Carbon Literacy

Creating change at scale: The benefits of becoming a Carbon Literacy Trainer

This year we will be running our first Train the Trainer: Carbon Literacy Course. Our new Head of Training and Advice, Jason Shilcock, spoke to our Senior Sustainability Adviser, Farah Lodhi-Jones, to ask her who our new course is for and what are the added benefits in designing and delivering your own Carbon Literacy Course.

First, tell us a little bit about your own Carbon Literacy journey and what led you to becoming a trainer?

I was living in China for a number of years and I had experience of their industrial growth and development, and the terrible air quality. I was living through that daily, so I started to question how people lived and what the cost was of socio-economic development vs environmental impacts. I was able to travel around Asia, and became more aware of how more people were being affected by the environment, in the name of development. This led me to an MSc certification in climate change and water resource management policy from SOAS and subsequently worked on projects in Indonesia with local farmers, using legacy funding from BAT and Fauna and Flora conducting their biodiversity risk assessment on key island watershed. I then moved to Italy where someone mentioned the Carbon Literacy Project to me in 2021. With starting a family, and changing the pace of work, I volunteered with them and then joined them in Advocacy, using all the skills I’d learnt on the ground to create courses for clients.

Can you tell us why Cynnal Cymru – Sustain Wales developed this new course?

Good question! I think it was just the right time! Cynnal Cymru is so experienced in this field and has seen how companies and organisations roll out this training to some of their staff, but can then be at a bit of a loss what to do next. The knowledge just “sits there”, unless you’ve got a passionate person who is going to take that up or different teams to drive it forward. We’d received requests to do Train the Trainer courses, so we needed to help people learn how to run peer-to-peer learning in their own organisations.

Who is this course for and what can they hope to gain from the course personally and professionally?

This course is for anyone who’s already Carbon Literate and who is ready to take the next step. Whether that’s leading, delivering, or supporting Carbon Literacy training sessions in your organisation or community. It’s ideal for senior managers, team leaders, board members or volunteers and is a space where they can get sort of reflections and peer-to-peer conversations and collaborations with other people in the room as well.

What practical training skills can participants expect to gain from the course?

This is a highly practical course where trainers gain hands-on experience in delivering Carbon Literacy training that works for all kinds of audiences. Traditionally it’s spread across three half-days and looks at the Carbon Literacy standard, how to find your confidence and skills in being a trainer and finally a hands-on session where we look at a section the trainer has prepared and give peer feedback. So, it’s very dynamic. It… can be quite challenging. It’s quite an intense few days, but also, I think, quite rewarding for people when they have been through that process and they can reflect. It also teaches the trainers flexibility and how to think on their feet, as every course is different.

What do enjoy most about supporting new Carbon Literacy trainers, and what impact do you hope participants will go on to have after completing the programme?

I love seeing the passion that people bring, and people really wanting to believe that they can make a change. It’s about unlocking feelings within that room – people do feel like they can unlock a little bit of positivity for themselves personally. Some trainers have been tasked by their leadership to do this sustainability training work, while still doing another full-time job on the side, so it can be daunting. So, a huge part of my enjoyment comes from unlocking that passion in people again and seeing them recognise their growth over the three sessions.

Finally, when is the next course and how do people sign up?

The next open course starts in June, with three sessions taking place on the 29th June, 1st and 6th July

You can find out more about the course and how to book on out Train the Trainer web page.

Creating change at scale: The benefits of becoming a Carbon Literacy Trainer Read More »

Building a movement for change – Cynnal Cymru celebrates 2002 learners on Carbon Literacy Action Day and COP30!

On 13 November, we’re celebrating an important milestone during the fifth annual global Carbon Literacy Action Day, as we reach 2002 Carbon Literacy learners who have successfully completed our training. On the day we are excited to be working with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) focusing on how their staff connect with the communities they serve to create more opportunities for positive action on climate and nature. 

The Carbon Literacy Project’s Action Day is a movement that sees the largest number of people, from all corners of the globe, simultaneously complete Carbon Literacy training in a single day. It is the world’s largest climate education and action training event. Carbon Literacy training was recognised in 2021 by the United Nations as one of the top 100 global transformative action programs with the potential for significant impact. 

In Wales, we’re working towards a positive ‘tipping point’ of over 25% of organisations having Carbon Literate staff with their individual pledges causing ripples of influence across workplaces, communities, and supply chains.

