Collaborative project wins funds to build carbon literacy

Dr Shona Russell and Professor John Ferguson at the School of Management have received funding to investigate climate change education in accounting and finance education.

As countries gather for the Conference of the Parties 26 in Glasgow in November 2021, public and private accounting and finance have been identified as central to achieving net-zero carbon ambitions.

Yet little is known about the education, knowledge, skills and capabilities of professionals tasked with understanding, evaluating and investing in climate solutions. It is imperative that accounting and finance graduates are climate literate and equipped to use accounting and finance tools that enable carbon accountability.

Supported by the Royal Society of Edinburgh's COP 26 International Climate Network Grant, this collaborative project will:

• assess levels and patterns of climate change education around the world
• work with stakeholders to develop transformative curricula to ensure that current and future professionals are equipped to achieve net-zero ambitions.

The project involves colleagues from the Centre for Social and Environmental Accounting Research and the Centre for Responsible Banking and Finance, which are both based at the University of St Andrews, the Lloyds Centre for Responsible Business at the University of Birmingham, and accounting and finance stakeholders around the world.

Contact Shona Russell for more information.