Cornell Climate Education and Community Engagement Online Course 2026: Global Certificate Program and Scholarships

Applications are open for the Climate Education and Community Engagement online course offered by the Cornell Civic Ecology Lab at Cornell University.

The four-week global course is designed for educators, students, community leaders, NGO professionals, volunteers, parents and other individuals interested in connecting climate knowledge with practical education and community action.

The course will run online from September 8 to October 4, 2026. Participants who complete the weekly course requirements and final project will receive a Cornell University PDF certificate documenting 25 professional development hours.

No previous background in climate science is required, and participants from all countries can register. Tiered tuition is available, with a reduced fee for residents of lower-cost countries and a limited number of competitive need-based scholarships.

The deadline to apply for scholarship support is September 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Climate Education and Community Engagement Course: Key Information

About the Climate Education and Community Engagement Course

Climate change is frequently discussed as a scientific and environmental issue, but it is also an educational, social, communication and community-development challenge.

Educators and community practitioners are increasingly expected to help people understand climate change, identify its local effects, respond constructively to climate anxiety and participate in meaningful action.

The Cornell Climate Education and Community Engagement course aims to help learners connect climate knowledge with:

• Local experience
• Public communication
• Education
• Community participation
• Youth engagement
• Climate resilience
• Adaptation
• Practical environmental action

Rather than treating climate education as the simple transfer of scientific information, the course explores how educators and practitioners can communicate climate issues constructively and help communities identify realistic opportunities for participation and action.

The course is delivered by the Cornell Civic Ecology Lab with support from researchers, graduate students and teaching assistants associated with Cornell University’s Department of Natural Resources and the Environment.

Full course information is available on the official Climate Education and Community Engagement course page.

Course Dates and Duration

The 2026 course will run from:

September 8 to October 4, 2026

The program lasts four weeks and is delivered online.

Participants should plan to spend approximately four to five hours per week completing the course materials, discussions and activities. The certificate documents 25 professional development hours after the learner completes the required weekly work and final project.

Because the course is conducted over a defined four-week period, prospective participants should ensure that they can participate regularly throughout the program.

Scholarship Application Deadline

The deadline to apply for a need-based scholarship is:

September 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time

Scholarship decisions are expected to be announced on:

September 4, 2026

The official page does not publish a separate final registration deadline for fee-paying participants. However, because the course begins on September 8, 2026, interested learners should register as early as possible.

What Participants Will Learn

The course is designed to develop a practical understanding of climate education and community engagement.

Participants will explore how to:

• Build an accurate foundation in climate literacy
• Explain climate change clearly to different audiences
• Connect scientific knowledge with local experience
• Recognize climate risks affecting local communities
• Identify community strengths, assets and potential partners
• Communicate climate issues in constructive and action-oriented ways
• Address climate anxiety through meaningful learning and participation
• Understand connections between climate change, equity and public participation
• Explore climate adaptation and community resilience
• Support youth agency in climate-related learning
• Move learners from climate awareness toward practical engagement
• Design a locally relevant climate-education or community-engagement plan

The course is intended to help participants translate knowledge into educational or community practice rather than simply complete theoretical lessons.

Climate Literacy

Climate literacy involves understanding the essential principles of the climate system and the ways climate change affects individuals, communities, ecosystems and institutions.

Within an educational or community setting, climate literacy also involves the ability to:

• Interpret climate information
• Distinguish reliable evidence from misinformation
• Explain climate change in accessible language
• Relate global climate patterns to local experiences
• Understand risk, adaptation and resilience
• Communicate uncertainty responsibly
• Identify meaningful responses

Participants will develop a foundation they can use when teaching students, engaging families or working with community groups.

Climate Communication

Climate information can be technically complex, politically sensitive or emotionally difficult. People may also experience fear, helplessness or anxiety when discussing climate impacts.

