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We are incredibly excited to announce that the winners of the CLAD Catalyst Award are…

Government of Jersey, Groundwork Greater Manchester and Wirral Council!

The CLAD Catalyst is our unique award initiative that celebrates and champions three exceptional organisations that deliver a particularly impactful – and catalytic – Carbon Literacy training as part of the annual International Carbon Literacy Action Day.

As such, the awardees are recognised for having a strong commitment to Carbon Literacy, and are provided with a demonstrable badge that showcases their dedication to climate action, cutting carbon emissions and accelerating towards a zero-carbon society.

This year, we brought in the new theme of Climate Inclusion, which encouraged training providers to make their Action Day training as inclusive and accessible as possible, in recognition of the need for everyone, everywhere to be part of the solutions required for a just transition to net-zero.

After a busy few weeks of reviewing submissions, we are thrilled to have selected three standout winners, each of whom embraced the theme of Climate Inclusion and went beyond the ordinary to deliver catalytic training in their own unique way.

Government of Jersey

The Government of Jersey made a groundbreaking contribution to the Action Day 2024 by delivering Carbon Literacy training to young people on the island for the very first time. They organised a Youth Climate Change Summit, where six secondary schools in Jersey joined to participate in a full-day event held at a dedicated venue.

Recognising the importance of engaging young people in climate action, they developed a bespoke training course tailored for secondary school and sixth-form students, including a unique training programme specifically for those under 16. Collaborating closely with eco-captains from local secondary school, Jersey College for Girls, they co-planned and delivered interactive sessions that included group discussions, scenario-based problem-solving, and activities. By adapting materials for younger audiences, the Government ensured the training was easy to understand and impactful.

This initiative underscores the Government of Jersey’s strong commitment to inclusive climate education and its dedication to empowering the next generation of climate leaders.

Commenting on their success, Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, said:

“Having participated in this training myself earlier in the year, I know that it is incredibly insightful, pressing the urgency and importance of tackling the climate crisis.

“At COP26, we pledged to delivering high quality climate education. Together with students and educators from across six secondary schools, last month’s Youth Climate Summit did just this, delivering an accessible and engaging day of Carbon Literacy training.

“This award also recognises the importance of working collaboratively together with young people to develop solutions to tackling the climate crisis.”

Well done Government of Jersey!

Groundwork Greater Manchester

Groundwork Greater Manchester took a bold and innovative approach by reaching groups often excluded from climate education. Most notably, they partnered with HMP Forest Bank, a Category B prison in Salford, to deliver Carbon Literacy training to prisoners, an underrepresented group with limited access to digital tools and environmental information.

Additionally, Groundwork GM extended their reach to other groups during CLAD, including Year 10 girls from Abraham Moss School and participants in their Medlock Valley and Green Job Pathfinder employment projects.

Groundwork GM’s intersectional approach is deeply rooted in the principles of inclusivity, making sure that even those with limited access to resources have the opportunity to participate in the climate action movement. These efforts exemplify Groundwork’s belief that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, deserves the chance to understand and act on climate issues.

Deborah Murray, Executive Director at Groundwork Greater Manchester said:

“Groundwork Greater Manchester is delighted to be named as a CLAD Catalyst Award winner. We are proud of our efforts to embed climate awareness within our programmes and of our reach into diverse audiences who are often excluded from traditional learning approaches. Carbon Literacy is one of the key tools we use in our climate awareness pathway, and over time we have been able to experiment and develop our approach, in partnership with the Carbon Literacy Trust, to find effective ways of engaging more marginalised groups.

Thank you to all our partners and participants who have helped make this possible. We will continue experimenting, learning and developing so that we can make these vital conversations accessible to all.”

Well done Groundwork Greater Manchester!

Wirral Council

Wirral Council made a big impact during the Action Day 2024, training 200 officers from across the organisation, an incredible jump from the 17 officers trained in the previous year. The training was held over three full days at Birkenhead Town Hall, with officers from various teams like Street Works, Pest Control, Highways, Libraries, Housing, and Adult Social Care participating. The focus was on engaging staff whose roles don’t typically align with climate action, helping them understand how their work connects to the council’s Climate Emergency agenda.

Trainers encouraged mixing participants from different departments, leading to great discussions and new perspectives, before grouping them back with their teams to create department-specific action plans. The training activities explored key topics like climate justice and equity, helping officers think about how the climate crisis impacts different communities in Wirral, from the most affluent to the most vulnerable.

To emphasise inclusion, Wirral ensured staff with specific learning needs were supported through pre-session discussions, one-to-one help during the sessions, and focused attention on their pledges.

Paul Satoor, Chief Executive for Wirral Council, said:

“I am delighted that we have been recognised in our efforts to embed climate action with this Carbon Literacy Action Day Catalyst Award 2024. Ensuring Wirral Council responds to the environment and climate emergency is a key objective within the Council Plan and making sure certain staff throughout the organisation are Carbon Literate and are empowered to make climate conscious decisions is central to this aim.

The Climate Emergency Team have worked hard to develop an inclusive and engaging course that reflects the diverse nature of council services and the feedback and actions from staff have been very positive!”

Well done Wirral Council!

Looking ahead

We would like to extend our thanks to all of the organisations that took part and moved beyond the ordinary for the Carbon Literacy Action Day 2024, making it a historic, record-breaking event. We are proud to work with organisations that share our passion for climate education, empowerment and action, and are grateful to those choosing Carbon Literacy as the tool used to achieve this. We look forward to witnessing these organisations continue to deliver, disseminate and catalyse Carbon Literacy to learners everywhere, as we act in tandem for a better future for all.

If you’re inspired by the stories of our three CLAD Catalysts, and would like to take Carbon Literacy into your own organisation, or plan catalytic training for the next Action Day, get in touch with CLAD@carbonliteracy.com or register your interest in CLAD 2025.