The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlighted the dangers of climate change in 2018. According to their report, a 1.5°C increase in global temperatures is expected by 2040. Ensuring that this figure is not exceeded would need a swift and significant change in carbon emissions across the board. Our use of transport, energy, and land in most cities and industries is responsible for global warming and the levels of CO2 need to be reduced by 2030 by 45%, and even further by 2050 to arrive at a state of net zero. The challenge is to cut emissions and remove excess carbon dioxide from the air.
While the majority of literate people are aware of climate change, this is a far cry from carbon literacy. To remedy this requires that these individuals, in their own capacities and within their roles in organizations, receive carbon literacy training.
Carbon Literacy Training
Carbon literacy training for trainers increases the capacity of concerned citizens to transfer knowledge on carbon literacy more rapidly to more people who are not carbon literate. They need to be trained in the knowledge of what global warming is and how to measure their carbon footprints. This has to be approached at the level of individuals, businesses, and communities. Additionally, citizens must be taught how to reduce their own carbon footprints and CO2 emissions and that of their organizations.
Every household or business contributes to global warming. The Carbon Literacy Project is responsible for the term ‘global literacy’. ‘Carbon literacy train the trainer’ is an effective way devised by them to get as many people as possible carbon literate in the shortest time. A Carbon Literacy Trainer can reach many people over multiple sessions.
What is the Goal and Vision of Carbon Literacy?
Carbon literacy can be defined as the knowledge and ability to bring about a positive transition to how the world deals with climate change. This training is for individuals and company representatives. It also includes ‘Train the Trainer’ training sessions to prepare trainers to convey this knowledge to groups of people. With the right vision, it is possible to multiply the reach of training to prepare businesses as well as single individuals and their families to respond to climate change appropriately.
Types of Carbon Literacy
Carbon literacy is taught to various groups and literacy is measured and accredited as follows:
- An individual can be considered carbon literate after they have received a full day of training on carbon literacy. They will receive a certificate in recognition of this learning.
- When all the employees of an organization have been certified carbon literate, the business will receive the Carbon Literacy Project accreditation that denotes them as a ‘Carbon Literate Organisation’ (CLO).
- There are three possible accreditations for trainers of carbon literacy. These are:
- Carbon Literacy Consultant (CLC)
- Carbon Literacy Trainer (CLT)
- Carbon Literacy Facilitator (CLF)
- A Carbon Literacy Training Organisation (CLTO) is so designated after they have provided extensive carbon literacy training to a large variety of businesses and individuals.
Carbon literacy training needs to be promoted far and wide.
