Climate KIC Academy | Climate KIC

Explore the Academy

Right now, only one in eight workers have the green skills needed to support the transition to a safe and just future where we live within planetary boundaries. This skills gap is holding us back and slowing down the progress we so urgently need.

Without the right people equipped to lead the change, sustainable practices across industries are being delayed, putting our future at risk.

Our Mission

To equip individuals with climate resilience skills, knowledge and collaboration strategies to lead the green transition.

What makes us different?

Supported by the EIT, the Climate KIC Academy understands the need to bridge the gap between technical expertise and the essential leadership skills needed to drive systemic change. We don’t just teach the ‘how’ of climate solutions—we empower participants with the ‘why’ and ‘who’ by cultivating collaboration, systems thinking, and the ability to inspire action across industries, communities, and governments. Our holistic approach ensures that participants leave with practical skills, a global perspective, and the confidence to tackle entrenched challenges.

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A message to

Funders

The green transition needs leaders to help scale progress.

Closing the green skills gap is one of the biggest levers we have to accelerate climate action. Your support can scale proven learning models that equip changemakers across industries and geographies. Discover how your investment can build a climate-ready workforce

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A message to

Partners

Together, we can scale impact, connect innovation with action, and create a fairer future for us all.

The green transition can’t succeed without a workforce equipped to lead it. Climate KIC Academy offers customisable, hands-on learning experiences that build the transferable skills needed to drive systemic change. Let’s collaborate to co-create training programmes that meet the urgent needs of your community or sector.

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What the Academy needs?

The green transition needs more than ambition — it needs people with the right skills. The Climate KIC Academy offers customisable, practical learning experiences designed to equip individuals and organisations with the knowledge, tools, and networks needed to drive real-world climate action.

We’re calling on educational institutions, industry leaders, policymakers, and community advocates to join us. For funders and investors, we invite you to support the expansion of our offerings and reach. For partners, we welcome collaboration on co-developing and delivering programmes. And for future participants, register your interest now for our upcoming trainings — designed to help you become the climate leader your sector needs.

Our tailored learning approaches focus on transferable skills that encourage people to adapt, innovate, and lead across diverse industries. Whether it’s system innovation, climate resilience, or regenerative business models, the Academy helps bridge the gap between climate ambition and workforce capability.

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Testimonials

For the Department of Sustainability of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, whose functions include the organization, coordination, and development of the main actions of the Gipuzkoa Strategy to fight Climate Change, consolidating an active and stable communication relationship with the public is vital. In this sense, the social activation laboratories are the perfect framework for developing this social dialogue, and having CLIMATE KIC, as an expert agent with a transnational vision, is an opportunity to continue making firm progress in the rollout of our Strategy at the regional level Mónica Pedreira General Director of Ecological Transition – Department of Sustainability

The intensive work carried out with the CLIMATE KIC team during the second half of 2024, analyzing and diagnosing the environmental, energy, and climate change situation in the regions of Gipuzkoa, has allowed Naturklima to learn about and utilize the working methodologies of the expert community on climate action. This closeness in addressing environmental issues and their diagnosis is undoubtedly key to the future deployment of social activation laboratories in Gipuzkoa. Xabier Esteban General Director – Naturklima

The circular economy requires a combination of existing and new knowledge and policy-making skills. This course was created to address that need, and we are very proud of the results of this partnership between the IDB and Climate KIC Dr Matteo Grazzi Senior Specialist Inter-American Development Bank

Participation in the Academy has been not only an honourable opportunity for the city of Rivne but also a valuable tool for rethinking governance approaches in the context of climate challenges. It is essential to emphasise the importance of collective leadership, which is built on the synergy between government, business, civil society, and international partners, as well as the potential to attract grant resources and investments for the implementation of innovative technologies. Artem Hanuschak Deputy Mayor of Rivne

Climate KIC's leadership program empowered me to pursue my passion for sustainability. Their support helped me land a role managing a European project using SDGs for strategic governance. I'm thrilled to be working on something so meaningful.” Barbora Ansorge Project Manager URBACT - Cities for Sustainability Governance, Magistrát města Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic

Case study

Rivne Pilot

In 2024, a Climate-KIC Academy pilot was launched in Rivne, Ukraine — a city selected by the European Commission’s Net-Zero Cities programme. Located in Western Ukraine, Rivne is aiming to become the country’s first climate-neutral city by 2030, despite facing the ongoing challenges of war and recovery. The Academy was carefully designed to meet the city’s practical needs, focusing on resilience, renewable energy, and the integration of European sustainability practices into local decision-making.

Delivered in partnership with United for Ukraine (UFU), the programme provided hands-on training, peer learning, and access to a network of European climate experts. Participants explored real-life challenges, collaborated on actionable projects, and built the skills needed to drive a green transition on the ground. Following Rivne’s success, we’re keen to scale this practical, place-based learning model across other regions — supporting Europe’s climate goals while empowering communities at the frontline of transformation.

Closing the skills gap to accelerate climate progress