We became the official partner for the Carbon Literacy Project in Wales in 2017, when we delivered our first Carbon Literacy course. Since then, we have trained over 354 organisations across the private, public and voluntary sectors in Carbon Literacy, with 4004 individual pledges for action. 

The headline result of this is an *estimated average carbon reduction of 3.6 tonnes of CO2 per learner and £1,000 of cost savings per year. For our programme to date this is now 7,207 tonnes of CO2 and £4 million of cost savings, all helping our planet and our pockets during these tough times. There are also many more impacts around improved health, employability, cross-team working, and service improvements.

Louise Cartwright, Head of Training and Advice said: 

“We’re delighted to announce that we have surpassed the ‘2000 certified’ in Carbon Literacy mark. Congratulations to the most recent graduates and many thanks to all learners and the Natural Resource Wales and Trivallis Housing Association Training Team, for helping us to reach our certified learners’ target!” 

Taking part in Carbon Literacy Action Day 2025 reflects Cynnal Cymru’s commitment to global climate responsibility. We view Carbon Literacy as an essential step toward embedding climate education and action throughout organisations in Wales as we all seek to deliver a fairer and greener future for current and future generations 

Find out more about our training where we’ll help you to understand what you can do to take action on climate change. 

*Estimations are based on figures from the Carbon Literacy Project.

Building a movement for change – Cynnal Cymru celebrates 2002 learners on Carbon Literacy Action Day and COP30! Read More »

Train the Trainer Carbon Literacy

Train the Trainer: Carbon Literacy

Gain the knowledge, capacity and confidence needed to support others to take action on climate change.

Course essentials

Group size

Ideally suited for
four people.

Commitment 12 hours

Three morning sessions
plus homework

Learning options

Online open
or in-person

Certification

Subject to successful completion of the course

Who should attend

This course is designed for individuals who are already Carbon Literate and are ready to take the next step: leading, delivering, or supporting Carbon Literacy training sessions within their organisation or community.

Ideal for:

  • Senior managers and team leaders
  • Board members or trustees
  • Support workers or volunteers
  • Anyone involved in organising or delivering Carbon Literacy learning

Whether you want to create your own course, build on an existing one, or support others to do so, these sessions will give you the tools, confidence, and structure to make it happen.

What you’ll gain

  • A deeper understanding of the Carbon Literacy Standard

  • Confidence in delivering impactful and inclusive sessions

  • Practical trainer skills tailored to a wide range of audiences

  • Strategies for managing challenging situations in training

  • Peer feedback and live experience through a micro-teach session

  • Access to a ready-made agenda and training structure to help you design or adapt your own course

Our bespoke sessions are tailored to provide your organisation with the support you need to successfully deliver your Carbon Literacy training.

Course structure

  • Understanding Carbon Literacy:

    Refresh and deepen your knowledge

  • Confident trainer skills:

    Build your presence and delivery

  • Engaging diverse learners:

    Techniques to connect with different audiences

  • Handling difficult scenarios:

    Tools and strategies for tricky moments

  • Delivering a session:

    Practical tips for planning and execution

  • How storytelling inspires action:

    Using real stories to drive change

  • What behaviour change means:

    Moving from knowledge to action

  • The Carbon Literacy Standard:

    What it is and how to meet it

  • Peer-assessed micro teach:

    Deliver a 20-minute session and give/receive structured feedback

Interactive and practical

This is a highly practical course. You’ll not only learn how to deliver Carbon Literacy training, but you’ll practise delivering it, receive feedback, and build confidence in a supportive environment. By the end of the sessions, you’ll be better equipped to train others, engage meaningfully, and inspire action.

Course options

We offer our official Carbon Literacy Project accredited Train the Trainer course for both individuals and organisations.

Standard

For individuals from any organisation, we offer online open courses. Places are limited so please book early.

From £750 +VAT*

*This cost is per person

FAQs

How long is the course?

Our standard open course runs over three morning sessions, 9:00am-12:30pm plus 1.5 hours of homework. A total of 12 hours, typically across a two to three week period. 

Where does it take place?

Our open courses take place online.

How many people can attend the course?

This course works best with four people.

Do you offer discounts?

Yes, if you are a member of Cynnal Cymru we offer a membership discount.