The course examines how educators and community practitioners can communicate climate change in ways that are:

• Clear
• Accurate
• Understandable
• Constructive
• Appropriate for the intended audience
• Connected with local experience
• Focused on meaningful action

Participants will practice explaining climate issues to a selected audience, which could include:

• School students
• University learners
• Parents
• Families
• Community members
• NGO participants
• Volunteers
• Public stakeholders
• Local decision-makers

This audience-focused approach helps learners avoid overly general communication and develop messages suited to their professional or community context.

Mapping Local Climate Risks and Community Assets

One important component of the course is the identification of local climate risks, community assets and potential partners.

Climate risks may include:

• Extreme heat
• Flooding
• Drought
• Water scarcity
• Wildfires
• Air pollution
• Coastal impacts
• Agricultural disruption
• Food insecurity
• Health risks
• Infrastructure vulnerability
• Displacement or livelihood challenges

Community assets may include:

• Schools and universities
• Local government institutions
• Community groups
• Youth organizations
• NGOs and nonprofit organizations
• Faith-based groups
• Health services
• Local experts
• Environmental networks
• Volunteer groups
• Public spaces
• Existing climate or sustainability initiatives

By considering both risk and community capacity, participants can design activities that respond to actual local needs while building on existing strengths.

Community Engagement and Public Participation

The course explores climate action as a collaborative process rather than an activity led only by technical experts.

Participants consider how communities can become involved in:

• Identifying local concerns
• Sharing lived experiences
• Discussing climate risks
• Contributing local knowledge
• Designing educational programs
• Participating in adaptation planning
• Developing resilience strategies
• Supporting youth participation
• Building partnerships
• Taking collective action

This approach recognizes that communities are not simply recipients of climate information. They can also be active contributors to learning, planning and decision-making.

Climate Equity, Adaptation and Resilience

Climate change does not affect every population equally. Communities can differ in their exposure to hazards, access to financial resources, infrastructure, political influence and capacity to recover.

The course connects climate education with questions of:

• Equity
• Inclusion
• Public participation
• Local vulnerability
• Adaptation
• Community capacity
• Resilience
• Environmental justice

Participants are encouraged to think about how education and engagement initiatives can respond to diverse community circumstances.

Youth Climate Learning and Agency

Young people are an important audience for climate education. However, teaching climate change only as a global crisis can produce fear or helplessness.

The course explores constructive approaches that help young people:

• Understand climate change
• Relate climate issues to their communities
• Express their concerns
• Participate in discussions
• Identify realistic forms of action
• Build problem-solving skills
• Develop confidence and agency
• Work collaboratively with others

Parents, teachers, caregivers and community educators can use these approaches to support informed and meaningful youth participation.

Course Activities

Participants will apply course concepts to a school, organization, community, professional program or project idea of their own.

During the course, learners will:

1. Study research-informed learning materials.
2. Watch short instructional videos.
3. Review climate-education and community-engagement case studies.
4. Participate in peer discussions.
5. Identify a climate issue relevant to their local or professional setting.
6. Select a specific audience for climate communication.
7. Practice explaining climate change to that audience.
8. Map local climate risks and community assets.
9. Identify organizations or individuals who could serve as partners.
10. Explore strategies for moving from awareness to participation.
11. Draft a climate-education or community-engagement plan.
12. Refine the plan using course concepts and peer feedback.
13. Submit a final project describing the plan and practical next steps.

Final Project

The final project is intended to help participants convert their learning into something useful for their own setting.

Depending on the participant’s role and context, the project may take the form of:

• A climate-education lesson plan
• A nature-education lesson
• A community program activity
• A youth-engagement initiative
• A public climate-communication activity
• A local awareness campaign
• A climate-resilience learning activity
• A community-engagement plan
• An NGO or nonprofit program concept
• An adaptation-focused educational activity

The final project should outline the learner’s proposed activity, intended audience and practical next steps.

Participants must complete the final project, together with the required weekly work, to qualify for the course certificate.

Online Course Format

The course is primarily asynchronous.

This means participants can generally complete weekly materials at times that suit their schedules rather than attending every class at a fixed time.

