The Fenner School of Environment & Society is a world-leading centre for cross-disciplinary environmental and sustainability research, education and policy-relevant advice.
Through cutting-edge research and insightful analysis, our academic experts create social, economic and environmental impact and deliver real-world solutions to address complex environmental challenges.
2025 Course Details
- Dates: 4 – 5 December 2025
- Times: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm
- Enrolment Fee: $2,695 (inc.GST)
- Delivery Mode: Face-to-face at Fenner School
Natural Capital Accounting is increasingly being used to support the development and analysis of government policy. This accounting shows how different sectors of the economy affect the environment and vice versa. As the understanding of environment-economy interactions increases, the appropriate policy and business responses should become clearer. This professional development short course is designed to support individuals in government, business, or NGOs who are interested in developing, implementing, or using natural capital accounts.
The course draws on expertise in the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) from the Australian National University and the IDEEA Group. It covers the theoretical and practical fundamentals of natural capital and ecosystem accounting, placing them within the public policy framework and other decision-making processes.
The course lays the foundation for future, more advanced short courses on various aspects of natural capital accounting, including thematic accounts for land, ecosystems, carbon, and climate change, as well as water.
Requisite Knowledge
No specific prior knowledge is assumed but it is expected that participants have worked professionally in disciplines related to environmental or ecosystem accounting, including environmental science, ecological economics, natural resource management, public policy, national accounting or statistics.
Teaching Staff
- Michael Vardon, ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society
- Carl Obst, Institute for Development of Environmental – Economic Accounting
- Mark Eigenraam, Institute for Development of Environmental – Economic Accounting
- Sarah Clement, ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society
- Peter Burnett, ANU Law School
- Heather Keith, Griffith University
Learning Outcomes
On successfully completing of the course, participants will be able to:
- explain the key features of environmental and ecosystem accounting
- understand the range of information sources needed to compile accounts
- identify issues to which environmental or ecosystem accounts could be applied
- understand and interpret accounting tables
- know where to find help and additional information on the concepts, data sources and methods.
In addition to knowledge of the accounts and their uses, course participants will develop the skills needed to manage a team with diverse knowledge and experience that is needed to produce and use environmental accounts.
Workload
- In-person contact – 16 hours (9 am to 5 pm on two days)
Course Fee
The course fee is $2,695 (GST inclusive) and includes lunch and tea/coffee.
Do I get ANU credits from completing the course?
Completion of this professional short course does not provide ANU course credits or an ANU transcript.