Education in climate expertise as an instrument for sustainable change and a pathway for climate-resilient future
- 1Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR), Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2a, 00560 Helsinki, Finland
- 2Finnish Meteorological Institute, Erik Palménin aukio 1, P.O. Box 503, FI-00101 Helsinki, Finland
- 3Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonkatu 2, P.O. Box 111, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland
Introduction
The Specialisation programme in climate expertise is an education programme that aims to provide professionals from different fields with the know-how to drive systemic change towards a climate-resilient future. This two-year-long programme is meant to be carried out alongside work, teaching important and previously identified competencies necessary for effective climate action1, including both subject knowledge and general skills, like argumentation, problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and effective communication2. Through education we hope to provide the basis for future collaboration, innovation, and understanding necessary to tackle climate change and related environmental as well as socio-economic problems.
Research
The programme is offered by the University of Helsinki, University of Eastern Finland, Finnish Meteorological Institute and was designed together with the Climate University network and Climate Leadership Coalition. The programme launches in spring 2024 with students from both public, and private sectors.
The program's duration (2 years), scope (60 ECTS), as well as the large number of students (up to 50) from different backgrounds provide a unique opportunity for the students to network and exchange ideas, as well as providing a platform for us to explore the following questions: (1) how education shapes the agency and professional identities of climate experts, (2) how education meets the multidisciplinary needs of various stakeholders, and (3) how education translates to concrete climate actions?
Conclusions
The Specialisation programme in climate expertise aspires to find effective ways to address the needs of different stakeholders facing the current climate crisis, and to empower professionals with the necessary know-how to lead transformative climate actions within their respective fields. The programme is currently offered only in Finnish, but we hope to grow the programme in the future and to include international students, therefore expanding our multidisciplinary network of climate experts across national borders as well as societal sectors.
More information: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/faculty-science/teaching-and-studying/continuous-learning-and-web-based-studies/specialisation-programme-climate-expertise
References
1. Siponen, J., M. Santala, J. Salovaara, V.-M. Vesterinen, S. Tolppanen, A. Lauri, J. Lavonen and L. Riuttanen. Climate Competence – a view of professionals in the field (submitted).
2. Riuttanen, L., Ruuskanen, T., Äijälä, M. and Lauri, A., 2021. Society needs experts with climate change competencies–what is the role of higher education in atmospheric and Earth system sciences?. Tellus B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology, 73(1), pp.1-14.
How to cite: Peltokangas, K., Riuttanen, L., Nygård, T., Ruuskanen, T., Hulkkonen, M., Kuntsi-Reunanen, E., Gregow, H., Kaurola, J., Kulovesi, K., and Kulmala, M.: Education in climate expertise as an instrument for sustainable change and a pathway for climate-resilient future, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-8295, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-8295, 2024.
