Course on Decarbonization Strategies in Smart Cities
Online course of 300 hours in decarbonisation strategies for smart cities: 6 modules covering cities and climate change, emissions inventories, decarbonising buildings and energy, mobility and services, and climate planning and monitoring, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand climate neutrality targets and frameworks for cities.
Prepare emissions inventories in line with the GPC protocol and ISO 14064-1.
Design decarbonisation measures for buildings and energy.
Propose decarbonisation measures for mobility and urban services.
Prioritise measures by cost and reduction potential.
Monitor progress with digital platforms and indicators.
Draw up a decarbonisation strategy for a city.
Who it's for
- Municipal climate change officers.
- Decarbonisation consultants.
- Emissions analysts.
- Energy planners.
- Climate project managers.
- Urban sustainability officers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into local government.
What you'll work with
- Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 (European Climate Law)
- Ley 7/2021 (Spanish climate change and energy transition law)
- ISO 14064-1 (quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions)
- ISO 14068-1 (carbon neutrality)
- Directive (EU) 2024/1275 (energy performance of buildings)
- Directive (EU) 2023/1791 (energy efficiency)
- GHG Protocol GPC (Global Protocol for Community-Scale GHG Emission Inventories)
- ISO 37101 (management system for sustainable development in communities)
- LEAP
- ClearPath
- Python with pandas
- QGIS
- Power BI
6 modules
1.1Urban emissions by sector1.22050 climate neutrality targets1.3The European Climate Law and Ley 7/20211.4The Covenant of Mayors1.5The Mission for 100 climate-neutral cities1.6Climate City Contracts1.7Municipal carbon budgets1.8Co-benefits for health and air quality1.9Just transition at local level1.10Case study: analysis of a Spanish city's Climate City Contract
2.1The GPC protocol for communities2.2Scopes 1, 2 and 3 in cities2.3Emission factors and data sources2.4Emissions inventory under ISO 14064-12.5Consumption-based emissions2.6Tracking with real-time data2.7Inventory uncertainty2.8CDP-ICLEI platform tools2.9Verification and reporting2.10Lab: emissions inventory for a municipality
3.1Large-scale energy retrofitting3.2Electrification of heating and cooling3.3Renewable heat networks3.4Self-consumption and energy communities3.5Exemplary public buildings3.6Phasing out fossil fuels3.7Street lighting and municipal services3.8Procurement of renewable electricity3.9Energy poverty and social measures3.10Practical exercise: decarbonisation plan for the municipal building stock
4.1Low-emission zones4.2Modal shift and public transport4.3Electrification of municipal fleets4.4Zero-emission urban logistics4.5Waste management and the circular economy4.6The water cycle and efficiency4.7Green infrastructure and carbon sinks4.8Proximity-based urban planning4.9Carbon neutrality under ISO 14068-14.10Workshop: transport emission reduction scenarios
5.1Sustainable energy and climate action plans5.2Marginal abatement cost curves5.3Prioritising measures5.4Monitoring with smart city platforms5.5Monitoring indicators5.6Climate finance and green bonds5.7Participation and climate governance5.8Offsetting risks and greenwashing5.9Reviewing and updating plans5.10Case study: abatement curve for municipal measures
6.1Municipal emissions diagnosis6.2Defining targets and pathways6.3Measures in buildings and energy6.4Measures in mobility and services6.5Quantifying reductions6.6Economic analysis of the measures6.7Digital monitoring system6.8Governance and participation6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
The course is taught 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. You work with LEAP, ClearPath, Python with pandas, QGIS and Power BI, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: preparing a municipal emissions inventory, modelling emission reduction scenarios and prioritising measures with abatement curves. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.
Standards covered: Regulation (EU) 2021/1119, Ley 7/2021, ISO 14064-1, ISO 14068-1, Directive (EU) 2024/1275, Directive (EU) 2023/1791, GHG Protocol GPC, ISO 37101.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- Internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with LEAP, ClearPath, Python with pandas, QGIS and Power BI, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
No prior qualification is required; you need a computer with an internet connection and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
Related programmes
Road Photometry and Lighting Safety Course
Online course of 300 hours in road photometry and lighting safety: 6 modules covering UNE-EN 13201-2, UNE-EN 13201-3 and UNE-EN 13201-4 applied to real cases, with…
Course in Cable-Stayed Bridge Design
Online course of 300 hours in cable-stayed bridge design. 6 modules covering the conceptual design of cable-stayed bridges, stay cables and anchorages, structural analysis, deck and…
Course on Urban Co-design Strategies
Online course of 300 hours in urban co-design strategies, structured in 6 modules covering co-design principles, preparing co-design, generative tools, prototyping and validation, and scaling up…
More in Civil, Rail & Smart Cities
All Civil, Rail & Smart Cities programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships