Carbon Literacy®, established by the Manchester-based Carbon Literacy Project, is a training that gives organisations an understanding of the climate-related costs and impacts of their activities. It also provides the skills and motivation needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Being Carbon Literate means you're aware of and can communicate the effects of climate change on people and the planet. Carbon Literate, individuals and organisations are better positioned to navigate the complexities of sustainability, making significant contributions to combating climate change and enhancing their business's long-term value.

After completing a day’s worth of learning, individuals can be certified as 'Carbon Literate'. This approach is recognised by the UN and is proven to lead to a 5-15% reduction in carbon emissions and create more engaged work cultures.

Organisations with a Carbon Literate workforce can earn the accreditation of a 'Carbon Literate Organisation' (CLO).

Carbon Literacy at Inspiration Space is designed for small businesses, founders and teams who want to learn how to reduce their carbon footprint, build a sustainable business and future-proof their career.

 Join and you will: 

• Understand your carbon footprint and develop strategies to reduce it, aligning with sustainability goals.
• Have the knowledge you need to drive community-based initiatives and advocacy.
• Feel empowered to make more sustainable choices in your daily life - at home and work.

Carbon Literacy is beneficial to a wide audience. But, its effectiveness depends on the learner's openness to the subject and willingness to implement sustainable practices and/or their existing knowledge of climate science/sustainability. 

Our training may not be a fit if you:

• Disregard the science of climate change: Those who fundamentally reject the scientific consensus on climate change may not find value in a program based on this science.

• Lack an interest in sustainability: People who are not interested in learning about or contributing to sustainability efforts might not engage well with the material.

• Prefer non-actionable knowledge: If someone is looking for purely theoretical or non-practical knowledge without a focus on actionable steps, Carbon Literacy may not meet their expectations.

• Want highly specialised or technical training: Carbon Literacy offers a broad overview rather than deeply specialised or technical training in specific environmental fields.

• Already have advanced knowledge in sustainability: Experts with advanced degrees or extensive experience in climate science or sustainability might find the material too basic.

Nope - this is different.

Carbon Literacy at Inspiration Space is specifically designed for Founders, Small Businesses, and Teams.

It provides foundational education, practical advice and tools to address the vital role of climate awareness and action in today's business landscape.

For Founders and Small Businesses:

• Risk Awareness: Understand and manage climate-related risks, essential for maintaining financial stability and investor confidence.

• Compliance and reporting: Learn about mandatory climate risk reporting, a critical aspect for startups and small businesses in attracting investment and avoiding legal issues.
• Operational efficiency: Identify and implement strategies to reduce emissions, which can lead to cost savings and operational improvements.

• Market appeal: Enhance your brand by demonstrating environmental responsibility, making your business more attractive to customers and potential partners.

• Investor attraction: Show that you're ahead of the curve in managing environmental risks, making your business a more appealing investment.

For Funders:

• Decarbonise your portfolio: Educate your portfolio companies to decarbonise the economy and build a sustainable future, amplifying your environmental impact.

• Regulatory foresight: Stay ahead of strengthening regulations by pushing for improved ESG outcomes, not just for compliance but as a financial imperative.

• ESG correlation: Leverage the clear link between high ESG ratings and strong financial performance, enhancing the value and returns of your investments.

For Teams:

• Skill development: Fill knowledge gaps in sustainability and ESG issues, crucial for navigating evolving regulations and market demands.

• Professional credibility: Bolster your credibility and career by understanding and actively participating in your organisation’s sustainability efforts.

• Market relevance: Tap into a growing market that prioritises sustainable values, ensuring long-term relevance and success in your field.

Our training includes live cohort-based learning, expert support, and 30+ video lessons on a range of topics from climate science to sustainable marketing.

Plus, access practical tools for real-time implementation.

To become certified as Carbon Literate it's essential to attend all the bootcamp sessions and meet the Carbon Literacy Standard.

This standard involves making two carbon-reduction pledges and submitting an evidence form.

Our course includes an online implementation session to ensure you're thoroughly prepared.

We also equip you with all the tools needed to create a climate action plan and use cloud-based emission trackers.

Throughout the bootcamp, we'll guide you every step of the way.

We're proud to share that everyone who has completed our courses and submitted their forms so far has successfully achieved certification.

Our course is designed to be inclusive and educational for everyone, regardless of their prior knowledge in the field of sustainability and carbon literacy.

If you're new to sustainability, this is a perfect first step. You'll experience:

• Foundational content: The training begins with basic concepts of sustainability, making it approachable for those new to the subject.

• Step-by-step learning: The curriculum is structured to gradually build understanding, ensuring that beginners can follow along and absorb the information effectively.

• Practical focus: With a balance of theory and practical application, the training allows beginners to see how concepts apply in real-world scenarios, enhancing comprehension.

