over 39,000 students. He is also an author in the field of electrical engineering on Amazon and he was selected by Udemy in 2018 as one of the “top 10% instructors”.
Length: 20 hours
Cost: $119.99
The scope of the “Complete Solar Energy Course for Electrical Engineering” on Udemy is to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of solar energy, including the science behind it, how it works, and its practical applications in electrical engineering. The course covers various topics related to solar energy, such as solar panels, batteries, inverters, charge controllers, and electrical wiring systems. The course is designed for electrical engineering students and professionals who want to gain knowledge and skills in the field of solar energy. By the end of the course, learners are expected to have a strong foundation in solar energy and the ability to design, install, and maintain solar energy systems. With more than 20 hours of videos and having helped almost 10 thousand people so far, this is one of the most complete courses on solar energy available on Udemy.
Sustainable Procurement: A Guide to Ethical Purchasing
Author: Astrapto Academy – Dr. Aurora Dawn Benton – Dr. Aurora Dawn Benton is the founder of Astrapto, a company that aims to address social and environmental issues by offering practical and business-oriented solutions. With over 30 years of experience, including more than a decade in sustainability and social impact, Aurora founded Astrapto Academy to provide clients with services such as sustainability assessments, roadmaps, training, coaching, and reporting. Her work has resulted in measurable reductions in food waste to landfill and engaged employees seeking to make an impact in their communities. Aurora’s clients include the World Wildlife Fund, Centerplate, Baltimore Convention Center, Green Seal (Hotel eco-certification), various Hilton properties, Florida International University, and independent restaurant groups.
Length: 3 hours
Cost: $59.99
This course is a course aimed at helping individuals and organizations improve their environmental and social performance in daily operations, regardless of their expertise or experience in sustainability. The course covers a range of sustainability topics such as circular economy, plastics, and single-use items, carbon emissions, and supplier diversity. It provides guidance on conducting a sustainable procurement audit, setting goals, and creating ethical purchasing policies. The course outcomes include recognizing the impact of procurement on social and environmental factors, developing a research process, conducting a sustainable purchasing audit, and establishing sustainable purchasing goals, policies, and practices. Additionally, learners can download 27 archives covering extra resources, worksheets, and guidance.
Are Carbon Offsets Helping Tackle Climate Change?
Author: Mark Trexler – Mark is a well-traveled individual who has an impressive academic background, having obtained advanced degrees from the University of California at Berkeley and fluently speaking five languages. He joined the World Resources Institute (WRI) in 1988, where he was involved in the initial carbon offset project, the CARE Agroforestry Project in Guatemala, and contributed to the first studies on nature-based solutions to combat climate change. Mark has played a significant role as a lead author and editor for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). He also founded and directed Trexler Climate + Energy Services (TC+ES) between 1991 and 2007, and later served as the Director of Climate Risk at Det Norske Veritas, a global risk management company based in Oslo. With more than three decades of experience in the field of climate change, Mark has provided expert advice to clients worldwide on climate change risk and risk management. Additionally, Mark is a co-creator of the Climate Web, which is currently the most comprehensive platform of collective climate change intelligence. Having reached over 2,500 students on Udemy, Mark’s courses are largely based on the Climate Web.
Length: 3 hours
Cost: $84.99
This course offers a comprehensive understanding of carbon offsets, a popular option for individuals and companies to mitigate climate change, as well as their controversies. It covers the definition of carbon offsets, their evolution, the biggest challenges they face in delivering climate change mitigation, and the potential future of offset markets. Furthermore, it answers key questions, such as the permanence of carbon offsets, how much leakage is acceptable, the importance of additionality to environmental integrity, and the role of nature-based solutions. The course can be accessed through mobile and TV, and it is suitable for those new to carbon offsets and markets, or those considering purchasing or investing in them, being also suitable for those interested in improving the environmental integrity of carbon offsets.
