Free CPD-accredited course bridges the gap between climate urgency and the policy mechanisms that actually determine whether anything changes
For the better part of a decade, millions of people — students, activists, ordinary citizens — have taken to the streets demanding that governments act on the climate crisis. The marches have been global, the rhetoric urgent, the frustration real. What has been far less visible is how the economic and policy machinery that could deliver that change actually works: what a carbon tax does, why markets fail to price environmental damage, how tradable permits are designed, and what the limits of GDP as a measure of progress really mean.
Alison has launched a new free, CPD-accredited course — Introduction to Environmental Economics and Policy — designed to close that gap. The course moves from economic theory to practical policy tools, covering market failure and externalities, pollution taxes, regulatory frameworks, international environmental agreements, and alternative measures of national well-being. It is built for anyone who wants to move from caring about the environment to understanding — and influencing — the systems that govern it.
When Passion Meets Policy
The climate debate has never lacked conviction. What it has often lacked is economic literacy on the part of those who want change most. Understanding why unchecked markets systematically undervalue natural resources, or how a poorly designed carbon market can fail even with good intentions, is not merely academic — it is the difference between advocacy that sounds good and advocacy that achieves something. Governments, NGOs, businesses, and international bodies make decisions shaped by the frameworks this course unpacks. Knowing those frameworks is a form of power.
The course covers the tension between economic growth and environmental sustainability, introduces tools such as marginal cost analysis and deadweight loss in environmental contexts, and examines how laws and incentive structures have been used — with varying success — to address climate change, pollution, and resource depletion. It is accessible to beginners with no prior background in economics or environmental science.
Turning Urgency Into Understanding
Mike Feerick, Founder and CEO of Alison, stated: "There is no shortage of people who care deeply about the environment. What is in shorter supply is the knowledge of how economies and policy systems actually work — and why they so often fail to protect the natural world. This course exists to give that knowledge to anyone who wants it, for free. Because the people most motivated to change things deserve to understand the tools that make change possible."
The course is available now through any desktop browser or the Alison App on Android and iOS, with flexible study options and a free digital Certificate on completion.
To learn more or enrol, visit: https://alison.com/course/introduction-to-environmental-economics-and-policy
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About Alison
Alison is a global leader in free online learning and skills development. With over 50 million registered learners across 193 countries (as of October 2025), Alison empowers individuals, communities, and organisations to upskill quickly and effectively – at zero cost.
The Alison platform provides immediate access to over 6,000 free, CPD-accredited courses, covering essential areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Digital Marketing, Project Management, Business Operations, Healthcare and Sustainability. Courses are created by a mix of independent experts and global leaders, including IBM, Stanford and Microsoft.
For organisations, Alison offers a Free Learning Management System (LMS) that enables unlimited learners to access thousands of courses with no upfront cost. A premium version with advanced analytics and customisation is also available. Alison's offering includes a full suite of assessments and psychometric tools, including a Workplace Personality Assessment, Mental Health & Wellbeing Assessment, English Language Proficiency Test, as well as Numerical, Verbal, and Abstract Reasoning tests.
To further support career development, learners also gain access to a Career Guide, a Resumé Builder, and the ability to study offline through the Alison App. The platform is also expanding its reach with multilingual versions, starting with complete Spanish, French, and Hindi offerings — reaffirming its mission to make education accessible to anyone, anywhere.
Founded in 2007, Alison pioneered the concept of free, large-scale online learning and is recognised as the world’s first MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) platform. Today, its mission continues: to break down barriers to learning, helping people gain skills, build confidence, and improve their lives — no matter where they live or what they earn.
