Manchester Met’s Carbon Literacy programme empowering local businesses to act on climate change

And at today’s Greater Manchester Green Summit (October 18), the University is encouraging more local businesses to join over 2,400 participants from a range of organisations who have already benefitted from its Carbon Literacy training programme.

The training is designed to give an understanding of the science behind climate change and the actions that individuals and businesses can take to address the issues and how to talk about the subject to others.

The aim is to help people play their part in delivering transformational change in response to the challenges posed by climate change.

Manchester Met’s Carbon Literacy programme has enabled over 1,400 students and staff achieve Carbon Literacy certification which is provided by the global Carbon Literacy Project.

In addition, over 2,400 participants from the business community and over 240 trainers have been empowered to deliver Carbon Literacy training to more than 7,500 further participants.

As an official partner of the Greater Manchester Green Summit 2021, hosted at The Lowry at Salford Quays, Manchester Met is showcasing the Carbon Literacy programme alongside its pioneering development of the region’s first low-carbon hydrogen hub, the Manchester Fuel Cell Innovation Centre and its work on net zero skills.

Liz Price, Professor of Environmental Education at Manchester Met, said: “Our Carbon Literacy programme, Fuel Cell Innovation Centre and net zero skills pipeline project are just some of the many areas in which we are leading the charge towards a global green economy.

“Our research and knowledge exchange provides solutions to questions of regional and global significance and, through this and our industry collaborations, we are well-placed to focus on new ways to tackle the challenges facing society.

“The Greater Manchester Green Summit is a fantastic opportunity to show the strength of our commitment and the value we can bring to students, staff, our regional economy and to society at large as the region comes together to raise its ambitions.”

Manchester Met’s Carbon Literacy training is specifically tailored to meet the needs of education providers, community groups, not-for-profit organisations, business and public sector companies who register their interest directly with the University.

The University is also working with Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Trafford Council, Carlton Power, Cadent Gas and Electricity North West on the creation of Greater Manchester’s first low-carbon hydrogen hub.

The hub will be a new addition to Trafford Low Carbon Energy Park – a green energy storage facility, which already consists of a number of net zero industrial projects in support of UK Government objectives.

Manchester Met is also developing and leading a technical skills group for NetZero North West through which North West universities, the further education sector, industry and local government come together to develop the skills needed for a green economy.

Professor Price, who will be speaking alongside Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham at today’s Summit, added: “We are working to help Greater Manchester achieve its target of being net zero by 2038 and we know that skills play an important role in delivering that ambition.

“We aim to enable our students, our people, our research, our communities and our business partnerships to find sustainable solutions to the global challenges we face by ensuring we have the right skills to build a more sustainable and safer future for the whole planet.”

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