Carbon Literacy

Carbon Literacy is the understanding of the causes and impacts of our everyday greenhouse gas emissions. This fundamental awareness offers a starting point for making real change in the way we tackle the climate emergency.

The Carbon Literacy Project focuses on the belief that we need a change in culture as well as technology to drastically reduce our emissions. We are proud to be an accredited Carbon Literate Organisation, with a Silver award.

Carbon Literacy in North Somerset

In February 2019, North Somerset Council became one of the first local authorities to declare a climate emergency. We recognise that immediate and urgent action is the best solution to avoid catastrophic climate change.

In 2020, we set out a new Corporate Plan, putting the climate emergency at the heart of everything we do. This plan informs other key strategies and plans, in both council documents and those of our partners.

In 2024 we won the Carbon Literacy Action Day (CLAD) Catalyst Award from the Carbon Literacy Project, for our huge in-person training event in December 2023. 

To register your interest in a future Carbon Literacy training day please contact the climate emergency team.

Climate change is such an all-encompassing issue. It impacts so much of our lives – from our health, to our jobs, the price of our food, and the extreme weather it creates. Because of this, we have embedded the actions required to reduce these impacts into everything that we do as a council, and as a community.

We’ve put together this short video to explain in more detail what Carbon Literacy training is all about. We believe it can have a very positive impact on your business or organisation.

Our accreditation

Cllr Bridget Petty with our bronze and silver Carbon Literacy award certificates

North Somerset Council is proud to have been accredited as a Carbon Literate Organisation. This accreditation is a visible ‘badge’ that shows we are both:

  • committed to Carbon Literacy
  • serious about establishing and maintaining a low carbon culture.

We currently hold a Silver award, because we have implemented a training programme across our organisation. More than 15% of our workforce, including every member of our Leadership Team, are Carbon Literate. We have also included training targets for additional members of staff in our annual performance management. 

We will continue to demonstrate further commitment to increase Carbon Literacy by supporting partner organisations and members of our community.