Carbon management and community-based action learning: a theory to work experience

ABSTRACT

We discuss an innovative action-learning course co-developed by the University of Northern British Columbia, the Prince George Chamber of Commerce (Canada) and local businesses. The Carbon and Energy Management course is an undergraduate/graduate course initiated by the Chamber to address an interest in climate change amongst local businesses/non-profits. Growing awareness of climate change and the need to better manage carbon has led to businesses eager to reduce greenhouse gases. Students, seeking to create a more sustainable world while gaining practical skills, create carbon footprint analyses for business clients. We discuss the course impacts on students as an action learning initiative.

KEYWORDS:

• University action learning
• carbon management
• experiential learning
• university-community partnerships

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Annie L. Booth is a Professor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies at the University of Northern British Columbia, where she’s worked since before it officially opened. Action Learning is a practice in 3 of her 4 courses and she hopes to see more innovative partnerships between the university and the community.

Kyle Aben owns Carbon Realities Consulting, has worked for the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, The David Suzuki Foundation, and has taught at UNBC and Quest University. He has a BBA, a MA focused on Global Environmental Policy and was certified by the CSA as a GHG inventory quantifier in 2012.

Barbara Otter is the Grants Administrator at the Prince George Chamber of Commerce. In 2015 she launched an experiential learning concept and continues to grow it. She utilizes her post-secondary work experience plus skills gained internationally, in large cities and small communities to enhance the local business community’s connection with post-secondary institutions.

Todd Corrigall is the current CEO for the Prince George Chamber of Commerce, leading a diversified team, representing the interests of more than 700 businesses in the region. Prior to joining the Chamber, Todd spent more than a decade leading multi-level communications and stakeholder engagement strategies for governments across Canada.

Christie Ray is a Senior Advisor Business Development for the Business Services division of UNBC and was the CEO of the Prince George Chamber of Commerce between 2013-2017. Very involved in the community and a strong advocate for northern BC development and advancement, Christie has a BComm in Marketing from the first full graduating class of the university ‘in the north, for the north’, UNBC.

Sinead Earley is an Assistant Professor with the Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program at UNBC. She is an environmental policy researcher, with keen interest in energy transitions and low-carbon economies. In teaching, she stresses the importance of publicly engaged education and will be leading UNBC’s CEM course in January 2021.