Open course dates

  • March 2026

    Sessions on: 2nd, 4th and 9th March

  • June 2026

    Sessions on: 29th June, 1st and 6th July

For more information on the course options, or to book your place on an open course course, please get in contact.

Get in touch

Customised

For individuals from the same organisation

From £3350 +VAT*

*This cost is based on four individuals from the same organisation receiving training online.

FAQs

What does the cost include?

Our customised course price starts from £3350 plus VAT for online training.

This includes developing course content specific to your organisation.

For in person delivery, we will provide a quote for any additional costs including travel, accommodation, sustenance or room bookings as agreed with the client. 

How long is the course?

Our standard course runs over three sessions, typically 3.5 hours each plus 1.5 hours of homework. A total of 12 hours.

We can work with you to schedule the sessions to suit your organisation’s needs and recommend they are completed within a two to three week period.

Where does it take place?

Our customised courses for organisations can be delivered online or in-person. 

How many people can attend the course?

This course is ideally suited for four people.

Do you offer discounts?

Yes, if you are a member of Cynnal Cymru we offer a membership discount.

Next steps

On successful completion of our accredited Train the Trainer course, we can also help you to take the next steps to becoming an official Carbon Literacy Trainer by providing additional mentoring and guidance to help you achieve Trainer certification through the Carbon Literacy Project. Please get in contact to find out more about our prices and support available.

Looking to take that next step? Find out how we can support you on your Carbon Literacy journey.

Get in touch
Carbon Literacy logo

About the Carbon Literacy Project

Carbon Literacy is a concept created in Manchester by Cooler Projects Ltd. and its partners. It is governed by the Carbon Literacy Trust.

The Carbon Literacy Project offers everyone a day’s worth of Carbon Literacy learning, covering – climate change, carbon footprints, how you can do your bit, and why it’s relevant to you and your audience.

The Carbon Literacy Project is globally unique – there is nothing else quite like it anywhere. It was recognised as such by the UN at COP21, in Paris, where it was awarded as a TAP100, one of 100 worldwide Transformative Action Programs.

About Cynnal Cymru

Cynnal Cymru – Sustain Wales is the leading organisation for Sustainable Development in Wales.

Cynnal Cymru is the official partner in Wales for the award-winning Carbon Literacy Project. 

In April 2020, Cynnal Cymru was further recognised as a Carbon Literacy Training Organisation – the first in Wales.

Get in touch

training@cynnalcymru.com

029 2043 1746

We typically work Monday -Thursday, 9-5pm

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

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Carbon Literacy Cartrefi Cymru

Carbon Literacy Cartrefi Cymru (CLCC) was a consortium of Welsh registered housing associations, which ran from 2019 until 2024. During that time, more than 30 RHAs were members, over 140 Carbon Literacy trainers were certified within the consortium, and a fully accredited Carbon Literacy training course was delivered to 598 people in Wales.

Carbon Literacy is defined as a day’s worth of learning around the causes and consequences of climate change, empowering learners to make individual and group actions personally and professionally.

The Carbon Literacy Project has defined the standard of Carbon Literacy and accredits courses and learners.

Cynnal Cymru – Sustain Wales was the secretariat for CLCC, organising meetings, holding funds for use by the consortium, providing support around Carbon Literacy and facilitating Community of Practice sessions for CLCC trainers.

CLCC history

In 2019, a group of representatives from registered housing associations across Wales sat down around a table with one aim: to find a way to work together to help alleviate the climate emergency.

They agreed that understanding their carbon impact, both as individuals and organizations, and being able to make informed decisions on reducing carbon emissions, had the potential to be transformative for the social housing sector and communities. Thus Carbon Literacy Cartrefi Cymru was born – a consortium that would provide a platform for knowledge sharing across the sector, collaborative problem solving, and peer to peer teaching to deliver Carbon Literacy training to staff across Wales. One phrase in the meeting notes from the earliest days of the CLCC succinctly summarised what the approach would be: “This consortium is about reaching you where you’re at and helping from there.”

Five years later the CLCC was brought to a close, having achieved exactly what it set out to do. The consortium’s flagship project, a fully accredited Carbon Literacy training course tailored to the social housing sector, had been delivered to 598 people across Wales, thanks to the enthusiasm and dedication of the CLCC trainers who passed on their knowledge to their peers and colleagues. The course had received two substantial updates, and been fully translated into Welsh; its final iteration will continue to be used by members to certify their staff as Carbon Literate. Many of those housing associations are now certified Carbon Literate Organisations, and continue to champion carbon reduction in the workplace.

