At the overall objective level, we were aiming to contribute to the development of sustainable entrepreneurship know-how of students, teachers and entrepreneurs, to become more resilient to climate change with the competence to create new businesses aiming at positive environmental impact. For the specific objective, we aimed at delivering an up-to-date knowledge base and digital learning material for education that helps to enhance entrepreneurial thinking and action toward environmental consciousness and sustainability taking into consideration climate change. For this purpose, an interactive Digital Hadbook (also called SECA guide) called “Sustainable Entrepreneurship for Climate Action” was developed and piloted with the target group. SECA guide offers methodology as well as step-by-step guidance on how to innovate sustainable businesses for climate action. The guide aims to empower educators, students, and entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools necessary to create and develop sustainable businesses. To reach the main project goal research on Sustainable Business Practices was conducted and published, and the digital material platform was created with a set of learning Videos and Vlog materials.
Climate change is an unprecedented threat happening right now on our planet and it has an ongoing impact on all of us. Climate change is being listed as one of the many important Sustainable Development Goals of the UN: “take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts”. There was a lack of understanding how to change business strategy to act with a positive impact and sustainable manner. According to The World Economic Forum’s annual Global Risk reports, the most significant risk facing businesses is the failure to adapt to climate change. A lack of green competence and skills prior to the project was observed. Many businesses struggle with the process of identifying ways to adapt, prepare and become more resilient to climate change. One reason is that there was a lack of easily accessible material, education and training on what needs to be done, what are the necessary steps in the shift towards sustainable operations, how to innovate the business model towards “green” acting. Our project was initiated to offer a solution and contribute to the global movement to save our planet: to create a hands-on approach and a step-by-step guide how to build sustainable business and green start-ups.