Climate Advocacy

At Heriot-Watt University, we acknowledge the pressing need for immediate action and recognise our duty to empower our students, staff and the communities in which we operate.

The Climate Advocacy course seeks to equip each member of our community with the essential tools to effect positive change. Through the cumulative impact of individual changes big and small, we can collectively contribute to climate action.

The Heriot-Watt Climate Advocacy Challenge is an interactive learning experience designed to explore the complex challenge of climate change through engaging, experiential and challenge-based approaches. Hosted on Canvas and enhanced through ThingLink, it has been co-developed with the Learning and Teaching Academy and our students to create an immersive journey across our global campuses. Participants progress by tackling sustainability-focused activities, unlocking new content, and earning digital badges along the way.

The Challenge aims to build climate awareness, support informed and responsible decision-making, and encourage more sustainable behaviours, while fostering a strong culture of shared learning across our global community. Designed as a flexible, self-paced experience, it introduces key themes such as the climate crisis, Scope emissions, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Heriot-Watt’s Climate Action Framework, and applied sustainability case studies. Learners are also encouraged to explore topics in greater depth, tailored to their interests and disciplines.

Delivered in phases, the Challenge is refined through participant feedback, ensuring it remains current, relevant, and responsive. It also serves as a platform to showcase institutional initiatives and share best practice in climate action across our campuses. Learners engage with a combination of short films, interactive quizzes, and problem-solving tasks, culminating in the opportunity to make a personal climate commitment, reinforcing both individual responsibility and collective impact.

To support integration into teaching, an accompanying facilitator’s guide is available for staff who wish to embed the Challenge within their learning and teaching activities. Designed for all students, the course is also open to staff across the University, encouraging a shared approach to climate learning and action.