University of Michigan

Climate Solutions Specialization

University of Michigan

Climate Solutions Specialization

Learn to Develop Effective Climate Solutions.

Explore climate solutions, global development, and conservation to foster a more just world.

Rajiv Ghimire
Bilal Butt
Maria Carmen Lemos

Instructors: Rajiv Ghimire

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Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 months to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
Get in-depth knowledge of a subject
Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 months to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

  • Analyze the connection between conservation, sustainable development, and climate change from multiple perspectives.

  • Evaluate climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies with equity, justice, and sustainability in mind.

  • Combine ideas from environmental science, policy, social systems, and innovation to assess challenges and determine the tradeoffs.

  • Build strategies that account for leadership style, stakeholder engagement, and the decision-making required to enact change.

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Taught in English
Recently updated!

July 2026

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Specialization - 3 course series

Conservation and Sustainable Development

Conservation and Sustainable Development

Course 1, 25 hours

What you'll learn

  • Situate conservation and development (C & D) within the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

  • Understand and contextualize the history of conservation and development, including the field's racist history.

  • Think critically about conservation and development, from early ideas of nature and wilderness to future perspectives.

  • Evaluate contemporary approaches to conservation and development in specific locations such as urban, marine, and forest areas.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Climate Change Adaptation
Category: Climate Change Mitigation
Category: Social Impact
Category: Environmental Science
Category: Environment and Resource Management
Category: Economics, Policy, and Social Studies
Category: Sustainability Standards
Category: Sustainable Development
Category: Climate Change Programs
Category: Socioeconomics
Category: Social Justice
Category: Innovation
Category: Sustainable Systems
Climate Change and Adaptation

Climate Change and Adaptation

Course 2, 18 hours

What you'll learn

  • Critically analyze the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal, Climate Change, and its relationship with development and adaptation.

  • Explain different definitions of adaptation and show how each connects to development at different levels of decision-making and government.

  • Synthesize and integrate different disciplines and methods to design and evaluate sustainability solutions.

  • Understand the implications of different adaptation actions for climate justice.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Climate Change Programs
Category: Socioeconomics
Category: Environmental Science
Category: Case Studies
Category: Social Impact
Category: Community Development
Category: Economics, Policy, and Social Studies
Category: Social Justice
Category: Environment and Resource Management
Category: Climate Change Adaptation
Category: Sustainability Standards
Category: Sustainable Development
Category: Innovation
Category: Sustainable Systems
Category: Climate Change Mitigation
Innovative Climate Solutions

Innovative Climate Solutions

Course 3, 18 hours

What you'll learn

  • Explain innovation in climate action and the different ways it can address the climate crisis.

  • Identify innovative solutions for adaptation, mitigation, and their integration with development.

  • Examine issues related to justice and transformation in climate solutions.

  • Understand the role individuals play as agents of change who can lead innovative solutions.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Environmental Science
Category: Sustainability Standards
Category: Systems Thinking
Category: Social Impact
Category: Economics, Policy, and Social Studies
Category: Sustainable Development
Category: Sustainable Systems
Category: Climate Change Mitigation
Category: Environmental Resource Management
Category: Social Sciences
Category: Innovation
Category: Environment
Category: Social Justice
Category: Climate Change Adaptation
Category: Community Organizing
Category: Environmental Issue
Category: Mitigation
Category: Socioeconomics

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Instructors

Rajiv Ghimire
University of Michigan
1 Course605 learners

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