The Climate Academy

What The Climate Academy does

The Climate Academy is a non-profit climate education initiative, founded by Matthew Pye and headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, that delivers a free, systems-informed climate curriculum to school students, university students, teachers, and lifelong learners worldwide. Its core product is a 16-chapter Student Course Book covering planetary boundaries, tipping points, the CUTx Index, climate psychology, and systems entrepreneurship, delivered through a Moodle-based learning management system at moodle.theclimateacademy.org and as a free downloadable PDF from theclimateacademy.org. The programme is structured around three pillars — Systems Understanding (Bronze/Silver/Gold), Civic Engagement via publications and events (Bronze/Silver/Gold), and Systems Entrepreneurship (Platinum) — with digital Open Badge certifications compliant with the 1EdTech standard and mapped to the EU GreenComp Framework (JRC, 2022).

The underlying technology stack is intentionally low-cost and open-source: Moodle LMS for course delivery and progress tracking, Open Badges for portable digital credentials, and an in-development Responsible AI Bot built in collaboration with Semantic Climate that is restricted to verified climate science sources. Distribution is entirely digital and self-serve, with a parallel grassroots channel through student-led Climate Academy chapters established in schools and universities across Belgium, Italy, Finland, Sweden, and India (Mumbai VIGBYOR schools), supported by partnerships with EU institutions, Erasmus+, Open Knowledge, and News Decoder.

The business model is non-commercial at its core: all curriculum content, videos, quizzes, and community participation are free globally, with the sole monetization lever being a modest administration fee for official Open Badge certificates, differentiated by Global North versus Global South and public versus private school status to reflect social justice principles. EU Erasmus+ funding and project-based grants (e.g., 'Writings on the Wall') supplement operations. The organization operates with a small team of approximately 8 people under a bootstrapped, founder-led structure without external investment or a formal corporate entity, and revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

The Climate Academy

Legal name

Matthew Pye (operating as The Climate Academy)

Website

https://theclimateacademy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Climate Academy is a Brussels-based non-profit offering a free, systems-informed climate education programme via a Moodle LMS and 16-chapter Student Book, with Open Badge certifications mapped to the EU GreenComp Framework, serving school and university students, teachers, and lifelong learners globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Education

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation) (EDAMABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH), Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs (EDAAAEAL), Service Learning Program Design, Accreditation & Evaluation (EDAIAGAL)

Keywords

• Climate education
• Systems thinking
• Online certification
• Open badge credentials
• Civic engagement training

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Certificate and Badge Fees: A modest administration fee is charged for official Open Badge certificates to support programme operations and growth. The fee structure is differentiated between Global North and Global South countries, and between private and public schools, reflecting principles of social justice.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Climate Academy provides a free, systems-informed climate education programme built on a Moodle-based learning management system, delivered through a 16-chapter Student Course Book and a three-pillar curriculum (Systems Understanding, Civic Engagement, Systems Entrepreneurship). It awards 1EdTech-compliant Open Badges (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) mapped to the EU GreenComp Framework for a modest administration fee, targeting school students, university students, teachers, and lifelong learners globally.

Product overview

The Climate Academy offers a unified climate education platform built on Moodle, consisting of a free 16-chapter Student Course Book and a three-pillar certification programme. Pillar 1 (Systems Understanding) provides foundational climate literacy through chapter quizzes progressing from Bronze to Gold. Pillar 2 (Civic Engagement) offers two tracks—Publications and Events—with Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels for creating media content or organizing climate activities. Pillar 3 (Systems Entrepreneurship) is the Platinum capstone for legacy projects. The programme includes official sub-projects like 'The Writings on the Wall' mural project and 'Movies for Change' video programme. An Open Badge certification system (1EdTech compliant, mapped to EU GreenComp Framework) recognizes achievements. A Responsible AI Bot is under development with Semantic Climate.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Climate Academy Programme (Moodle LMS) A free, systems-informed climate education programme delivered through a Moodle-based learning management system, featuring structured courses with quizzes, badge certifications, and progress tracking across three pillars of learning and action. Available globally to students, teachers, and lifelong learners.
• Student Course Book (16 Chapters) A comprehensive 16-chapter educational course book covering climate science, planetary boundaries, social systems, psychology, and climate action, available as a free downloadable PDF for students, teachers, and lifelong learners worldwide.
• Pillar 1: Systems Understanding (Bronze/Silver/Gold) The foundational pillar teaching systems-level climate thinking, with Bronze (16 chapter quizzes), Silver (teaching others), and Gold (establishing a Climate Academy in a school or community).
• Pillar 2: Civic Engagement - Publications (Bronze/Silver/Gold) Civic engagement track focused on creating climate-related publications such as articles, social media posts, videos, podcasts, murals, and art projects, with increasing levels of impact and leadership from Bronze to Gold.
• Pillar 2: Civic Engagement - Events (Bronze/Silver/Gold) Civic engagement track focused on organizing and participating in climate events including evening events, climate summits, protests, street art festivals, and deep green travel, ranging from participation (Bronze) to leadership (Gold).
• Pillar 3: Systems Entrepreneurship (Platinum) The highest achievement level recognising advanced leadership in systemic change, requiring truly intersectional, barrier-breaking, and legacy-building projects that address institutional, social, political, and psychological barriers.
• Open Badge Certification System Digital certification system using Open Badges compliant with the 1EdTech standard, offering Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum badges mapped to the EU GreenComp Framework, with downloadable PDF certificates and digital badges shareable on professional platforms for a modest administration fee.
• The Writings on the Wall Official Climate Academy project where students design and paint climate justice murals, combining science and art to teach tipping point science and climate injustices.
• Movies for Change Official Climate Academy project where students select a chapter topic, identify key issues, then design, film and edit videos about climate topics, designed for Geography or Language lessons.
• Facing the Truth Official Climate Academy publication project using journalism and art where students learn about Syria as a climate-conflict case study, then sit in pairs to draw portraits of each other following the methods of journalist/artist George Butler.

