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Carbon Literacy training toolkit launched to help universities to tackle climate emergency

A free open-source Carbon Literacy toolkit which will support universities across the globe to tackle the climate emergency, reduce emissions in line with legislation and local targets, and boost student employability has been launched by Nottingham Trent University (NTU).

Graphic of city with environment icons
The training will empower staff and students at universities across the globe to take responsibility for their carbon footprint

The NTU Carbon Literacy Course for Universities enables anyone with training experience and knowledge of climate change to teach university staff and students from all departments and disciplines.

The training covers a day’s worth of learning and action-planning - currently designed as four, two-hour virtual interactive sessions due to the pandemic - and consists of slides, activity resources, and a comprehensive trainer manual which can be adapted for the local context.

Learners explore high impact climate solutions together with climate science before devising significant actions for themselves and their colleagues or fellow students. The course also includes the use of En-ROADS, a climate change solutions simulator developed by Climate Interactive in collaboration with MIT Sloan, USA and Ventana Systems.

The Toolkit follows the international success of the Carbon Literacy Training for Business Schools programme, which was designed by Nottingham Business School, part of NTU, in collaboration with the UN PRME Champions, Oikos International and The Carbon Literacy Project.

The new training has been developed by the NTU Green Academy and Nottingham Business School and tested by a working group of higher education professionals across Britain, Denmark and the USA.

All work is evaluated, and successful participants are certified as Carbon Literate by the Carbon Literacy Project.

Professor Petra Molthan-Hill, head of the Green Academy at NTU, said: “Universities know they have large carbon footprints and influence on global decision-making through their research and graduates, but sustainability professionals cannot tackle this on their own.

“This easily adaptable training enables all students and staff at universities to be a catalyst for further action across the sector and in their own regions, to unlock the multiple civic co-benefits of action, from cleaner air and better health, to warmer homes and safer streets. As the UK accelerates its drive towards zero carbon, the boost to student employability is also clear.”

NTU’s dedicated Green Academy team works to embed Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into the curriculum, helping academic staff to integrate sustainability into scholarship and teaching practice; and supporting students to acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values necessary to shape a sustainable future.

The NTU Carbon Literacy Course for Universities will be launched at an online event on Wednesday 20 January. For further information visit the Green Academy website.

  • Notes for editors

    Press enquiries please contact Helen Breese, Public Relations Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8751, or via email.

    The toolkit has been funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and GMCA. The training materials are free to use by universities and their approved training providers for the purposes of certified Carbon Literacy training. Learner certification fees apply - generally £10 per certificate application.

    About Nottingham Trent University

    Nottingham Trent University (NTU) was named University of the Year 2019 in the Guardian University Awards. The award was based on performance and improvement in the Guardian University Guide, retention of students from low-participation areas and attainment of BME students.

    NTU was also the Times Higher Education University of the Year 2017, and The Times and Sunday Times Modern University of the Year 2018. These awards recognise NTU for its high levels of student satisfaction, its quality of teaching, its engagement with employers, and its overall student experience.

    The university has been rated Gold in the Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework – the highest ranking available.

    It is one of the largest UK universities. With nearly 32,000 students and more than 4,000 staff located across four campuses, the University contributes £900m to the UK economy every year. With an international student population of more than 3,000 from around 100 countries, the University prides itself on its global outlook.

    The university is passionate about creating opportunities and its extensive outreach programme is designed to enable NTU to be a vehicle for social mobility. NTU is among the UK’s top five recruiters of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and was awarded University of the Year in the UK Social Mobility Awards 2019.

    A total of 82% of its graduates go on to graduate entry employment or graduate entry education or training within six months of leaving. Student satisfaction is high: NTU achieved an 87% satisfaction score in the 2020 National Student Survey, above the sector average of 83%.

Published on 19 January 2021
  • Category: Environment and sustainability; Press office; Nottingham Business School