Aston University ‘first in the world’ to offer students training into how climate change impacts businesses

Vice-chancellor says climate change is ‘perhaps the biggest challenge facing the world today’

(Aston University/Facebook)

A university in the UK has become the first of its kind in the world to offer undergraduate students training into how climate change impacts businesses and society by hosting a carbon event this week.

Vice-chancellor at Birmingham's Aston University, Professor Dame Julia King, described climate change as being ‘perhaps the biggest challenge facing the world today’, adding how Aston felt it ‘vital’ to equip ‘the business leaders of the future’ with the skills and knowledge that will enable them to make a difference when it comes to adapting to a low carbon economy.

Designed to make students more employable upon graduation, Carbon Week 2015 will launch with a conference at the Birmingham NEC where a range of high profile guests will present on the science, politics and media coverage of climate change.

Then, over the course of this week, students will participate in workshops, lectures and practical exercises, designed to provide them with ‘something new and different’ to present to their future employers.

Professor King added: “This pioneering approach - and dedicating a week of the academic term to teaching students about the impact of climate change - will set the benchmark for other academic institutions and employers about how important it is to act on this issue now.”

The timing of the event has come just weeks before the UN Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) starts on 30 November.