The Harvard Climate Action Training (piloted in 2021 as the Climate Boot Camp) is designed for people who are deeply concerned about the climate crisis and want to take action, but need to know more about planning and implementing climate action strategies in their organization and/or community. It goes beyond the science of climate change to introduce participants to proven strategies, approaches and tools that support win-win-win climate action plans.

​Harvard alumni have the credibility and influence to deliver urgent action on climate change. Please join others in our Harvard community to create greater climate impact!

Should I take this training?

You should take this training if:

• You are deeply concerned about the climate crisis

• You want to learn more about how to drive systemic change

• You want to reduce the climate change impact of the organizations in which you have influence

• You want to better understand proven strategies applicable to your organization

• You want the guidance and support of an educational and activist community

• You want ongoing access to curated resources for proven climate strategies

What will I learn?

• What is driving the climate crisis and what we can do to limit it

• Proven sustainability strategies in transportation, facilities, energy use, manufacturing, circular economy, food, agriculture, water

• Why adopting a sustainability strategy is an opportunity for your organization

• How to start to develop a personal action plan for your organization

• How to evolve and tailor your personal action plan using curated resources

• How to introduce and begin building internal support for your plan

 Who is teaching it? 

• Lecturers, researchers and administrators from Harvard University, Yale University, Southern Methodist University, The Georgetown Law School, and others

• Leaders from non-profits including The Climate Reality Project, Project Drawdown, ReFED, The Biomimicry Institute, The Nature Conservancy, CELF, Leaders on Purpose, and others

• Leaders who have successfully led change at Facebook, Microsoft, The Kellogg Company, Johnson Controls, National Grid, Harvard University, Schneider Electric, Best Buy, start-ups, and family businesses

Who can take the course? 

• Harvard alumni

• Anyone who has completed a semester at Harvard as a student or teacher, or received an honorary degree

When is the training being offered?

• Sign up on the waitlist to get an announcement of when we are holding our next training.

How does the training work?

• The program is designed to let you direct your own learning:

  • Session videos are pre-recorded so you can watch them at your convenience.

  • An overview of known climate solutions in five different areas is available for you to choose from to find the opportunities most relevant to your organization.

  • A downloadable Action Plan with weekly assignments guides you in creating your own personal action plan and building support for it. Guidance is included in the video sessions.

  • Links to additional information and resources curated by experts are available for you to dive deeper into topics relevant to your plan.

• There will be a weekly 1 hour Small Group Action Session starting in week 2 for you to meet and work on your plan with others taking the training.

• We strongly recommend both the Action Plan and Small Group Action Sessions to get the most out of the program.

• Participants have unlimited access to the site after the end of the training.

• A Certificate of Completion is offered by The Harvard Climate Action Training to participants who: 1) watch required videos; 2) complete session quizzes; 3) submit an Action Plan goal and other plan elements.

What is the time commitment? 

Full commitment to the course requires 3.5+ hours/week for four weeks:

How much does the training cost?

It is provided to you free by HACE.

Who developed this course?  

The Harvard Climate Action Training, piloted in 2021 as the Climate Boot Camp, a joint sustainability training initiative developed by the Harvard Alumni for Climate and the Environment (HACE) shared interest group and Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore’s The Climate Reality Project.