The event was organised as part of the Carbon Literacy Project’s biggest ever climate education-and-action training event, coinciding with the UN COP28 Climate Negotiations.
Participants came from different organisations across the city to learn about the causes and impacts of our everyday carbon emissions — representing a starting point for helping them to tackle climate change.
Anyone who completed the free training and a low carbon pledge form was given the opportunity to become certified as ‘carbon literate’.
Dr Paul Barratt, Senior Lecturer at Staffordshire University, said: “This event was part of the University’s civic responsibility and its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Participants can take away discussions from this event and share what they’ve learnt with friends, family and colleagues.”
In total, a huge 2,303 individuals were trained on Carbon Literacy Action Day 2023. This is four times the amount trained during last year’s event.
The 2,303 learners trained on the day came from 225 organisations across 12 nations and will go on to save approximately 6,000 tonnes of CO2e.
Alongside Staffordshire University, 75 training providers took part, who offered 102 courses, representing 28 sectors of society and spanning 10 nations.
Dr Paul Barratt added: “As a result of the day, 4,606 actions were pledged to tackle the climate crisis from learners all over the world and every individual trained will make significant changes to their carbon footprint, reducing the effects of climate change and influencing their peers to follow suit.
“Thank you to everyone who took part in our Big Community Carbon Literacy Day. These record-breaking results are a true testament to the power of the Carbon Literacy community.”
Staffordshire University is a Bronze Award Carbon Literate Organisation and Carbon Literacy Training is available to all its students and staff.
The Carbon Literacy Project is a unique training scheme that helps Universities, their students, and their staff to understand the carbon impacts of their everyday actions and help them make informed choices to address climate change and reduce carbon emissions.