Let’s Change Culture: Developing carbon and climate literacy
I recently met an arts organisation who is aiming for 100% of its staff to be carbon literate. Given most of its staff may not have studied energy or climate at school, this is an awesome ambition. It is certainly one measurable way to ensure that a team are aware of the situation and what could be done and bring people together.
Cultural organisations can play a pivotal role in addressing the climate emergency by equipping their teams with the necessary knowledge and skills. Implementing Carbon Literacy or climate and ecology training is an effective strategy to foster environmental awareness and action within your organisation.
Training options available online and in and around Devon:
1. The Carbon Literacy Project
The Carbon Literacy Project offers tailored training resources for the cultural sector, enabling organisations to deliver comprehensive climate change education. They provide sector-specific toolkits, such as the Museums Toolkit and the Shareable Course for Theatres, which can be delivered in-house. These resources are designed to empower cultural organisations to mitigate their carbon impacts and support their audiences in doing the same.
Home - The Carbon Literacy Project
2. Arts and Culture East Devon (ACED)
ACED is committed to supporting cultural organisations in their development, offering free training courses that have previously covered topics like carbon literacy. These sessions aim to strengthen cultural venues and programmes across East Devon. Upcoming training opportunities are regularly updated on their platform.
Sustainability Resources | Resources | Arts and Culture East Devon
3. South Devon College
South Devon College offers an online Level 2 Certificate titled "Understanding Climate Change and Environmental Awareness." This course is suitable for individuals seeking to gain a better insight into the principles of climate change and environmental awareness. It provides foundational knowledge that can be beneficial for team members new to environmental topics.
Understanding Climate Change and Environmental Awareness (Online) - South Devon College
4. Speak Carbon Collective
Speak Carbon Collective has delivered Carbon Literacy training across various organisations using the Carbon Literacy Project's accredited toolkit for Local Authorities. They focus on educating and empowering employees to integrate climate and nature considerations into all processes and decision-making. Their training covers how to measure and reduce business carbon footprints and identify areas for energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction.
Carbon Literacy and Climate Awareness - Speak Carbon Collective
5. Bioregional Learning Centre
Located on the River Dart, the Bioregional Learning Centre works at the intersection of economy, ecology, learning, arts, and culture. They offer learning opportunities and action learning labs focused on building collaborations to shift South Devon towards long-term climate resilience. Engaging with them can provide your team with a deeper understanding of ecological principles and sustainable practices.
Learning Centre | The Bioregional Learning Centre UK
6. Sustainable Earth Institute's 'Future Climate Leaders' Skills Bootcamp
The Sustainable Earth Institute at the University of Plymouth offers the 'Future Climate Leaders' Skills Bootcamp, a ten-week course designed for Devon-based individuals aiming to support sustainable business practices within their organisations. This programme equips participants with the skills needed to become climate champions, enabling them to address environmental challenges effectively.
Skills Bootcamp: Future Climate Leaders - University of Plymouth
7. UN CC:Learn's 'Becoming a Climate Champion' E-Course
For a global perspective, the 'Becoming a Climate Champion' e-course by UN CC:Learn and UNFCCC’s Youth4Capacity is a free, interactive online course designed to equip individuals with essential skills for excelling in climate action. The course covers five key areas: leadership, project management, resource mobilization, inclusivity, and communications. It's self-paced and upon completion, participants receive a certificate.
Please add details of any other courses or information that you have found valuable in the comments below.
Cost Considerations
The costs associated with these training options vary:
In-House Training: Utilising toolkits from the Carbon Literacy Project allows for in-house training, which can be cost-effective, especially if you have staff members capable of facilitating the sessions.
External Trainers: Hiring external trainers or enrolling in structured courses may incur higher costs. It's advisable to contact the providers directly to obtain detailed pricing based on your organisation's specific needs.
Funding Opportunities: Explore local grants or funding opportunities that support environmental education and training within cultural organisations. Organisations like ACED may offer free or subsidised training sessions periodically.
By investing in these training opportunities, cultural organisations can empower their teams to actively participate in the transition towards a more sustainable future.
Embedding Climate Learning in Cultural Organisations
One-off training courses are a great starting point, sparking interest and building foundational knowledge—but they are just the beginning. For cultural organisations truly committed to responding to the climate emergency, the real challenge is embedding learning into everyday practice.
How do we move from a single training session to ongoing, enjoyable, and creative professional development? Here are some systems and processes that can help.
1. Make Climate Learning Part of Organisational Culture
💡 Integrate climate discussions into regular team meetings
Dedicate 5-10 minutes of every team meeting to a sustainability topic, question, or new learning.
Rotate responsibility for leading the discussion so that everyone contributes.
Use creative approaches—bring a poem, an artwork, or a surprising fact about energy, materials, or ecology.
💡 Set up an internal Climate and Creativity Working Group
A voluntary group that meets monthly to explore climate-related ideas and actions.
Open to all staff, from marketing to production, to ensure a cross-organisational approach.
Could be structured around themed discussions, invited guest speakers, or hands-on activities.
2. Use Creative Methods for Climate Learning
💡 Run "Climate and Creativity" Lunch & Learn Sessions
Invite guest speakers (scientists, activists, artists, local community energy groups).
Use storytelling—how have artists and cultural movements shaped environmental change?
Experiment with hands-on, interactive ways to engage with climate challenges.
💡 Host Internal Learning Residencies
Bring in an artist or climate expert to work with your team for a short residency.
Develop new ways to approach sustainability through creative exploration.
Encourage teams to experiment with eco-conscious artistic practices.
3. Foster Peer-to-Peer Learning
💡 Develop a Climate & Culture Resource Hub
A shared digital or physical space where staff can collect articles, case studies, books, and videos on sustainability and the arts.
Encourage team members to add their own discoveries and reflections.
💡 Start a Climate Book or Film Club
Choose a climate-related book, film, or podcast to discuss regularly.
Encourage a mix of creative and scientific perspectives—fiction, non-fiction, documentaries, and experimental works.
4. Create Space for Experimentation & Action
💡 Design and Run Small-Scale Internal Experiments
Try out a more sustainable material or production technique for an upcoming project.
Experiment with new ways to power performances or exhibitions (e.g., solar-powered installations).
Document and share learning—what worked, what didn’t, and what can be improved?
💡 Encourage Every Team Member to Take on a Climate Challenge
Invite staff to set personal or team-wide climate challenges—small, manageable actions that align with their roles (e.g., a designer explores low-carbon materials, a technician experiments with energy-saving lighting).
Celebrate and share progress in creative ways, such as an internal exhibition or zine.
5. Connect Learning to Real-World Change
💡 Build Partnerships with Climate-Focused Organisations
Work with local environmental groups, scientists, and community projects.
Exchange knowledge—help bring creativity into climate work and take climate understanding into cultural work.
💡 Recognise and Celebrate Progress
Embed sustainability into performance reviews and team reflections.
Create an internal ‘Sustainability Spotlight’ to highlight small but meaningful changes.
Making Climate Learning a Continuous, Creative Process
If we see climate training as a one-off tick-box exercise, it will quickly fade into the background. But if we weave climate learning into the everyday fabric of cultural work—through curiosity, creativity, and collaboration—it can become a rich and rewarding ongoing journey.
What could this look like in your organisation? What small changes could start the process?