Quantifiable outcome

• Access to 16 chapters of in-depth science and social analysis
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Semantic ClimatecoreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration to develop a responsible AI bot for the Climate Academy that is plugged only into the most reliable science and data on sustainability. The bot avoids misinformation and minimises carbon cost of searches by not trawling the broader internet.
• George MonbiotflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate Academy in Brussels co-hosted a biodiversity-focused event with author George Monbiot at the EU Commission. Students spoke about the CUTx Index and their climate work to an audience of approximately 500 policy experts.
• EU CommissionflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Climate Academy organised a protest outside the EU Commission in November 2018, leading to students being invited to speak to MEPs in the EU Parliament. Ongoing engagement with EU institutions on climate policy.
• Erasmus+ ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU Erasmus+ funding supports Climate Academy activities, enabling cross-border collaboration and student exchange between Climate Academies in different countries.
• Open KnowledgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to support open access to climate education resources and promote public understanding of science.
• News DecoderminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with NewsDecoder for student storytelling competitions. Climate Academy student Amaury Chauve won 3rd prize in NewsDecoder's Storytelling Competition for his article on climate literacy.
• EU GreenComp FrameworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate Academy's certificate scheme is mapped onto the EU's GreenComp Framework (JRC, 2022), ensuring credentials are aligned with European standards for green competencies.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Cool World (formerly Centre for Sustainable Communications / similar edu-orgs): Smaller climate and sustainability education initiatives targeting schools and lifelong learners; adjacent in mission but typically narrower in scope than The Climate Academy's systems curriculum.
• Generation Climate: Youth-led climate education and advocacy network; comparable as a peer community mobilizing young climate agents across countries, though more advocacy- than curriculum-focused.

Direct peers

• Earth School (UN Act Now / UNESCO): Free, globally accessible climate and sustainability education resource for students and teachers; the closest direct comparator in terms of free-curriculum, school-targeted climate learning.
• Climate Reality Project: Global climate education and advocacy non-profit founded around Al Gore's training model; directly comparable as a free, mission-driven programme building climate literacy and a global volunteer network.
• Earth HQ (350.org): Grassroots climate movement organization that combines education, training, and civic mobilization; overlaps directly with The Climate Academy's Pillar 2 events and student-led activism model.
• Project Drawdown: Non-profit focused on climate solutions education with a strong emphasis on systemic levers and impact ranking — closely comparable to The Climate Academy's systems-thinking and CUTx-style framing.

Others

• Ellen MacArthur Foundation (Education programmes): Foundation running large-scale school programmes on the circular economy and sustainability; relevant as an adjacent educational funder and curriculum publisher with school-distribution reach in Europe.

Broad incumbents

• Coursera: Global MOOC provider hosting climate and sustainability courses from universities; an incumbent alternative channel for self-directed learners that could absorb demand The Climate Academy targets.
• Khan Academy: Large free online learning platform with growing climate and energy content; competes indirectly as a destination for student self-study, but lacks The Climate Academy's systems and civic engagement framing.

Regional players

• Green Schools National Network: US-based K–12 sustainability education organization building school chapters and resources; comparable as a peer in establishing school-level sustainability communities, but primarily US-focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rocketgenesis
• Facebookfacebook.com/theclimateacademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theclimateacademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/theclimateacademy

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Climate Academy