South West College (SWC) is proud to announce its accreditation as a Bronze Carbon Literate Educator, highlighting the institution’s commitment to embed climate education and action, through Carbon Literacy, into its Institution and ethos, and facilitate a cultural shift towards a zero carbon society.
Carbon Literacy is defined as “an awareness of the carbon dioxide costs and impacts of everyday activities, along with the ability and motivation to reduce emissions on an individual, community, and institutional level.” The initiative revolves around a full day of learning and practical action focused on addressing climate change.
A Carbon Literate Educator (CLE) is an institution accredited by The Carbon Literacy Project for being "culturally Carbon Literate." This means maintaining a significant proportion of Carbon Literate staff and students while leveraging that influence to create positive change in both the community and the broader world. The CLE accreditation system is tiered, with Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels, each requiring progressively higher levels of commitment to climate action.
To achieve Bronze Carbon Literate Educator status, SWC trained both students and staff from various departments using tailored Carbon Literacy training materials. As part of the accreditation process, the college pledged to train 10% of all Staff and Students and committed to further integrating climate-conscious practices throughout the College.
Celine McCartan, Principal and Chief Executive of SWC, said:
“We are incredibly proud to be among the first institutions to receive this prestigious award. Accreditation as a Bronze Carbon Literate Educator marks a significant milestone in the College’s dedication to embedding climate education and action into its culture. This recognition underscores SWC’s commitment to fostering a zero-carbon future through Carbon Literacy.
“It highlights our unwavering commitment to sustainability and the hard work of our staff and students who took part in the Carbon Literacy training. This is an important milestone for us, but it’s just the beginning. Our next target is to achieve Silver CLE Accreditation, and we are already preparing to reach that goal. Our plan includes accrediting 600 of our students to meet the requirements for Silver status.”
Dave Coleman, Co-Founder and Managing Director of The Carbon Literacy Project, said:
“Carbon Literacy is an essential skill for any student to be properly prepared for the world of work and to thrive in a twenty-first century society. By becoming a Bronze Carbon Literate Educator (CLE), SWC has demonstrated a commitment to empowering its students through Carbon Literacy. But CLEs are not only great educators. CLEs run great organisations, taking responsibility for their own impacts, and are able to demonstrate their own efficiencies. CLEs connect themselves and their learners with all the other organisations on their own Carbon Literacy journeys all around them, to the benefit of everyone. This award recognises SWC’s efforts and success in facilitating the cultural shift to a positive low carbon future for us all.”
To learn more or to register for SWCs upcoming Carbon Literacy for Businesses and SMEs programme, designed to equip your team with the skills to help drive a low-carbon future, please contact supriya.foster@swc.ac.uk.