As was inevitable with a large group of disparate organisations, not everyone’s time as members of the CLCC looks the same. Each had their own priorities, their own challenges to overcome. But the consortium’s ethos of looking at where each member was and guiding them to where they wanted to be played a huge role in the success of the project.

Bron Afon Community Housing was a part of the CLCC from the start, and remained as members throughout the lifetime of the consortium. Nadine Davies, Community Decarbonisation Officer at Bron Afon, said, “The CLCC has enabled us as an organisation to come together and learn about the importance of climate change and carbon emissions. It provided us with valuable skills, networks, and guidance for us to deliver the course to our colleagues successfully.”

Reflecting on her term as Chair of the CLCC between May 2023 and the consortium’s closure in October 2024, Nadine added, “The CLCC created a space for us to discuss and share in confidence what was going well and what our struggles were when delivering Carbon Literacy. I found the regular meetings and coming together with others delivering the course useful and it was good to listen and take on board points raised. I very much enjoyed my time as Chair of the CLCC and without it I don’t think we would have had as much success with the delivery of Carbon Literacy as we have. I look forward to continuing to deliver Carbon Literacy to the rest of our staff and the wider community to help tackle climate change.”

CLCC members in 2023

What next for the CLCC?

Although the consortium has now closed, its positive impact will continue long into the future. Many former members are planning to roll out Carbon Literacy to their tenants – and with more than 100,000 houses owned across the consortium, that’s a lot of people. For some member organisations, certified Carbon Literacy training is now mandatory for all new staff. Cynnal Cymru also created a Climate Essentials course to help trainers pass on key knowledge in a shorter, more accessible format, and encourage interest in the full training. For those housing associations who want customised training or advice, individually or collaboratively, Cynnal Cymru’s team can work with them to ensure that the success of the CLCC is just the first step on their carbon reduction journey.

The relationships that were built through the consortium, and the knowledge that was gained and shared, will continue to provide the foundation for Carbon Literacy and a greater awareness and understanding of the impact we all have on the world around us.

If you would like to know more about the CLCC please contact: Shwmae@cynnalcymru.com

If you’re interested in Carbon Literacy training for your organisation or a collaborative project, please contact our training team: training@cynnalcymru.com

Carbon Literacy Cartrefi Cymru Read More »

Storytelling and its potential to create change

This was the takeaway from our latest event, Can Stories Change Our World? , which brought together Cynnal Cymru members and other sustainably-minded businesses. We brought in three speakers to discuss how they use storytelling in their work and talk to us about the power and challenges of storytelling as change. This is clearly a topic on many people’s minds right now. It’s something we talked about in our September newsletter, and drew in a huge number of questions during this event. We discussed questions such as how you deal with apathy and depression in climate conversations, how to use comedy and positivity to tell poignant stories, and how to specifically reach Welsh audiences through storytelling style or platforms.  

Ant Green, founder of animation and illustration studio Motion Manor designed for positive change, discussed the importance of telling visual stories that imagine a fair and sustainable future.  

“In climate narratives, we’ve created a doom and gloom outlook because it’s the clearest outcome. We know what a bad outcome looks like, but we’re not so sure about the details of that good outcome.” 

Motion Manor, a Cynnal Cymru Member, have used their animations and illustrations to visualise this positive future for organisations such as the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations. While they use animation and illustration, Motion Manor ensures that their stories are rooted in reality – for Ant, that’s the key.  

“Show a snapshot of real people doing real things, even when using stories or illustration.” 

Camille Lovgreen, echoed Ant’s sentiment of needing to situation any storytelling in real life examples, even when writing fiction. Alongside Karolina Rucinska, Camille wrote a series of fictional stories as part of their work for Cynnal Cymru, envisioning Wales in 2051. In their imagination, Wales had implemented all sustainability advice and was seeing a thriving environment and community. Through this set of stories, they were able to begin a conversation around what it looks like to successfully implement climate policy, as well as inspiring the hope that energises this movement.  

