Earth Day (April 22) is celebrated to raise global awareness about environmental issues and promote environmental protection, encouraging action and change for a sustainable future. Building your knowledge of sustainability practices not only helps the planet but also looks great on a resume. Check out these LinkedIn Learning courses that are free to SIU students and learn more about how to make our Earth a better place.
1. “Sustainability 101: How did it all get started?”
This LinkedIn Learning course teaches individuals about the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) as well as its significance. It also discusses climate change and decarbonization. Decarbonization means using clean energy (like wind and sun) instead of things that make dirty smoke (like coal and gas), so the Earth doesn’t get too hot. It’s like helping the planet breathe better and stay healthy! This course teaches you quite a bit of information and only takes 1 hour and 15 minutes. It is also beginner-friendly. I recommend taking it to understand the urgency of global sustainability challenges and learn how you can make a difference in our world.
2. “Daily Habits to Live Sustainably”
This course teaches you how to reduce waste and pollution in your community while also saving yourself some money along the way. This is important for my fellow college students. Climate Solutions Educator, Elizabeth Bagley, discusses how to live sustainably by wasting less food, switching to clean energy, and using your voice. It is only 28 minutes and will teach you how to make positive changes to our Earth based on your daily habits as a college student.
3. “Introduction to Natural Resources”
This course reflects how we can use our natural resources responsibly. SDG Academy, a leader in education for sustainable development and sustainability content creator, reviews the history of oil, gas, and mining, and dives into the challenges and opportunities surrounding natural resource extraction and management. SDG Academy shares innovative teachings and training models, and nurtures a global community of learners to prepare all generations to meet the demands of our changing world. Explore ways to extract resources sustainably and see how your environmental major plays a role on Earth by taking this course!
4. “Reduce Food Waste”
Dr. Elizabeth Bagley, a scientist, educator, and sustainability expert, explains in this 50-minute course how important it is to reduce, reuse, and recycle as well as make sustainable food choices. Personally, I believe that this course is extremely important for people to take as food waste is unfortunately common in our world. FoodPrint states that “America wastes roughly 40 percent of its food and of the estimated 125 to 160 billion pounds of food that goes to waste every year, much of it is perfectly edible and nutritious.” Dr. Bagley offers great guidelines for sustainability, such as not throwing away leftovers and donating food to organizations that accept it. These practices help reduce food waste, which means less trash in landfills and fewer harmful gases being released into the environment. By following these tips, we can do our part as individuals to protect the Earth by reducing our environmental impact and promoting a more sustainable way of living.
5. “Introducing the “circular economy””
In this course, you will learn about sustainability and the circular economy with examples of how it impacts business decisions and daily life. A circular economy is a system that focuses on reusing, repairing, and recycling materials and products to extend their life cycle and reduce waste. Mainstage TED speaker, Linkedin Changemaker, and UNEP Champion of the Earth, Leyla Acaroglu, gives practical tips to take action, motivate others, and inspire sustainable innovation in product development and business design. Leyla is known to lead presentations around the world on activating positive social and environmental change through systems interventions.
6. “Tips to Make Your Office Eco-Friendly”
In this course, Ashlee Piper, A TED, SXSW, and United Nations speaker, teaches you more about what individuals can do to shift habits: save energy, money, and time; reduce waste; minimize consumption; and get major satisfaction along the way. This includes stocking reusable materials and opting for motion-activated lighting. These strategies can also help you create a more efficient and eco-friendly apartment or residence hall, making your personal space cost-effective and environmentally conscious.
Earth Day is such an important day to celebrate sustainability and change in our environment. Taking these free courses will be sure to help you learn how to adopt sustainable practices in your everyday life and make environmentally conscious choices. Let’s work together to make our world better this Earth Day!