How Sustainability is Changing The Financial Sector
Author: Ana Lucas – Ana Lucas is a highly experienced Senior Corporate Banker with over 25 years of experience in International Corporate Banking. She has worked in various locations and held multiple positions, including Relationship Manager and member of the Management Board. She has also managed and mentored colleagues, been a guest speaker at Vienna University, and is now sharing her knowledge and passion for Corporate Banking with a wider audience through her three courses on Udemy, where she has reached more than 10 thousand people thus far. Ana is an advocate of responsible banking and transparency and is currently working on her own online business origination platform to help entrepreneurs find financing.
Length: 5 hours
Cost: $74.99
The rising concern for sustainability is driven by the acceleration of climate issues and the negative impact of financing activities on the environment and human well-being. Investing with a purpose is a new priority, where investing in activities and businesses that positively impact the environment and society takes precedence. The consequences for financial institutions can be drastic, leading to unprecedented changes in loan portfolios and asset management. Climate change risks are essential to the decision-making process of financial institutions, from client acquisition to risk management and compliance. Sustainability is now an integral part of their strategic planning and operations, with new regulations and governance structures being introduced. With 28 lectures and over 5h of video, this course covers topics such as the need to stop financing fossil fuels, business opportunities in sustainability, and ways to navigate towards greener portfolios. It is suitable for those interested in the impact of sustainability on financial institutions, including students, financial advisors, and those dealing with sustainability-related risks. From students it is required: fair understanding of how Corporate Banks and Financial Institutions contribute to the economy and the society, basic knowledge of Credit Risk analysis and Risk Management in Corporate Banking, and an interest in the principles of climate emergency, inequality, de-carbonization of the Economy, social sreponsibility and well-being.
Institution: Keramida
Length: 1 day
Cost: $800
The one-day Zoom course provides study materials and sector-specific information that is meant to help individuals earn the SASB FSA Level II credential. Learning objectives include learning the need for sustainability accounting standards, understanding the SASB standards, and using the SASB standards as a company or investor. The credential is designed for professionals who understand that a link exists between financial material and sustainability information that can drive a firm’s value.
Institution: ISSP
Length: Variable
Cost: Variable
These instructor-led courses are designed to help individuals earn their Sustainability Excellence Associate (SEA) and Sustainability Excellence Professional (SEP) certifications from the prestigious International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP). The certifications show an awareness of fundamental sustainability concepts and best practices. Courses vary in length and price depending on what you’re looking for but generally take place over four weeks with weekly live sessions that last anywhere from one to two hours.
Institution: GHG Management Institute
Length: 18 days
Cost: $2,250
A rigorous course designed for professionals that want to learn about greenhouse gas inventory accounting and carbon footprinting accounting. There are two exams to be taken at the end of three courses that will earn you a diploma from the institution. Those interested in GHG emissions and removals along with their standards and best practices should enroll in this course.
Institution: GHG Management Institute
Length: 20 days
Cost: $2,750
Carbon management is a hot topic in the space of sustainability. This program is designed for those wanting to focus less on GHG accounting frameworks and more on the technical analysis of emissions and their mitigation strategies as it relates to carbon. It’s a rigorous course of five required courses and two final examinations. In the end, you will earn a diploma from the prestigious institution.
GHG Measurement, Reporting, & Verification
Institution: GHG Management Institute
Length: 22 days
Cost: $2,950
Another diploma course offered by the GHG Management Institute, this program is meant for those who are looking to broaden their skill set in both GHG accounting and GHG auditing, validation, and verification. The course is intended to give students the necessary skills to keep up with ever-changing international standards and programs. Topics include GHG emissions and their removals, standards for GHG reporting, and GHG validations and verifications (also known as auditing, review, and inspections).
Institution: Earth Shift Global
Length: 1-2 days
Cost: Free – $3,000
Earth Shift Global offers courses related to Life Cycle Assessments and Sustainable Returns on Investment. The institution offers a multitude of courses for a variety of industries to help conduct and manage life-cycle assessments with confidence. Courses are anywhere from one to two days and typically fall within the $750 to $1,500 price range. Topics covered include life cycle assessments, recycling, social impact, and more. These are bootcamp style courses are co-developed with Professor Rafael Auras from the School of Packaging and Michigan State University.
