UC San Diego Offers Innovative
Executive Development Program
Focused on Climate Change and Business

March 23, 2009

By Keri Peckham

The University of California, San Diego, a world leader in climate change research, has announced it will offer an innovative program on climate change and its impact on business. “The ROI for Going Green” will provide participants with a basic understanding of climate change, and what strategies businesses and investors can employ to increase their bottom line. The course will run May 7-8, 2009.

In response to the increasing interest in climate change, Scripps Institution of Oceanography has partnered with the Rady School of Management to present the second installment in an executive development series teaching business leaders basic science behind climate change, empowering them to compute the return on investment (ROI) for going green.

“By combining the management expertise here at Rady, with the science knowledge at Scripps, this program capitalizes on the strengths of both,” said Rady School Dean Robert S. Sullivan. “The result is an innovative course for business leaders who want to adjust business practices to reduce waste and increase efficiency, as well as investors who are poised to profit from the changing climate.”

Climate change has become a central variable for many of today's businesses. Senior executives, entrepreneurs and investors review risk and reward metrics in a market driven by climate change issues. Issues include evolving technologies, alternative energy solutions, sustainability initiatives, corporate branding opportunities and marketing strategies, as well as innovative investment portfolios. Beyond this, there is a new breed of executives focused on “greening” their corporate environment.

“We’ve witnessed a convergence between scientists and business people who are now working together to address the world’s environmental issues,” said Scripps Director Tony Haymet. “Scientists understand that business leaders need a return on their investments in order to commit resources. Business leaders understand that scientists need the true cost of emissions to be incorporated in the ongoing business model. This course will help businesses compute that ROI and move forward with corporate planning built on a foundation of settled science.”

Program participants will achieve basic understanding of climate change, learn to discuss climate change in social and professional conversations and formulate corporate or investor action plans.

The Rady School of Management at UC San Diego educates global leaders for innovation-driven organizations. A professional school within one of the top-ranked institutions in the U.S. for higher education and research, the Rady School offers a Full-Time MBA program, a FlexMBA program for working professionals, a Ph.D. program and undergraduate and executive education courses.

Media Contacts:
Keri Peckham, Rady, 858-534-0855 or kpeckham@ucsd.edu
Shannon Casey, Scripps Oceanography, 858-822-5617 or smcasey@ucsd.edu