Climate Change in Business Foundations: Net-Zero Transition

Climate Change in Business Foundations: Net-Zero Transition, offered by Saïd Business School, University of Oxford through edX, is an introductory online course designed to help learners understand the role of business in responding to the climate emergency. The course explores how organisations can take meaningful climate action through systems thinking, organisational change, and personal resilience. It encourages participants to assess their organisation’s position within the net-zero transition and consider how businesses can contribute to a fair and effective response to climate change.

Core Content

The curriculum examines the climate emergency from organisational, systemic, and individual perspectives. It explores the role of business in the transition to net zero, the importance of reliable and current climate data, and the organisational changes required to support meaningful action. The course also considers the drivers of a just net-zero transition and helps learners reflect on how their own organisation can respond to climate risks, responsibilities, and opportunities.

Key Skills

Participants will develop the ability to explain the role of business in the climate emergency, identify relevant sources of climate data, and assess their organisation’s responsibilities within the net-zero transition. The course also helps learners strengthen systems thinking, organisational reflection, and climate-related decision-making. In addition, it introduces approaches for maintaining personal resilience while engaging with the scale and urgency of the climate challenge.

Target Learners

This course is designed for professionals, managers, students, and general learners who want a foundational understanding of climate action in a business context. It is particularly relevant for those seeking to understand how organisations can respond to the climate emergency and contribute to a just net-zero transition. edX classifies the course as introductory and states that no prior experience is required.

Learning Format

Hosted on edX, the course is delivered in a flexible self-paced online format over four weeks, with an expected study commitment of two to four hours per week. The learning experience allows participants to progress at their own speed while exploring climate data, systems thinking, organisational change, net-zero transition, and personal resilience. edX classifies the course as introductory and notes that no prior experience is required.

Additional Benefits

The course offers practical value for learners who want to understand climate change as an immediate business and leadership issue rather than only an environmental concern. Its combination of organisational responsibility, systems thinking, climate data, and personal resilience provides a balanced foundation for professionals seeking to contribute more confidently to climate action. As an Oxford Saïd course, it also provides a credible entry point into further learning on sustainable business and net-zero transformation.

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