Weekly modules may include:

• Videos
• Readings
• Research-informed materials
• Case studies
• Discussion prompts
• Peer exchanges
• Reflective exercises
• Practical activities
• Project-development tasks

The asynchronous structure makes the course accessible across different countries and time zones.

Optional Live Component

An optional live webinar or discussion session will be included.

Participants who cannot attend the live session can access a recording. This is particularly helpful for international participants whose local time zones may make live attendance difficult.

The live session may provide an opportunity to:

• Discuss course themes
• Hear from instructors or facilitators
• Ask questions
• Exchange experiences
• Learn from other participants
• Obtain guidance on practical application

The official page describes the live component as optional, so participants should not assume that inability to attend live will automatically prevent course completion.

Learning Platforms and Technology

The course uses:

• edX Edge for course modules and discussions
• Zoom for live sessions

Prospective learners should have:

• Reliable internet access
• A computer, tablet or compatible device
• A working email address
• The ability to access edX Edge
• Access to Zoom if they plan to attend live
• Basic ability to download, complete and upload files
• Sufficient English proficiency to understand the course materials and participate in discussions

The official course page does not state that advanced technical skills are required.

Social and Applied Learning

The course uses a learning approach based on:

• Social learning
• Reflection
• Practical application
• Peer exchange
• Local relevance
• Case-study analysis

Participants learn by applying course ideas to their own context and sharing examples, resources and feedback with other learners.

The global structure allows participants to compare climate-education and engagement experiences from different communities and countries.

Who Should Take the Course?

The course is designed for a broad global audience.

School, informal and community educators

Teachers and educators can use the course to strengthen their ability to explain climate change and incorporate constructive climate learning into lessons or programs.

NGO and nonprofit professionals

Professionals designing climate, sustainability, youth or community initiatives can use the course to improve their engagement strategies and program planning.

Community leaders and volunteers

Individuals working on local climate action, adaptation, public participation or resilience can learn how to connect community knowledge with educational activities.

University students

Students interested in environmental studies, education, climate change, public policy, development, communication or community engagement can build a practical foundation through the course.

Early-career professionals

The course can help early-career professionals understand how climate education and community participation can be incorporated into professional projects.

Parents and caregivers

Parents, caregivers and family educators can explore practical ways to support climate learning and agency among children and young people.

Environmental education professionals

Experienced professionals can use the program to update existing environmental-education activities with a stronger focus on climate literacy, communication and action.

Eligibility Requirements

The course is open globally.

The official page does not require:

• A university degree
• Previous professional experience
• Previous climate-science training
• Employment with an environmental organization
• Citizenship in a particular country
• Formal teaching qualifications

No prior background in climate science is required.

Participants should, however, be prepared to complete approximately four to five hours of weekly coursework and submit a final project.

Tuition and Tiered Pricing

The Cornell Civic Ecology Lab uses tiered pricing to make the course more accessible to educators and practitioners worldwide.

Standard fee: $90

The standard fee applies to residents of:

• United States
• Canada
• European countries
• Japan
• South Korea
• Singapore
• Mainland China
• Taiwan
• Israel
• Australia
• New Zealand

Reduced fee: $20

The reduced fee applies to participants residing in all other countries.

This means residents of many countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and the Pacific can qualify for the reduced rate.

The fee category is based on the participant’s country of residence rather than citizenship.

Fee for Participants Residing in Pakistan

Participants residing in Pakistan fall within the “all other countries” category and should therefore qualify for the reduced $20 fee.

Pakistani applicants may also seek one of the limited need-based scholarships if they require financial support.

Need-Based Scholarships

A limited number of competitive, need-based scholarships are available.

The official page does not specify:

• The number of scholarships
• The exact monetary value
• Whether every scholarship covers the complete course fee
• The number of applicants expected
• A guaranteed award for any particular country or profession

Applicants should therefore understand that financial assistance is limited and competitive.

