Boost your climate knowledge

The University of Calgary has developed a free e-course on climate literacy to increase awareness and understanding around climate change and prepare for its impact.

Mobilizing Alberta, a UCalgary initiative, recently launched Preparing Albertans for Climate Change, a course featuring a series of online modules geared toward Albertans.

Dr. Nadia Delanoy, PhD, led the development of the course assessment. The course aims to help people understand climate issues while reflecting on the role they can play in addressing them in their own lives, says Delanoy, an assistant professor in the Werklund School of Education.

“All of this education is to help move the needle for people to not only understand what’s going on in the climate, environment and sustainability world, but also get them to think about where their positions are at the beginning of the course to … where they're positioned after learning all of that information.”

Dr. Nadia Delanoy, PhD, assistant professor, Werklund School of Education

The course was developed in partnership with the Prairie Climate Centre at the University of Winnipeg and Re.Climate, housed at Carleton University. It offers valuable insights into climate change, its impacts and the benefits of acting to address these issues.

The course also uses a local lens, addressing Alberta’s specific climate context and connecting participants to local legislation and carbon net-zero movements.

“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 Delanoy says people can engage with depending on their interests:

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

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.

“What makes this course special is how it simplifies and connects that information to our everyday lives. It helps answer those big questions like, ‘Why is climate action important?’ ‘What does this mean for my family or my community?’ and, ‘What can I actually do about it?’”

Maria Granados, BA’19, developed the course with Re.Climate and Silver Spur Strategies

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.

Those wishing to start their own climate literacy journey 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. 

Media inquiries

Sean Myers
Senior Communications Specialist
University of Calgary
403.561-7405
sean.myers2@ucalgary.ca

About the University of Calgary
UCalgary is Canada’s entrepreneurial university, located in Canada’s most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 37,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. UCalgary is the top start-up creator among Canadian universities over the past five years. Start something today at the University of Calgary.

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