Valuing Nature and People to Inform Decision-making
Our Free Online Training Course
The Capitals Coalition now offers a free online course on the Coursera platform, supported by We Value Nature.
The course provides a comprehensive introduction to the capitals approach and to undertaking a capitals assessment. While it is open to all, it will be of specific relevance to those working across business strategy, risk management, finance, procurement, accountancy, auditing, human resources and sustainability.
Businesses and investors are increasingly looking to embed the value they receive from nature, people and society into their decision-making.
Many recognise their impacts and dependencies on the capitals. What they need now is a clear pathway to include this value in the decisions they make.
Understanding the value of their impacts and dependencies on the capitals can be a watershed moment for organizations, who often realize that issues they had considered to be immaterial in fact directly underpin their success.
By providing organizations with tools to identify and measure the value they receive from natural, social and human capital (as well as produced capital), the capitals approach provides a holistic understanding of the system in which organizations operate, leading to integrated decision-making with broad benefits across the capitals.
But, this approach is nascent and a significant skills and knowledge gap exists within organizations looking to apply the capitals approach.
The Capitals Coalition have launched a free online course to address this challenge – Valuing Nature and People to Inform Decision-making
We need companies to move from commitments to action. However, we know that the tools to do this are scarce and the necessary knowledge can be hard to find. The training directly addresses this gap. Leaders and managers should acknowledge the need and invest time in building capacity – here is a way to do it.
Cristianne Close, Deputy Global Conservation Director & Director of Planning, Enabling & Integration, WWF International – Course Participant
Course Design
Lectures
The course follows the steps outlined in the Natural Capital Protocol and the Social & Human Capital Protocol – Frame, Scope, Measure & Value and Apply.
Each module contains multiple instructor-led videos which provide business cases and case studies from leading companies. Interviews with business leaders provide expert insight and best practice to learners and cover the journey organizations have taken to embed the approach across their operations.
Curated Readings
Each instructor-led video is followed by further reading which builds on key concepts as well as optional reading materials giving the learner a chance to deep dive into concepts and case studies.
Quizzes and Discussion Prompts
Every module contains quizzes and discussion prompts that offer the ability to summarize your learnings and learn from the prompts of others.
Q&A sessions
Regular live Questions & Answers sessions are provided by the Coalition. These sessions provide learners with the chance to meet and interact with one another as well as the course instructors and producers. Sessions are planned to cover multiple time zones to ensure that learners from around the world are able to join and connect. Keep an eye on our Community Platform for new Q&A announcements.
Community
Joining our Community Platform can help to further your capitals journey. You can keep up to date with relevant events, reading and connect with organizations on their capitals journey by interacting in our specialized course forums.
‘The Valuing Nature and People to Inform Decision-making course’s bite-sized readings, videos and assessments fit nicely into my somewhat-erratic consulting schedule. The course provides a great common language, framework and rigor for setting to work on this critical issue. I have already put my new learnings to use with a new project helping to define pathways to regenerative agriculture.’
Rachel Fleishman, Director at Insight Sustainability
Course Outline
The course is split into 4 modules. Modules 1 & 2 introduce the role of businesses in addressing the integrated crises of nature loss, climate change and persistent inequality and guide learners through the environmental sustainability and social impact landscape.
Modules 3 & 4 guide participants through the steps and stages involved in conducting a natural capital assessment and introduce concepts and vocabulary needed to apply the Protocols. More information is available here.
- Module 1 – The role of businesses in addressing the great challenges of nature loss, climate change and inequality
- Module 2 – Better managing risks and opportunities by adopting a capitals approach
- Module 3 – Getting started with a natural capital assessment: defining the objective and scope
- Module 4 – Measuring and valuing impacts and dependencies to integrate natural capital in decision making
Speakers
- Paul Polman, founder of Net Positive World Movement
- Gretchen C. Daily, Natural Capital Project, Stanford University
- Volkert Engelsman, CEO, Eosta
- Magali Anderson, Chief Sustainability and Innovation Officer, Holcim
- Sonja Haut, Head of Strategic Measurement and Materiality, Novartis
- Liz Barber, CEO, Yorkshire Water
- Philip Blaen, Sustainability Manager, Yorkshire Water
- Maria Eugenia Ceballos Hunziker, Head of Sustainable Procurement and Impact Valuation, Holcim
- Renata Pollini, Head of Nature, Holcim
- Ria Bakshi, Finance for Sustainability, Olam
- Pedro Alexandre Martins, Innovation and Sustainability Sr. Manager, Liv Up
Businesses should operate with nature at their hearts to preserve and restore natural resources. Measuring impacts in a science-driven way is key to integrate actions and targets into the core of company strategy. Delivering a nature-positive future is a critical role for businesses to take today. This course provides the foundations to do it.
Magali Anderson, Chief Sustainability and Innovation Officer, Holcim – Course Speaker
Enroll for free
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