2023 Year in Review - The Carbon Literacy Project

2023 Year in Review – The Carbon Literacy Project

Time Stamp: January 11, 2024 7:21 AM
Source Node: 2437486

2023 was another truly extraordinary year for The Carbon Literacy Project. Thanks to the unmatched hard work and dedication of our incredible team, including our volunteers, interns, Trustees and CL trainers, we experienced another groundbreaking year, witnessing the growth and expansion of Carbon Literacy at a rate never seen before.

A mind-boggling 29,906 learners were certified in 2023 – which means we were less than one hundred learners away from reaching the milestone of 30,000 certified in 12 months – a truly record-breaking statistic!

Furthermore, we also welcomed 183 new Carbon Literacy Trainers and Facilitators, 68 Carbon Literate Organisations into the Carbon Literacy family, engaged a further 2,056 organisations, across 7 new nations, and accredited a total of 189 unique Carbon Literacy courses.

Continue reading for a recap of some of our highlights from 2023, as well as some key dates for 2024.

Local Authorities Toolkit Expansion

In March and October 2023, two new Carbon Literacy courses were added to the Local Authorities Toolkit; the first for Parish, Town and Community Councils, and the next for Community Leaders. These materials consist of the resources necessary for an even broader range of councillors and officers to receive and deliver Carbon Literacy training, enabling more councils to adopt climate action and integrate climate change into decision-making.

Find out more about the Local Authorities Toolkit.

Carbon Literacy for Sport Launched

In April, we headed to the annual BASIS Conference in Bristol to launch our brand new Sports Kit, an adaptable, complete Carbon Literacy Toolkit for the sports sector. Developed and piloted with support from UK Sport and BASIS and adapted from an original Carbon Literacy course created by members of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games organising committee, the Sports Kit provides the sector with a resource that can kickstart Carbon Literacy training within sports organisations.

Read more about Carbon Literacy for Sport.

Carbon Literacy NHS Elearning Launched

Following a collaboration with Greener NHS and Elearning for Healthcare (ELFHC), we launched the latest offering within our Healthcare Toolkit, Carbon Literacy for NHS Elearning. This new pathway, which consists of part elearning and part workshop, has made Carbon Literacy more accessible for NHS staff across all roles, encouraging further uptake and roll-out across the sector.

Read more about Carbon Literacy for Healthcare.

Fourth CLO Awards

On Thursday 15th June 2023, we celebrated our fourth and biggest Carbon Literate Organisation Awards at Contact Theatre in Manchester. With over 100 delegates, together we celebrated the successes and achievements of 87 new CLOs across all sectors of society.

Read more about the 2023 CLO Awards.

Carbon Literacy Reaches Seventh & Final Continent

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS), a world-leading centre for polar science and polar operations, delivered Carbon Literacy training on the RRS Sir David Attenborough in Antarctica, becoming the southernmost training venue and seventh, and final, continent Carbon Literacy has been delivered in.

Read more about Carbon Literacy in Antarctica.

Top 10 Northern Gamechanger

In September, The Carbon Literacy Project was awarded as a Top 10 Northern Gamechanger! The Northern Gamechangers Awards, hosted by Elevate, is an impact-oriented initiative honouring purpose-driven businesses and individuals across the Greater Manchester region.

Read more about our Northern Gamechanger award.

Third Annual Carbon Literacy Action Day

On Monday 4th December 2023, we held the third annual International Carbon Literacy Action Day (CLAD), which saw an astonishing 2,303 individuals, from 75 training providers and 10 nations, take part in and complete their Carbon Literacy training.

Read more about the 2023 Action Day.

Fundraising Initiatives

Throughout 2023, we held a number of exciting fundraisers in an attempt to raise essential funds to further our work. In April, we launched the Carbon Literacy Double as part of the Big Give’s Green Match Fund. Next, to encourage outdoor adventuring, we held the Carbon-bola, a prize draw where one lucky winner received a bundle of Patagonia goodies. Lastly, we took part in the Big Give’s Christmas Challenge fund and launched our 2024 expansion campaign; Carbon Literacy Goes Global.

In total, across all fundraising efforts in 2023, we raised over £38,000! These funds have been injected directly back into the Project to support the development and expansion of Carbon Literacy at scale.

Read more about our fundraising campaigns.

Looking Ahead to 2024

While this has been a transformational and historic year both for us at the Project and for climate action, we know that we need to do more, more quickly, in order to rise to the pressing challenge of climate change. We need to engage and embed Carbon Literacy in more organisations, communities and locations, providing citizens everywhere with the tools and knowledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

That’s why our aim for 2024 is globalisation. We know that Carbon Literacy is a proven and reliable tool for creating positive cascades of action – but the systems-level shifts we need for a liveable future can’t happen if the change is focused in the UK. That’s why the time has come to cultivate a global network of impassioned Carbon Literate citizens. 2024 is our year of internationalisation, where our Carbon Literate population will ripple out into other nations, embedding Carbon Literacy as a core competence globally.

Can you help us achieve our aim?

If you know of anyone looking for help to reduce the carbon footprint of their place of work, study, or community, or educate their people on climate change and what they can do about it, put them in touch with us to see how Carbon Literacy can accelerate their plans for a zero-carbon future.

Important Upcoming Dates

9th January – onwards
Latest open Carbon Literacy courses

23rd January
Carbon Literate Educator Scheme launch

February
Carbon Literacy Action Network launch

June (TBC)
CLO Awards

Autumn (TBC)
CLE Awards

November (TBC)
Carbon Literacy Action Day

Keep your eyes peeled for more important dates for your diary coming in the weeks and months ahead!

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