Shropshire Council completes training to win bronze-level Climate Literacy status

Commitment to a national training programme has resulted in Shropshire Council achieving a Bronze Award from the Carbon Literacy Trust.

Shropshire Council’s senior management have all undertaken the training, offered by Save Our Shropshire, to give them the tools and knowledge to take positive action to tackle the climate crisis.

Carbon Literate Organisation – Bronze award

Carbon Literacy is ‘an awareness of the carbon dioxide costs and impacts of everyday activities, and the ability and motivation to reduce emissions, on an individual, community and organisational basis’.

The training explored the changes needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Shropshire and beyond to net zero, and was undertaken with the aim of putting Shropshire Council in a strong position to share best practice and be a community leader.

(l-to-r): Adrian Cooper, Shropshire Council’s climate change task force leader; Lezley Picton, Leader of Shropshire Council; Ian Nellins, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for climate change, natural assets and the green economy; and Allan Wilson, chair of Save Our Shropshire.

Ian Nellins, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for climate change, natural assets and the green economy, said:-

“This accreditation as a carbon literate organisation is a visible ‘badge’ that shows we are both committed to tackling climate change, and serious about establishing and maintaining a low carbon culture.

“This bronze award means that we have implemented a training programme across the organisation and that senior management, including Lezley Picton, Leader of the Council, and Andy Begley, chief executive, have received training.

“In the future we aim to achieve higher levels of accreditation, demonstrating a greater level of commitment, through training a significant number of our staff and supporting partner organisations and members of our community to increase their carbon literacy as well.”

Shropshire Council declared a climate emergency in May 2019, and in December 2020 adopted a Climate Strategy and Action Plan, which establishes the objective of achieving net-zero carbon performance for the council by 2030.

Ian added:-

“This is a great step on our journey to becoming a carbon neutral organisation by 2030 and demonstrating that everyone has a part to play.

“The council’s corporate footprint represents only around 1% of Shropshire’s total carbon footprint, but the council can influence as much as 33% of emissions through its regulatory and support functions.

“We are committed to further action, and are already supporting a wide range of projects and initiatives designed to support local businesses and communities to help tackle the climate crisis.”

To find out more about climate action and what has been achieved in Shropshire see: Climate dashboard | Shropshire Council