Business responses to climate change

October 18-22, 2007
Mark Woodall, Antony Turner, Donna Young

This course is one of a series of 4-day courses, facilitated by CarbonSense, addresses different aspects of climate change. Running over a weekend, they are designed to be as accessible as possible to those who cannot spare many days away from their workplace. These courses will give participants interested in showing leadership on climate change the opportunity to take a critical and in-depth look at some of the most important areas of debate and action in this area. Each 4-day course is booked separately.

Participants will explore successful and diverse applications of low-carbon policies with those currently transforming their businesses. Exceptional teachers and facilitators on this course will support participants in developing their own strategies for carbon emission reductions at all levels of their company.

Course Overview

Some businesses have actively responded to the challenges of climate change, often in advance of government policy. Course tutors will explain, from their experience, how capital can be used and invested in ways that can help to protect the environment, and discuss the role of private finance and technology in reducing our society’s impact on the global climate. With examples from leading consultants and business market leaders, participants will learn how large companies can not only reduce their carbon emissions but also inspire and enable a shift towards a low carbon future. Participants will spend the final part of the course developing their own action plans based on what they have learned during the course.

The course is intended for business leaders, consultants, team leaders and individuals interested in this area who want to ensure businesses of all sizes actively engage in and address the challenges of climate change and the imperative of a low carbon future.

Teachers

Mark Woodall is co-founder and CEO of Climate Change Capital. He has over 20 years’ business experience working with technology, energy and environmental companies, as a founder, adviser and investor.

Donna Young is Head of Climate Change at British Telecom plc, one of the UK’s largest companies.

Antony Turner is founder and Managing Director of CarbonSense, a consultancy which works with businesses, including BT, TNT and Honda Racing Formula 1, to develop smart low-carbon strategies.

Timetable

Thursday, October 18 (5pm onwards)
Arrival and introductory meeting.

Friday, October 19 Developing and financing clean energy technologies and projects in a carbon constrained world:
Mark Woodall: Although policy is a major driver to influence consumers and industry to reduce their carbon footprint – through standards, fiscal policies or market mechanisms such as cap and trade – other major influencers are coming in to play such as:

Mark will discuss these issues and the response of the financial community to investing the hundreds of billions of euros of capital per year for at least the next decade in order to achieve the required carbon reductions on a global basis.

Saturday, October 20 How does a global telecoms company respond to climate change?
Donna Young: BT has been a pioneer in reducing emissions from energy use for over ten years. But is this enough? Donna will explain how BT now aims to drive climate change understanding throughout the organisation to employees at every level, and use its considerable sphere of influence with customers and suppliers. She will outline the reasons why BT is doing this and the challenge that this presents. She will explain how BT believes it is possible to go way beyond Kyoto targets in reducing its own emissions and how ICT is part of the solution in tackling climate change. In a sense, BT is both a hero and a villain and this paradox will be discussed.

Sunday, October 21 Going carbon positive – how businesses can show genuine climate change leadership
Antony Turner: Antony formed CarbonSense five years ago when he realised that climate change was the biggest issue facing society. During the last few years he and his team have found that the greatest catalysts for fast change are major corporations that ‘get’ climate change. Antony will explain the company’s ‘carbon journey’ methodology which shows how influencing employees, suppliers and customers and adjusting business models can have far more effect than claims of carbon ‘neutrality’. He will explain how telling stories, and keeping it simple, inspires action and communication which is effective at all levels of global businesses like BT and TNT.

Monday, October 22 Action plans – taking what’s been learned into the workplace
CarbonSense facilitators: The object of these courses is that participants leave with a deeper understanding and renewed insights into their own role in taking the understanding of climate change into the core of their organisations. During the final sessions, facilitators will work with participants to reflect on how what they’ve learned can translate into effective action within their workplace.

Departure after lunch.

Course Fees

For businesses: £900
For individuals, NGOs & Educators: £800
These include accommodation, food, field trips and all teaching sessions.

How to make an application – click here

For further information about Schumacher College please see About the College

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Schumacher College is part of the Dartington Hall Trust, a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and as a charity (company no. 1485560, charity no. 279756). Registered office: The Elmhirst Centre, Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon TQ9 6EL, UK.