The Carbon Literacy Project is another world first ‘Made In Manchester’.  It brings effective and relevant climate change learning to people wherever they are, whether in the workplace, community or place of education. 

It is born out of Manchester: A Certain Future which aims to enable everyone who works, lives or learns in Manchester to access a day’s worth of Carbon Literacy by 2015.   Carbon Literacy is also one of the objectives of the Greater Manchester Climate Change Strategy. The project is thriving in Manchester and is active in Greater Manchester too.

Manchester City Council were the first employer to commit to training all its staff, and its first 500 ‘graduates’ were celebrated at a ceremony in February. Both the city’s universities are active in the project, as is a large group of social land-lords. Manchester Adult Education Trainers were amongst the very first people to be trained and they are now using that content as part of course that they themselves are delivering. 

February also saw the first members of the M:ACF Steering Group complete their Carbon Literacy Training.

Climate Change affects everyone so it makes sense that everyone is given the skills and motivation to start to play their part in this on-going crisis

According to Carbon Literacy Project co-Director Phil Korbel, learning is critical to making a difference: "Climate Change affects everyone so it makes sense that everyone is given the skills and motivation to start to play their part in this on-going crisis," he says.

"This process has to start with learning. What we have in the Carbon Literacy Project is a tried and tested means by which any organisation can deliver this vital learning to all of their people."

The project is coordinated by the social enterprise Cooler Projects on behalf of the Carbon Literacy Trust.  More information can be found at www.carbonliteracy.com.