Sustainability Course

Introduction to Carbon Management

Achieve your sustainability goals with practical carbon solutions.

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$1,000
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Location:

Online

Schedule:

Self-paced

Course Summary

Learning Objectives

Course Overview

Credentials

Instructional Team

Additional Information

What is Carbon Management?

Carbon management is the process of measuring, reducing, and managing greenhouse gas emissions produced by an organization or system. It involves tracking emissions, identifying reduction opportunities, and implementing practical carbon solutions such as energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy adoption, and operational changes.

Course Summary

Discounts

The following GoBlue pricing discounts are available and cannot be combined. Please contact us at [email protected] for a promotional code that will allow you to apply the eligible discount to your registration.

With 15 or more enrollments, you may want to consider a custom program for your organization. Please contact us to learn more about our partnership opportunities.

Once you have paid, a discount cannot be added retroactively.

THESE DISCOUNTS ARE NOT APPLICABLE FOR PARTNER PROGRAMS.

Name Details Level
Group Discount Level 1 Enroll 3-4 participants in one course offering. 5%
Group Discount Level 2 Enroll 5 or more participants in one course offering. 10%
U.S. Government Current employees with .gov email (not applicable to government contractors). 10%
U.S. Military Active duty personnel, reservists, retired or disabled veterans. 10%
Students Currently enrolled student from any university; please send photo of date-stamped student ID. 10%
Michigan Engineering Professional Education Alumni Past participants of any Michigan Engineering Professional Education certificate course. 10%
U-M Alumni U-M alumni from any school or department – please send uniqname to [email protected] for confirmation. 20%
U-M Students and Staff Current U-M students, faculty, and staff – please send uniqname to [email protected] for confirmation. 20%
Go Blue Discounts
Instruction Time Completion Time CEUs
Carbon Management 15-17 hours 60 days to complete 1.25

Carbon management is a key tool in the fight against climate change. As organizations work to reduce emissions, meet sustainability goals, and follow new regulations, knowing how to manage carbon has become an essential skill.

Introduction to Carbon Management is a course for anyone who wants to learn how carbon dioxide can be captured, stored, removed, or reused. You’ll explore what carbon management is, why it matters, and how it supports broader climate action. You’ll also see how it’s being applied across industries—from infrastructure and manufacturing to finance and policy.

This course was created by experts from the University of Michigan’s Global CO₂ Initiative. It explores the economic, environmental, and social factors driving the need for carbon solutions. Through real-world examples and hands-on exercises, you’ll learn to understand carbon challenges and identify the right tools or strategies to address them. By the end of the course, you’ll be ready to take informed, practical steps to address carbon in your work.

Learning Objectives

  • Describe the key components and processes of the global carbon cycle
  • Identify emissions reduction strategies and how they contribute to balancing the carbon cycle and addressing climate change
  • Analyze various nature-based and engineered solutions for effective carbon management
  • Evaluate methods for utilizing carbon to produce everyday materials and products
  • Apply tools like life cycle analysis (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) to assess carbon management strategies
  • Explore carbon markets, credit systems, policies, and verification frameworks that support carbon initiatives

Course Overview

The course is fully online. After you register, you have 60 days to complete the course. Optional instructor office hours will be available to support learners.

  • Overview of carbon needs, emissions, climate and business impacts, and carbon management approaches
  • Carbon management as part of the broader climate solution
  • Nature-based solutions such as tree planting, biochar, enhanced rock weathering, and wetland and peatland restoration
  • Engineered solutions such as Direct Air Capture (DAC), Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), and Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU)
  • Overview of carbon capture, storage, and removal, including benefits, risks, suitable locations, pathways, and technologies
  • Other methods of semi-durable and durable carbon storage
  • Using carbon dioxide as a feedstock to make products
  • Track 1 pathways that durably store carbon dioxide, such as construction materials 
  • Track 2 pathways that focus on circular carbon products to defossilize the economy, such as chemicals and fuels
  • Introduction to Environmental Impact Analysis, with a focus on Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) as a key assessment tool. 
    • LCA versus carbon accounting
  • Introduction to Product Category Rules (PCRs) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)
  • Understanding techno-economic analysis (TEA) for evaluating project feasibility
  • Lifecycle costing to comprehend supply chain and product economics impacts
  • Environmental and social impact assessments in carbon management projects
  • Monetizing new products and services that utilize carbon dioxide as a feedstock
  • Ensuring there is a reliable framework to guarantee that products deliver greenhouse gas savings (Standards, Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification)
  • Sustainable development goals (SDGs) and their influence on carbon management efforts

Who Should Attend

This course is ideal for professionals and leaders in industries looking to integrate carbon literacy into their work. It’s especially valuable for:

  • Engineers, product developers, and technical professionals seeking to understand the economic, environmental, and supply chain impacts of carbon management
  • Finance, investment, and ESG specialists interested in evaluating the risks, opportunities, and market potential of carbon-related technologies
  • Business leaders and decision-makers looking to understand carbon strategies for mid- and large-sized companies
  • Sustainability and climate leads working to advance decarbonization goals, develop climate strategies, or integrate carbon management into organizational practices
  • Public sector and nonprofit roles seeking a systems-level overview of carbon management to inform programs and policy

Credentials

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Digital Certificate

Certificate will be awarded upon successful completion of this course.

Instructional Team

Susan Fancy

  • Associate Director, Global CO2 Initiative

Stephan McCord, PhD

  • Research Area Specialist Lead, Mechanical Engineering

Additional Information

How Carbon Management Is Used in Industry?

Organizations across manufacturing, energy, and transportation use carbon management to measure emissions and reduce environmental impact. Teams track Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, identify high-impact reduction opportunities, and implement practical carbon solutions such as energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy adoption, and supply chain changes to meet sustainability targets and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Carbon accounting basics; emissions strategy; reporting concepts; reduction planning; business decision support.

Audience

Professionals responsible for emissions strategy, sustainability reporting, or decarbonization planning.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What does Introduction to Carbon Management cover? Introduction to Carbon Management teaches professionals how organizations measure, manage, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Participants learn how carbon strategy connects to reporting, operations, and business decision making.

Who should take Introduction to Carbon Management? Professionals responsible for emissions strategy, sustainability reporting, or decarbonization planning.

How is Introduction to Carbon Management used in practice? Organizations use these concepts to measure emissions, set priorities, and make more informed decarbonization decisions.

Questions Professionals Also Ask

What is carbon accounting? How do organizations measure emissions? How do businesses reduce carbon impact?

Related Courses

Sustainability for Business Growth, Managing Climate Change Consequences

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Get Started

For more information or answers to any questions please email [email protected] or fill out the form.