A similar set of stories was created by the National Infrastructure Commission for Wales (NICW), looking at Wales in 2100. The Chair of the NICW, David Clubb, was our third speaker. David stressed the importance of taking out time when thinking about long-term futures. David also discussed the need to evaluate not just how but where you’re telling your stories. NICW have recently made the decision to leave the big platforms, namely Meta and X, and move to open source versions that fit into their values. This decision comes at a time when many organisations and individuals are moving away from big name platforms in recognition of their censorship, unethical practices, and goals that don’t look out for regular people.

How do we tell our own stories? 

For Ffilm Cymru, the development agency for Welsh film and a Cynnal Cymru Member, visual storytelling is embedded into their work.  

Films such as this can be used to encourage behaviour change through emotive storytelling.

Ffilm Cymru’s work relies on the power of storytelling:  

“Stories have the power to provoke immense transformation in our society, as we’ve seen recently with ITV’s Mr Bates vs The Post Office. They can also affect smaller personal shifts in perception and awareness that can snowball into positive change. It’s up to organisations like ours to help harness that power, and promote action on climate in creative, engaging and entertaining ways.” 

Just this month, Media Cymru and Ffilm Cymru Wales have launched a climate themed R&D content fund to support more climate stories and sustainability storytelling.

Is storytelling just for arts or cultural organisations?

Many of the attendees of our event came from organisations outside of the creative sector. The reality is that in every sector, telling your story in a way that reaches the right people is crucial.

Thrive Women’s Aid is a Cynnal Cymru Member organisation that supports women, children, and young people in Neath/Port Talbot who are affected by domestic abuse. They help survivors rebuild their lives and independence in safe communities, supporting entire families to break the cycle of abuse permanently and foster healthier, safer environments for all.

In this video, they tell the impact of their work through simple and effective storytelling.

As we look into the new year, it’s a great time to consider the stories you tell, and how and where you’re telling them.

Can Stories Change Our World? was part of Cynnal Cymru’s quarterly series of Cardiff-based events. Make sure you check out our next event coming soon, Growing the Sustainability Workforce, where we’ll hear from Future Generations Leadership Academy participant Abi Hoare and Finley Povey from Transport for Wales. The event is free for Cynnal Cymru Members, Sparc|Sbarc residents, and we have a limited number of free places for Cardiff University students. Don’t miss it!

Storytelling and its potential to create change Read More »

CLCC: A fond farewell after five years of success

In 2019, a group of representatives from registered housing associations across Wales sat down around a table with one aim: to find a way to work together to help alleviate the climate emergency.

They agreed that understanding their carbon impact, both as individuals and organisations, and being able to make informed decisions on reducing carbon emissions, had the potential to be transformative for the social housing sector and communities. Thus Carbon Literacy Cartrefi Cymru (CLCC) was born – a consortium that would provide a platform for knowledge sharing across the sector, collaborative problem solving, and peer to peer teaching to deliver Carbon Literacy training to staff across Wales.

One phrase in the meeting notes from the earliest days of the CLCC succinctly summarised what the approach would be:

“This consortium is about reaching you where you’re at and helping from there.” 

Fast forward five years, and the CLCC is now coming to a close, having achieved exactly what it set out to do. The consortium’s flagship project, a fully accredited Carbon Literacy training course tailored to the social housing sector, has been delivered to 598 people across Wales, thanks to the enthusiasm and dedication of the CLCC trainers who have passed on their knowledge to their peers and colleagues. The course has received two substantial updates and has been fully translated into Welsh. Its final iteration will continue to be used by members to certify their staff as Carbon Literate. Many of those housing associations are now certified Carbon Literate Organisations, and continue to champion carbon reduction in the workplace. As was inevitable with a large group of disparate organisations, not everyone’s time as members of the CLCC looks the same. Each had their own priorities, their own challenges to overcome. But the consortium’s ethos of looking at where each member was and guiding them to where they wanted to be played a huge role in the success of the project.

Bron Afon Community Housing was a part of the CLCC from the start, and remained as members throughout the lifetime of the consortium. Nadine Davies, Community Decarbonisation Officer at Bron Afon, said, “The CLCC has enabled us as an organisation to come together and learn about the importance of climate change and carbon emissions. It provided us with valuable skills, networks, and guidance for us to deliver the course to our colleagues successfully.”

