Carbon Accounting and Business Climate Strategy

At the completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the origin and background science of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and climate change
2. Understand the process of GHG accounting and reduction target establishment
3. Recognize the pros and cons among an array of climate solutions.
4. Better integrate climate concerns into business strategy
5. Improved capacity to work with businesses on climate issues

Module 1: Review Business Climate Fundamentals

• Climate science
• Business drivers for climate action
• Implications of business drivers
• Carbon cycle

Objective: Understand why businesses seek to reduce GHG emissions

Significance: Knowing why businesses take climate action informs the rationale for proceeding through the course

Module 2: Measure and Report GHG Emissions

• Terms and Definitions
• Why accounting?
• GHG Protocol and scopes 1, 2, and 3
• Boundaries
• Emission factors and GWP
• Measurement tips and tricks
• Reporting programs and systems

Objective: Learn the mechanics of carbon/GHG accounting and measurement. Become acquainted with GHG reporting platforms.

Significance: GHG accounting lies at the heart of the course, allowing for the development of informed carbon strategy. Reporting platforms provide standards around how businesses communicate the accounting findings

Module 3: Set Goals and Targets

• Proliferation of terms
• Metrics and KPI
• Science-based targets
• GHG reduction, removals and offsets
• Related goals and target programs
• Economic growth vs. decarbonization

Objective: Understand the processes and programs through which carbon reduction targets are set.

Significance: Reduction targets are commonly the mechanism through which businesses seek to improve their climate performance, so understanding how they are set is important

Module 4: Action Planning

• Identify GHG reduction actions
• Integrate with business process
• Cost-benefit analysis, scenario analysis, and price on carbon
• Implement actions

Objective: Identify reduction actions. Translate measurement and targets into a short and long-term action plan.

Significance: Operationalizing the learning to date is critical for a business to succeed in reducing its carbon footprint

Module 5: Final Projects

Objective: Present final projects

Significance: Provides an experiential component to learning

Registration Date/Time:
6/17/2025 9:30am Central Time

Event Dates/Times:

• 6/17/2025  10:00am - 12:00pm Central Time
• 6/19/2025  10:00am - 12:00pm Central Time
• 6/24/2025  10:00am - 12:00pm Central Time
• 6/26/2025  10:00am - 12:00pm Central Time
• 7/1/2025  10:00am - 12:00pm Central Time
• 7/3/2025  10:00am - 12:00pm Central Time
• 7/8/2025  10:00am - 12:00pm Central Time
• 7/10/2025  10:00am - 12:00pm Central Time
• 7/15/2025  10:00am - 12:00pm Central Time
• 7/17/2025  10:00am - 12:00pm Central Time

The course will be offered as a live online course, with recordings made of each session so that participants can watch them at other times if they are not available at the meeting time. Therefore, this course can be flexible and accommodate a variety of schedules. The course meetings will take place twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 am-11:30 am Central Time) over a 5-week period, for a total of 10 sessions. Each session will be approximately 1.5 hours. Additional time will be required to complete assignments and fulfill professional development hours. 

This course uses the Canvas and Zoom platforms. A UW NetID is required to access the online course. Your registration confirmation email will walk you through the NetID process and how to access the Canvas course website.                                                      

Please watch the email address you provided during registration for instructional material release dates and pre-course information. Check your spam folder if you do not see your confirmation or UW (@wisc.edu) communication emails.

• Program Director

  Adib Amini

• Leila Nattagh

  Leila Nattagh is the owner and founder of the carbon consulting business, W2R Solutions. Since starting W2R, she has been helping businesses to measure and reduce the environmental impact of their products and services. By doing this work, Leila helps her clients to attract value-aligned customers, gain a competitive edge, and build brand confidence while taking climate action. Leila holds a degree in Masters in Sustainability, Bachelor's in Biology & Pharmacology, and certification in project management. 

• David Jaber

  David Jaber is the Founder of Climate Positive Consulting, a firm that measures carbon footprint, crafts business climate strategy, and drives greenhouse gas reduction. Over the last 20 years, David has worked with over 100 companies on GHG reduction strategy and carbon footprint measurement. He is a GHG accounting instructor with the University of California at Berkeley, University of Wisconsin at Madison and Terra.do. David is also the author of "Climate Positive Business! How You and Your Company Hit Bold Climate Goals and Go Net Zero" (http://www.routledge.pub/ClimatePositive). David holds engineering degrees from Rice University and University of California-Berkeley.

If you are planning to attend an Interdisciplinary Professional Programs course, payment is required at the time of registration. Below are the payment options:

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

• Search for the course on the website and then click on the Enroll Now button from the course webpage.
• Enter all necessary course attendee information and payment information on the course enrollment page.
• You will receive an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

• Call CERC Registrations at 608-262-2451.
• Provide the registrations representative with:
  • the course name, dates, and/or course number.
  • the necessary course attendee information and payment information.
• You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment payment.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

• Fill out a registration form (found either in the back of the course brochure you received in the mail or here).
• Prepare a check, made payable to UW Madison.
• Mail the registration form and check to: CERC Registrations 21 N Park St, Ste 7101 Madison, WI 53715
• You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Pay by Purchase Order

• Request Purchase Order information from interpro@union.wisc.edu
  • If a fee quote is needed, contact custserv@interpro.wisc.edu first
• You will receive an invoice from UW–Madison Business Services for payment, usually within 3–5 business days

Military

If using SF-182 form, please call our registration number at 608-262-2451 or email interpro@union.wisc.edu for details and instructions.

Event Cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen events. If we cancel a course, participants will be notified via email or phone and will be given the option for a full refund or to transfer their registration and any fees paid to another course. We are not responsible for non-refundable plane tickets, hotel reservations, and other travel related expenses. For enrollee Course Cancellation, refer to notes on course page.

If you cannot attend, please notify us no later than one week before your course begins, and we will refund your fee. Cancellations received after this date and no-shows are subject to a $150 administrative fee. You may enroll a substitute at any time before the course starts.

Once you have accessed the online course, exam and/or materials, no cancellations or refunds are permitted.

The course will be offered as a live online course, with recordings made of each session so that participants can watch them at other times if they are not available at the meeting time. Therefore, this course can be flexible and accommodate a variety of schedules. The course meetings will take place twice a week over a 5-week period, for a total of 10 sessions. Each session will be approximately 1.5 hours.