How to Apply for a Scholarship

Applicants seeking scholarship support should:

1. Visit the official course page.
2. Download the 2026 CECE Scholarship Application Word document.
3. Complete all required sections of the document.
4. Save the completed document as a PDF.
5. Open the online course-registration form.
6. Upload the PDF as part of the registration process.
7. Submit the registration and scholarship request by September 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
8. Wait for the scholarship decision expected on September 4, 2026.

Applicants should complete the scholarship document before beginning the online registration form.

Cornell University Certificate

Participants who complete the course requirements will receive a Cornell University PDF certificate in Climate Education and Community Engagement.

The certificate documents:

25 professional development hours

To receive the certificate, participants must complete:

• Required weekly coursework
• Relevant activities and discussions
• The final project

The certificate is a professional-development credential. The official page does not state that it carries Cornell academic credit, constitutes admission to Cornell University or can be counted toward a Cornell degree.

Participants should not describe themselves as Cornell students or alumni solely on the basis of completing this short online course.

Course Team

The course is offered by the Cornell Civic Ecology Lab with support from researchers, graduate students and teaching assistants.

Fish Yu

Fish Yu is associated with Cornell University’s Department of Natural Resources and the Environment. Yu holds a Master of Science from Cornell University with specialization in public participation and climate governance and has worked with environmental educators and sustainability practitioners internationally.

Professor Marianne Krasny

Professor Marianne Krasny is a scholar in environmental education and civic ecology at Cornell University. She has authored multiple books and research publications, including work informing the course.

Alex Kudryavtsev

Alex Kudryavtsev is a researcher in sustainability education and urban environmental education at Cornell University. His published work includes a framework for nature education.

Hamid Nikzad

Hamid Nikzad is a Cornell graduate student conducting research related to agriculture, human well-being and climate change. He serves as the course administrator and supports participant questions.

How to Register

Interested participants can follow these steps:

1. Read the complete course information.
2. Confirm availability from September 8 to October 4, 2026.
3. Determine whether the standard or reduced fee applies to their country of residence.
4. Decide whether to request need-based scholarship support.
5. Download and complete the scholarship document if applying for assistance.
6. Save the scholarship application as a PDF.
7. Open the official registration form.
8. Provide the requested personal and professional information.
9. Upload the scholarship PDF where applicable.
10. Submit the form.
11. Follow any payment or enrolment instructions received from the course team.
12. Retain a copy of the registration confirmation.

Register for the Climate Education and Community Engagement course

Important Dates

A separate general registration deadline is not stated on the official course page. Early registration is recommended.

Important Points Before Registering

Prospective participants should remember that:

• The course is online.
• It runs for four weeks.
• Most learning activities are asynchronous.
• The optional live session will be recorded.
• edX Edge is used for modules and discussions.
• Zoom is used for live activities.
• The anticipated workload is four to five hours per week.
• No prior climate-science background is required.
• Participation is open globally.
• The standard fee is $90.
• The reduced fee is $20.
• Scholarships are limited and competitive.
• The scholarship deadline is September 1, 2026.
• Certificate eligibility requires completion of weekly work and the final project.
• The certificate documents 25 professional development hours.
• The course is not advertised as an academic-credit program.

Contact Information

Questions can be directed to:

Email: CivicEcology@cornell.edu

Applicants should include “CECE” in the email subject line so that the course administrator can identify the inquiry.

Conclusion

The Cornell Climate Education and Community Engagement online course provides an accessible opportunity for learners worldwide to develop practical skills in climate literacy, communication, local risk assessment, community participation, youth agency and climate resilience.

Running from September 8 to October 4, 2026, the course combines asynchronous weekly modules, research-informed materials, short videos, case studies, discussions, practical activities and an optional recorded live session.

Participants will apply their learning to a real school, organization, community or project idea and produce a practical climate-education or engagement plan. Those who complete the weekly requirements and final project will receive a Cornell University PDF certificate documenting 25 professional development hours.

No previous climate-science training or university degree is required. Tiered pricing makes the course more accessible internationally, while a limited number of competitive, need-based scholarships are available to applicants who submit the required document by September 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.