Reflecting on her term as Chair of the CLCC since May 2023, Nadine added,

“The CLCC created a space for us to discuss and share in confidence what was going well and what our struggles were when delivering Carbon Literacy. I found the regular meetings and coming together with others delivering the course useful and it was good to listen and take on board points raised. I very much enjoyed my time as Chair of the CLCC and without it I don’t think we would have had as much success with the delivery of Carbon Literacy as we have. I look forward to continuing to deliver Carbon Literacy to the rest of our staff and the wider community to help tackle climate change.”

Fast forward another five years from now, and we hope that we will still be seeing the positive impact the CLCC has had. Consortium members are talking about rolling out Carbon Literacy to their tenants – and with more than 100,000 houses owned across the consortium, that’s a lot of people. We’ve created a Climate Essentials course to help trainers pass on key knowledge in a shorter, more accessible format, and encourage interest in the full training. For some member organisations, certified Carbon Literacy training is now mandatory for all new staff, and will continue to be delivered long into the future. For those housing associations who want customised training or advice, individually or collaboratively, Cynnal Cymru’s team can work with them to ensure that the success of the CLCC is just the first step on their carbon reduction journey.

In November 2020, when the world was coping with an unprecedented global pandemic, 29 members of the CLCC still found the time to meet, to talk about what they wanted the consortium’s future to be. Many of the initial targets had already been met, with 65 people already certified as Carbon Literate, and 83 people about to take the Carbon Literacy Train the Trainer course, at the time making it the biggest ever Carbon Literacy Train the Trainer cohort. But the world had changed since the CLCC’s inception, with training now having to be delivered remotely, collaborative working much harder than it had been in the past, and organisations rightly prioritising core business continuity and the wellbeing of their staff over less immediate concerns. It would have been very easy for Covid-19 to spell the end of the CLCC, but luckily its members were committed to keeping it very much alive. It’s thanks to them, the dedicated support of their colleagues, and the enormous enthusiasm of hundreds of people across Wales, that we can look back on the past five years and honestly say that the CLCC has made a difference – and its success will continue to inspire more and better changes to how we live. 

CLCC: A fond farewell after five years of success Read More »

14th November | Carbon Literacy Action Day

Do you work for an organisation and want to know how to start tackling your effect on the climate? 

Join us on 14th November 2024 and be part of the world’s largest climate education & action training event – Carbon Literacy Action Day, coinciding with Wales Climate Week and COP29.  

What: a day of accredited training: “Carbon Literacy at Work”  

Where: Sbarc|Spark, Cardiff 

When: 14th November 2024 

Commitment: From 09:00am to 4:15pm – (Please bring your own lunch. Refreshments will be provided.) ​Join us after the training for an optional Carbon Literacy Action Day Webinar with other learners around the world (5pm-6pm)

For who: organisations of all sizes and sectors who want to develop an awareness of the carbon cost of their activities and how to start on the journey to reduce their impact 

Why: with the climate changing, all organisations need to identify their risks and know how to prioritise their climate action in line with national policies and legal requirements. 

Led by: Cynnal Cymru-Sustain Wales 

Ticket prices:

Cynnal Cymru MembersConditions
FREE Member (One place per member organisation)
Each Cynnal Cymru – Sustain Wales Member organisation is entitled to send one representative free of charge. Please e-mail us on events@cynnalcymru.com before booking to get a discount code for your free space.		One place per organisationFREE
Additional Member per person (Special discount)Cynnal Cymru Member£90 plus VAT
Non-members
Non-member (Low wage/Concession) per person£70 plus VAT
Non-member (standard price) per person£140 plus VAT
sbarc|spark Residents
FREE sbarc|spark Residents
Each sbarc|spark Building Resident organisation is entitled to send one representative free of charge. Please e-mail us on events@cynnalcymru.com before booking to get a discount code for your free space.		One place per organisationFREE
Additional sbarc|spark Residents sbarc|spark resident / organisation£90 plus VAT
*Ticket includes official certification cost with the Carbon Literacy Project

Become a member

Our thriving community of mutually supportive members provides an opportunity to share learning, challenge thinking and mobilise action, be this through co-designed events, hosting networking sessions or simply sowing seeds for future collaborations or thought-leadership.

If you would like to find out about our member benefits, including access to discounted events and training, please contact membership@cynnalcymru.com. 