• Supportive resources: The online learning hub with videos and tools is a great aid for beginners to reinforce their learning at their own pace.

• Interactive and engaging methods: Whether it's in-person or online, the interactive nature of the bootcamp helps in keeping beginners engaged and aids in better understanding.

Heck yes! Carbon Literacy training can indeed be a powerful tool in advancing your career, particularly in an era where sustainability and climate awareness are becoming integral to business operations and strategies.

As sustainability and environmental responsibility become increasingly important in the business world, having a strong understanding of these areas can be a significant asset.

Carbon Literacy provides:

• An enhanced skill set: Gain valuable knowledge about sustainability practices, carbon footprint reduction, and climate change, which are becoming critical skills in many industries.

• A competitive edge: As businesses strive to become more environmentally conscious, being Carbon Literate can make you a more attractive candidate to employers who prioritise sustainability.

• Leadership opportunities: Carbon Literacy prepares you to lead sustainability initiatives within your organisation, positioning you as a forward-thinking and responsible leader.

• Networking and collaboration: Our training involves interacting with other professionals, which expands your network and open up collaborative opportunities.

• Alignment with emerging trends: As more businesses and governments commit to net-zero targets and sustainability goals, having expertise in this area aligns your skill set with global trends.

• Personal growth and fulfilment: Beyond career advancement, Carbon Literacy contributes to personal development and the satisfaction of contributing positively to a global challenge.

To become certified as Carbon Literate, you must attend day's worth of accredited Carbon Literacy (CL).

At Inspiration Space, this requirement is fulfilled by participating in a Carbon Literacy Bootcamp, available in both in-person and online formats, coupled with an online implementation session.

To support your learning, Inspiration Space also offers an online learning hub, featuring over 30+ videos and tools, along with a digital climate action planner.

Here's the commitment required:

In-Person Bootcamp: A full day commitment (approximately 6 hours) plus a 70-minute implementation workshop (online) the following week.

Online Bootcamp: Two 3.5-hour sessions plus the 70-minute implementation workshop the following week.

You have a comfortable two-week window after the implementation session to submit your forms.

Rest assured, our trainers meticulously review each application to maximise your certification chances.

In case you don't succeed initially, you can re-submit, incorporating the feedback they provide.

And if life throws a curveball and you need a little extra time due to personal circumstances, don't hesitate to inform us – we're here to support you. 

Yes, as a freelancer or solopreneur, your business does have a carbon footprint. Carbon Literacy is vital as it provides tools and strategies to reduce emissions, no matter the size of the business. It also helps dispel myths about the environmental impact of our actions.

This knowledge is particularly important in creative industries, where the risk of greenwashing fines is increasing. For marketing professionals, understanding carbon literacy is key to avoiding misleading advertisements.

A significant aspect often overlooked is the high carbon cost of digital marketing. For instance, the environmental impact of sending just ten emails daily is comparable to using 1,200 plastic bags in a year. Being aware of digital emissions is essential for the sustainability and survival of your business, guiding you towards more better business practices.

Absolutely, let's break down sustainability and carbon reduction in simple terms.

Sustainability:

Think of sustainability not just as recycling or planting trees, but as a way to use and respect natural resources responsibly.

It’s about making sure we don’t use up everything now, so future generations can also meet their needs.

It's a smart set of skills that are becoming essential for any successful business today.

Sustainability is more than just economics; it's also about creating social value and thinking about long-term costs.

Carbon reduction:

This means cutting down the amount of carbon we release into the air.

Carbon reduction matters because it helps fight climate change, ensuring a healthier planet for everyone.

In short, it's all about being smart with our resources and reducing our carbon footprint to make a positive impact for the future.

Carbon Literacy training with Inspiration Space offers in-person and online delivery to suit your preferred learning environment:

In-Person Training: Priced at just £390 + VAT, our in-person training sessions are hosted at the beautiful WWF Living Planet Centre in Woking.

This fee covers everything you need for a successful learning experience, including access to our online resource library and tools, a delightful vegetarian lunch and refreshments, plus the interactive online implementation session and all certification fees.

Online Training:

Complete an enriching learning journey from the comfort of your home or office for only £300 + VAT.

Your investment includes access to our online resource library and tools, a place on our interactive online implementation session and all certification fees. 

To ensure a top-quality experience, we require a minimum number of attendees for each event.

If this number isn't met, we may reschedule.

For in-person bookings, we'll provide at least 4 days' notice, and for online bookings, at least 48 hours' notice, giving you ample time to adjust your plans.

We understand that life happens and schedules can be unpredictable. However, please note, your ticket is non-refundable.

You can choose an alternate date or transfer your ticket to someone else. For assistance, contact us at [email protected] 

This policy helps us maintain the high-quality, engaging, and interactive sessions that you expect from Inspiration Space.

If you have a question that’s not answered here, please drop us an email at [email protected]