Cambridgeshire County Council has been re-accredited as a Bronze ‘Carbon Literate Organisation’, highlighting the organisation's dedication towards tackling climate change, commitment to working towards a zero-carbon future, and reducing its organisational carbon emissions.
The Carbon Literacy accreditation is a nationally recognised scheme which helps organisations reach their carbon targets and is defined as – ‘an awareness of the carbon costs and impacts of everyday activities and the ability and motivation to reduce emissions on an individual, community and organisational basis’, and involves learning and action on climate change.
Cambridgeshire County Council has trained more than 450 colleagues from over 60 teams. The training has enabled the council to become formally certified as ‘Carbon Literate’ and is part of its vision of a greener Cambridgeshire; many of those involved have also committed to a series of individual pledges aimed at reducing their carbon emissions.
It is an accreditation by The Carbon Literacy Project and an organisation is judged as being ‘culturally Carbon Literate’ maintaining a substantial proportion of its workforce as Carbon Literate and demonstrating this through organisational behaviour.
Frank Jordan, Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director of Place and Sustainability at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “I am so proud that we’ve achieved a Bronze Carbon Literacy Accreditation as a county council. This recognition reflects our commitment to building climate awareness across our workforce and embedding sustainability into everything we do. It’s an important part of our journey towards a greener, more resilient future for Cambridgeshire.
“This is just one example of the positive actions we’re taking to combat our own carbon emissions – other examples include installing solar panels at our park and ride site, retrofitting many of our buildings with heat source pumps and alternative energy sources, and ensuring that new buildings are sustainable from the outset.
“This accreditation will help us to achieve our overall ambition of net zero, which, I’m happy to say, we are already on track to do.”
Dave Coleman, Co-Founder and Managing Director of The Carbon Literacy Project, said: “Carbon Literacy is an essential skill, vital to every workplace, community and place of study. It is the foundational knowledge, and a catalyst to empowering people to act on climate, however, carbon literacy is only the first step.
“The actions taken and pledged by learners as part of their Carbon Literacy have an immediate impact within their organisation, however it is the maintenance of these and further actions, supported by Carbon Literate Organisational culture, that reaps the greatest rewards for both participants and their organisations.
“By becoming a Bronze accredited Carbon Literate Organisation, Cambridgeshire County Council has demonstrated its commitment to genuine low carbon action, environmental and economic impact, and the building of a low carbon future for us all.”