Join a growing movement for positive change >>

 

14th November | Carbon Literacy Action Day Read More »

The Carbon Literacy Project

The Award-winning Carbon Literacy Project aims to ensure that every citizen receives at least one day’s worth of learning so that they understand the links between human activity and climate change while empowering individuals, communities and organisations to take action to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

We have been working with the Carbon Literacy Project since 2017 to help accelerate action on climate change, by providing organisations with the training and support needed to reduce their carbon emissions.

Official partner of the Carbon Literacy Project in Wales since 2017

Cynnal Cymru are the official partner of the Carbon Literacy Project in Wales are we are immensely proud to have brought Carbon Literacy to Wales and to have made it into the huge success it is.

In 2017, led by our Rhodri Thomas (our former principal trainer) we began our partnership with The Carbon Literacy Project and delivered our first accredited Carbon Literacy course. Rhodri was also the first resident Welsh certified Carbon Literacy trainer in Wales and in April 2020, Cynnal Cymru was recognised as the first Carbon Literacy Training Organisation (CLTO) in Wales.

In 2020, in response, to the Pandemic we launched our first distance learning Carbon Literacy course – and we have since delivered online Carbon Literacy training to a wide range of organisations reaching as far as Australia.

In February 2024 we hit a new milestone with over 1000 learners certified Carbon Literate.

To date we have also:

  • Trained the Sustainable Development forum of Museum Wales, supporting initial efforts by the whole museum sector to develop bespoke Carbon Literacy training.
  • Co-founded and coordinated Carbon Literacy Cartrefi Cymru – a consortium of twenty seven housing associations and overseeing the training of around 140 staff including a ‘Train the Trainer’ programme as well as the development of a dedicated Carbon Literacy course for the social housing sector. Our partners in the consortium are launching a cascade of peer to peer training using their own course.
  • Funded by National Resources Wales, we worked with Manchester Metropolitan University and Great Places Housing group to train over 200 leaders and influencers from the organisations that make up the five Gwent Public Service Boards.
  • Trained the whole cabinet and executive management team of Newport City Council.
  • Developed an introduction to climate change e-learning course for Denbighshire County Council staff that will accompany their Carbon Literacy training.
  • Designed a Carbon Literacy for Engineers course in collaboration with the Flexis programme.
  • Trained and supported Cardiff Council colleagues and cabinet members enabling them to apply for the Bronze Carbon Literacy Organisation accreditation.
  • Regularly provide training for staff at The National Lottery
  • Trained the environmental champions of Sinclair Group
A room full of people attending Carbon Literacy training
  • Took part in the 3rd annual Carbon Literacy Action Day in December 2023 – with 14 organisations joining us at Cardiff University’s Sbarc|Spark building here in Cardiff!
  • Continue to run monthly open courses online for people from all over the world.

The Carbon Literacy Project

The Carbon Literacy Project is wholly owned by The Carbon Literacy Trust, a registered charity (No 1156722) established in 2013 to take responsibility for The Project in perpetuity, for the public good.

The Project delivers no training directly, but works with a host of people and organisations from all walks of life, that all deliver training that is accredited against the Carbon Literacy Standard. The Project then assesses participant’s and certifies successful candidates with their own uniquely numbered Carbon Literacy certificate.

Due to this ‘crowdsourced’ approach, working with everyone, from all walks of life, The Carbon Literacy Project is globally unique – there is nothing else quite like it anywhere. This was recognised by the United Nations at the UN climate negotiations, COP21, in Paris in 2015, where the Project was awarded TAP100 status, – one of 100 projects worldwide recognised as Transformative Action Programmes, that could materially change the way we deal with climate change.

The Carbon Literacy Project Read More »

Green Skills for a Net Zero Wales

How do we build green skills for a Net Zero Wales?

Last week, a few members of the Cynnal Cymru team attended Green Skills for a Net Zero Wales led by Business in the Community. In this breakfast briefing about the Green Skills agenda in Wales, likeminded organisations met to discuss green skills, with an address from the Minister of Economy in Wales, Vaughan Gething. Cynnal Cymru facilitated round tables with senior leaders in business of all sizes across Wales to exchange ideas on how everyone in Wales can grow a skilled workforce that meets Wales’ net zero commitments.  

What are Wales’ Net Zero Commitments?  

As part of the All Wales Plan 2021-25, organisations across every sector have pledged to make changes towards a net zero economy. In order to achieve a net zero economy, Wales as a whole needs to reduce our total emissions in 2030 by at least 90% relative to the baseline year, 2019-20.

