The Hub has funded Carbon Literacy training for local authorities across South West England. Carbon literacy training provides an awareness of carbon costs and impacts, as well as the ability and motivation to reduce emissions on an individual and organisational basis.
The training programme was delivered by Change Agents UK to twelve councils with 136 participants becoming certified as Carbon Literate. Training was provided to key members in the organisations:
- Officers – to achieve net zero through service delivery
- Senior leadership – to embed net zero into service decision making
- Elected members – to communicate the need for and benefits of net zero public services to residents and businesses
Learners committed to ambitious action pledges, including five councils committing to continue to deliver Carbon Literacy training in-house. Course feedback reported an increase in motivation, knowledge and confidence.
These outcomes suggest that Carbon Literacy training is an impactful tool for local authorities to create place-based innovations to respond to their climate emergency declarations and net zero targets.
Councillor David d’Orton-Gibson, Bournemouth Christchurch & Poole Council, said:
“As far back as 2019 many councils, including BCP Council, declared a climate emergency. Nothing is going to change if people don’t do things differently and the Carbon Literacy training provides evidence-based information about what can change and how. It is the responsibility of every individual to do what they can, and it falls to those in positions of leadership to lead the way. Thanks to the South West Net Zero Hub for giving us the opportunity to do this practical study and move forward in what we do.”
Councils interested in find out more about Carbon Literacy training should contact the Hub or visit https://carbonliteracy.com/