Asia Pacific Low Carbon Lifestyles Challenge
Institution: UNEP
Length: 10 weeks
Cost: Variable
The UNEP Asia Pacific Low Carbon Lifestyles online bootcamp helps entrepreneurs build back a better economy for both people and planet. Each week dives into a different topic and is taught through a series of webinars virtually available from Delhi and Bangkok. Topics covered include business skills, sustainability, carbon footprinting, communication, and marketing.
Environmental Compliance Bootcamp
Institution: Aarcher Institute
Length: 4 days
Cost: $1,830
The course boasts itself to be the original environmental compliance bootcamp. The four-day rigorous bootcamp covers topics of environmental compliance related to solid and hazardous wastes, lead, asbestos, and PCB management, water quality, storage tanks, air emissions, and much more. Bootcamps are offered in person at a variety of locations across the United States or completely online. Early bird pricing and group packages are offered.
Enterprise Sustainability Boot Camp Program
Institution: Leading Practice
Length: 2 – 15 days
Cost: $25,000 – $150,000
The cost and length of the bootcamp are variable depending on what your organization is trying to accomplish. There are five bootcamps designed to revamp the sustainability program at your enterprise ranging from basic to sophisticated. It’s for corporate enterprises, NGOs, and government entities who are looking to build a sustainability concept from the ground up or reconsidering their own.
Climate Change and Water in Mountains: A Global Concern
Institution: University of Geneva (UNIGE)
Length: 17 hours
Cost: Free
Founded in 1559, the University of Geneva is one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious universities. The course covers the impacts mountains have on water resources and climate change. Students will explore the risks associated with these sensitive ecosystems. For context, about 100 climate experts worked with UNIGE from 2008 to 2013 to gather data and assess the impacts of climate change in mountain regions.
Environmental Challenges: Rights and Values in Ecosystem Services
Institution: University of Leeds
Length: 10 hours
Cost: Free*
Future Learn offers four weeks of courses for free. After the four weeks, you’ll be prompted to upgrade to one of the unlimited learning packages (from $15.83 to $74). The course itself covers the concept of Caosian bargaining and how it relates to environmental quality. The goal is to teach students how to draft well-written environmental reports to shift people’s opinions and values. Accredited by the CPD Certification Service, you’ll earn a printable or digital diploma upon completion.
Transforming Energy Systems: Why Governance Matters
Institution: University of Exeter
Length: 4 weeks
Cost: Free*
Another Future Learn course, upgrades range from $15.83 to $64 if your free trial has expired. There are three main focuses in the course, the first being emerging energy systems and their link to climate change, air pollution and equity. Next, the course explores people, scale, and society as they relate to energy systems. Lastly, the course finishes off with energy governance and how it can assist with rapid decarbonization.
Creating a Pro-Renewables Environment
Institution: ImperialX
Length: 6 weeks
Cost: Free
An associated program towards a Professional Certificate in Clean Power, this is an intermediate level course that covers how policy and regulation can create a pr-renewables world. The course tackled regulatory and non-regulatory approaches on how to incentivize renewables deployment. It is structured using case studies to give real world examples of how pro-renewable policies have been implemented elsewhere.
Transformation of the Global Food System
Institution: University of Copenhagen
Length: 12 hours
Cost: Free
A deep dive into the global population growth and how that impacts global food systems and the environment. Agricultural activities alone are responsible for 80% of global deforestation. The course explores how our ever-growing population is bound to impact out forests and innovative ways to curb these destructive impacts. The course focuses on how our global food systems can become more sustainable.
Online sustainability courses and bootcamps on this comprehensive list are aimed at anyone interested in learning about environmental sustainability and how it applies to business practices in today’s society. The list has courses and bootcamps listed for a wide audience ranging from individuals to corporations. Prices, length, and availability of the courses are subject to change at the institution’s discretion.
Further reading: Our Free Green Resources library