This eCourse consists of two modules on commodities. Module 1 describes the different commodity groups that are bought and sold globally and those that act as feedstocks (“raw materials”) to make other goods. Coverage includes the supply and demand dynamics that impact commodity pricing, as well as the effects that environmental and sustainability changes are having on commodities today.

Module 2 looks at climate change or emissions mitigation techniques currently being used to limit the effect of climate change. It reviews the latest political agreements and the tools currently being used to set the price of “carbon” and how they interact with each other, and the current regional mechanisms being pursued.

On completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Define a commodity and how it differs from a “material”
- Identify the commodities traded in the various groups (agricultural, metals, energy, biofuels, petrochemicals and plastics, paper and packaging, freight, and carbon and emissions), where these commodities are produced and sold, and the factors that may affect their price
- Identify the main sources of emissions
- Recognise the significance of the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement in terms reducing emissions
- Compare the main types of emissions trading mechanism
- Identify the major global emissions trading schemes (ETS)
- The use of verified emission reduction (VER) credits

Module 1: Commodities - An Introduction
Topic 1: Overview of Commodities
Topic 2: Agricultural Commodities
Topic 3: Metal Commodities
Topic 4: Energy Commodities
Topic 5: Other Commodity Groups

Module 2: Commodities - Emissions
Topic 1: Emissions: Overview
Topic 2: Kyoto Protocol & Paris Agreement
Topic 3: Evolution of Emissions Trading
Topic 4: Major Global ETS
Topic 5: Carbon Offsetting & Voluntary Carbon Market