How can we do this?

A key message in the event was championing the notion that green skills are not just about technical skills or the creation of new jobs. At Cynnal Cymru, we believe in a well-rounded approach to sustainable change, which is why we have a Fair Work team leading Living Wage Wales and a just transition to sustainable changes.  

Since joining Cynnal Cymru, I have attended and led events such as a Net Zero Skills round table for the Open University, a steering group for the IEMA green careers hub, and a Mainstreaming Equality for a Just Transition evidence panel. Through these conversations and research, I have come to realise that if we define green skills narrowly – only as technical jobs in energy and transport, for example – we will alienate people and will not reach our Net Zero transition goals. The UK economy, like many others, relies on sectors such as hospitality, retail, healthcare, construction, creative arts and more, which also need to be a part of this transition. Our focus must be on supporting existing sectors to upskill and re-skill their existing workforces so that huge communities don’t miss out on being part of a Net Zero economy.  

If we define green skills so narrowly – only as technical jobs in energy and transport, for example – we will alienate people and will not reach our Net Zero transition goals.

So why aren’t we doing this?

I noticed that organisations:  

  • Don’t have the time to think about green skills  
  • Don’t know where to start with these conversations or changes  
  • Don’t know how green skills apply to them  

I think this can be linked back to the understanding that every job can be green.  The Welsh Government is currently taking consultations on how to achieve net zero skills across sector. Cynnal Cymru is a member of the SME Taskforce for Climate, alongside other small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). As part of my work on this taskforce, I am educating workplaces across sectors on the ways they can understand their own skillset in relation to net zero.

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Karolina joined Cynnal Cymru in 2021 as our Sustainability Advisor to provide consultancy support to the public and private sectors on how to become more sustainable in their operations. She represents Cynnal Cymru on the SME Taskforce for the Climate.

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Carbon Literacy Consortium

Carbon Literacy
consortium model

Cynnal Cymru’s consortium model for Carbon Literacy training was first developed with the formation of the Carbon Literacy Cartrefi Cymru (CLCC) consortium of Welsh registered social landlords (RSLs) in 2019.

The CLCC’s aim was to increase Carbon Literacy within the member organisations, pooling money and resources to increase training capacity and knowledge across the consortium. Cynnal Cymru – Sustain Wales continues to provide secretariat, mentoring and expert training support for the CLCC, which currently has 22 members across Wales, representing 113,236 homes.

Consortium model for Carbon Literacy training

The benefits of a consortium

There are multiple benefits to delivering Carbon Literacy training via a consortium. The model provides a coordinated structure through which:

A course can be tailored for your sector or industry

A Carbon Literacy training course that is tailored to the industry can be designed and accredited

A network can be developed and nutured

A network of peer-to-peer trainers, knowledgeable about the organisation and industry, can be developed and nurtured

Knowledge is widely shared and understood

A platform for sharing knowledge across member organisations can be supported

Capacity can be increased

Carbon Literacy training can be delivered to all staff within an organisation, with the economic and operational benefits conferred by having a Carbon Literate-staff base

Costs can be shared

A central fund, to which each member organisation contributes, can be allocated by agreement to any further projects aligned with member needs

The structure and scope of a consortium are by its nature flexible; organisations looking to create a consortium for Carbon Literacy training can agree a model that fulfils their individual requirements. 

This may include:

Structured planning and progression

Consortium-wide meetings on a monthly, quarterly or biannual basis to review progress and identify any further needs;

Continuous improvement

Regular Community of Practice (CoP) meetings to provide support, guidance and continuous improvement to trainers;

Collaborative communications

A communications team drawn from across member organisations creating joint content for social media, press releases and communications campaigns;

Collaborative success

A design team drawn from across member organisations working with Cynnal Cymru and the Carbon Literacy Project to ensure that the training course is industry-appropriate and fully accredited within a set timeframe;

Dedicated support

Any additional bespoke work agreed with Cynnal Cymru to support the core proposal.

Member organisations would determine the model during the initial phase, when a proposal would be drafted and agreed. The details of the creation, launch and ongoing management of the consortium would be agreed by the members, but would follow a similar process to the one detailed below:

Interested in creating a consortium?

Please get in contact and we will be happy to help you find the best approach for your needs. 

Get in touch

training@cynnalcymru.com

029 2043 1746

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