Climate Change CoursesDigital Product Decarbonization

Digital Product Decarbonization

4.4/5(32)

This four-week online course outlines techniques that digital product managers and builders can take to measure and reduce emissions from their products.

50+ students have taken this course
Digital Product Decarbonization

Created by —

François Burra

Co-founder, Climate Product Leaders, 3X product lead

Intermedia level

Some experience in digital product management or sustainability is desirable but not mandatory

Flexible schedule

Learn according to your schedule with fully asynchronous learning

3 weeks / 4 hours per week

Expected commitment. We will help keep yourself accountable with timely check-ins

Certificate & Office-hours

New

Certificate and office-hour meetings with course creator and other learners

Course overview

This course outlines tangible action that product managers and other seasoned operators in digital product companies can take in their roles to minimize their companies’ climate impact while driving their key OKRs. We’ll start by learning how to measure emissions for digital products. You’ll then explore several emissions reduction techniques both at the product design stage (such as reducing page weight, optimizing multimedia files, and minimizing data transfer) and the product development and delivery stages (such as promoting green user-behaviours and tactically pausing and deactivating services).

Importantly, you’ll learn about critical ways to engage and align stakeholders (i.e. your peers and customers) using metrics, processes, and mandates to implement these climate-efficient techniques. You’ll also build a strong network of peers in the field.

The course was initially created by Product for NetZero co-founders Chris Moisan and Dan O’Connell, with contributions from the Climate Product Management Playbook by François Burra, Co-founder of Climate Product Leaders, and Antoine Cabot, Senior Director of Product Management at Salesforce.

Course Intro: Digital Product Decarbonization

Skills you will learn

1

Digital emissions accounting

Tools and techniques for measuring the climate impact of digital technology

2

Designing digital products for climate efficiency

Techniques for minimizing climate impact when designing products, including mobile-first strategies, avoiding obsolescence tactics, and promoting green user behaviors

3

Minimizing climate impact of product delivery

Best practices for reducing the environmental impact of software and digital products, including choosing sustainable hosting providers, and responsive energy use

4

Aligning stakeholders using climate KPIs

Strategies to align your stakeholders on climate initiatives by establishing environmental standards and processes, such as including climate requirements in PRDs and RFPs and openly disclosing environmental commitments

Who is this course for?

Product managers and leaders

Product maBuild climate-friendly digital products by integrating sustainability from the ground up and aligning stakeholders around itnagers and leaders

Mid- and senior-level operators in digital product

Articulate climate-efficient value propositions and develop business practices in conjunction with key stakeholders, including the product team

Sustainability and ESG professionals

Understand the climate impact of digital products and identify effective strategies to reduce those impacts

Course syllabus

Week 1

Introduction to climate product management


The environmental impact of digital products, Emissions sources of digital products. Assess the sustainable digital maturity of a company

Week 2

Climate product principles


How to measure digital emissions, How to embed climate into your workflow, How to mindfully build product to reduce climate impact. Identify opportunities to embed climate into your current role/company

Week 3

Climate product principles part II


How to design climate-frugal products, How to explain and sell the benefits of climate-aligned products to stakeholders. Create a climate action plan for your company focusing on the digital impacts and opportunities


What you get with with this course

Free office-hours

Join monthly live sessions with the course creator and peers taking the same course.

Global community

Join our global community of 5k+ professionals from 80+ countries with 200+ expert mentors

Live events & workshops

Attend immersive events and practical workshops with top climate voices and peers

15% off other courses

As a learner, you get 15% off for all other courses on Terra.do. Including our cohort-based courses.

AI-assisted learningBeta

Cutting-edge AI-assisted learning experience with personilzed pathways and more.

What learners say about this course

Nelly Hempel

Nelly Hempel

"Taking the Digital Product Decarbonization course at Terra.do has been a game-changer in my journey as a Senior Product Designer. As someone passionate about creating meaningful, user-centered experiences, I have always been aware of the environmental impact our digital products can have. This course opened my eyes to practical strategies for reducing the carbon footprint of the products I design, without compromising on performance or user experience."

Senior UX Designer / Product Designer

Nolwenn Godard

Nolwenn Godard

"This course gives a fantastic overview of how to decarbonize software and perfectly suits the Product Management audience. It's very practical and actionable as well. You can start "doing." You can start impacting."

VP Climate at Mobioos

Meet the course creator

François Burra

François Burra

Co-founder, Climate Product Leaders, 3X product lead

François is a sustainable digital and low-carbon product consultant, mentor, and speaker with several successful turns as a Product Lead and UX Designer and 13 years of experience working with startups and agencies in Canada and the US. He helps digital companies reduce their digital emissions by delivering training, measuring digital emissions, and creating low-carbon experiences. He has trained individuals and teams in a variety of organizations such as Huge, ServiceNow, Planes, fruggr, Accenture Song, Cossette, etc. He recently wrote the climate product playbook “How to Become a Climate-Conscious Product Manager”. François is also a Terra.do fellow, completing Climate Change: Learning for Action in 2022

Live Office Hours

You won't learn alone

Join monthly live office hours with the course creator and fellow learners.

  • Ask your questions live
  • Get direct feedback from the instructor
  • Connect with peers taking the course with you
  • Learn from others' questions
  • Get access to the recording if you miss it
  • Keep lifetime access

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who will benefit most from this program?

People who are product managers, working on products, or product adjacent roles who are motivated to build digital experiences and services more sustainably.

Q: What does lifetime access mean?

A one-time payment gives you permanent access to all course content, including future updates, recordings, and resources.

Q: Can I connect with other learners or the instructor?

Absolutely. You’ll join monthly live office hours with the instructor and a peer group of learners to ask questions and network. You'll also become a lifetime member of the Terra.do community that has thousands of professionals and leading experts from over 80 countries.

Q: Is the course material up to date?

Yes, we review and refresh our content regularly, and sometimes within days of major industry developments.

Q: How is the Terra.do experience different compared to others?

Our course material is vetted by leading climate experts to ensure accuracy and relevance. We foster a vibrant, impact-driven community, giving you direct access to the Terra.do team, top industry professionals, and a supportive network of like-minded climate changemakers.

Q: Will this course help me find a climate job?

Yes — many learners use our courses to pivot into climate work. You’ll also get access to the world’s largest climate job board, exclusive job postings from our extended network from inside the community and relevant career tools & support.

Q: What is the format of the course?

This course includes on-demand content and monthly live office hours. You can learn at your own pace and show up live when you want feedback or connection.

Q: What happens if I miss the live office hours?

All sessions are recorded, and you’ll have lifetime access to watch them later.

Q: Can I expense this through my employer?

Many learners do. We provide a receipt and employer reimbursement letter upon request.

Take this course

Digital Product Decarbonization

One-time purchase. Lifetime access. Free live office hours.

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