Program Menu
Download a
Brochure

Business Strategies for a Low Carbon Economy will emphasize the interrelation between regulatory policies for carbon emissions, the emergence of new technologies related to energy and transportation and the resulting challenges for change management at the individual company level. To provide this integrated perspective, the program will combine lectures, case studies, interactive game simulations and group project work. Program participants will hear the views of university researchers, politicians and top level executives. In the end, participants should come away from this program with an improved understanding of how their businesses and the industries they operate in will be affected by the global quest for smaller carbon footprints.

Program Dates: May 21 – 25, 2012
Application Deadline: March 30, 2012
Program Tuition: 6,250 Euro
Location: European School of Management and Technology (ESMT), Berlin, Germany
Price subject to change. Tuition includes most meals and all materials. Lodging not included in program tuition.
Cancellation Policy
Take the next step Apply now

Program Overview

As the world's leading economies accelerate their efforts to reduce carbon emissions, businesses across a wide range of industries face tremendous challenges as well as unique opportunities. A new Executive Program, offered jointly by the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT) in Berlin, provides an integrated assessment of the likely pathways to a low carbon economy. The program is designed for executives who seek to understand the impact of governmental regulations on new environmental technologies and changes in business processes.

SAMPLE SCHEDULE
Faculty Directors
Other Faculty
Stefan Reichelstein
Prof. Stefan Reichelstein

PhD, William R. Timken Professor of Accounting, Stanford Graduate School of Business

Christoph Burger
Christoph Burger

Member of the Faculty and Managing Director, ESMT Customized Solutions GmbH

Prof. C.B. Bhattacharya

Phd, Dean of International Relations and E.ON Chair in Corporate Responsibility, ESMT

Thomas Duveau

Renewables Energies and Infrastructure, WWF Germany

Prof. Lars-Hendrik Röller

PhD, Director General of the Economic and Financial Policy Division, German Federal Chancellery; former President, ESMT

Prof. Dr. Reinhard Huettl

Scientific Executive Director and Chairman of the Board of the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ), Potsdam and Vice-President of the Helmholtz Assocation

Peter Löscher

Chief Executive Officer, Siemens AG

Prof. Charles O'Reilly

Frank E. Buck Professor of Management, Director of the Leading Change and Organizational Renewal Executive Program

Prof. Dan Reicher

JD, Professor of the Practice of Law, and Executive Director of the Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance, Stanford University

Key Takeaways
  • A comprehensive assessment of climate change and public policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions in the U.S. and Europe
  • Examine the costs of reducing carbon emissions and the relative cost competitiveness of both fossil and renewable energy sources
  • Understand the prospects for technological innovation in several key industries with significant exposure to energy costs
  • Examine innovations in organizational structure and business processes that will be driven by the transition to a low carbon economy
  • Building a solid international network with people trying to leverage the opportunities a low carbon environment offers
 
 
 
 
 
 

Highlighted Sessions

Perspectives on climate change—The Climate Summit in Copenhagen in December 2009 ended with disappointing results. While people had hoped for a world-wide action plan, no consensus was reached. And also the summit in Cancun showed no unilateral progress. In this session, participants in group work will explore different argumentations of stakeholders in the climate change debate, such as developing countries, the view on innovation subsidies or the link between economic growth and resource depletion. In role plays participants will learn the reasons but also the emotions behind the different point of views.

Competition and regulation—While some parties claim to leave industry alone, other parties ask for more regulation. Using a simulation, participants will understand the link between competition and regulation and their impact on environment. Participants will gain insight on strategies to foster cooperation to solve social dilemmas as well as on competitive positions in a long-term industry development and its implications for company strategies.

Carbon regulations in Europe and the US—Carbon regulations aim to lower CO2 emissions to the benefit of climate change. Yet, carbon regulations cannot be evaluated standalone but are embedded in the energy triangle of security of supply, affordability and sustainability and its dilemmas. In this regard energy politics with its ambitions, competition regulation and regulation of infrastructure and their inter-linkage to international efforts to reduce carbon emissions become important. The session aims to shed light on the US as well as the European view on those issues trying to identify commonalities, differences and areas where both can learn from each other.

Stakeholders as driving force for business strategies— Should energy companies that are designed to produce and sell energy be engaged in energy reducing efforts that are contradicting to their business model? Using a case study, this session deals with the importance of stakeholder involvement when considering business strategies for a low carbon economy. A framework of how to achieve win-win strategies for the company as well as the environment will be introduced and examples will show levers for successful strategies.

Carbon emission reduction in production facilities— In this session, participants will visit a production facility of Daimler. In discussions they will explore specific actions, processes and learnings when reducing carbon emissions in a production unit.

Who Should Attend?

It is the intention of this program to bring European and American managers from energy related industries, automobile, IT and further service industries such as banking, insurance, consulting together as we believe that new business models will arise from the cooperation of those industries and among the continents.

Participants will be awarded with a double branded certificate from Stanford Graduate School of Business and the European School of Management and Technology (ESMT).

The transition to a low carbon economy creates challenges and opportunities in a wide range of industries across the globe. Both Stanford Graduate School of Business and the European School of Management and Technology have been on the forefront of research and policy analysis related to sustainability, carbon emissions, and clean technology solutions.
– Stefan Reichelstein
The William R. Timken Professor
of Accounting, Stanford Graduate
School of Business

CONTACT

Luz Deras
Associate Director, Programs
Phone: 650.724.6301
Email: deras_luz@gsb.stanford.edu