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After a successful pilot using the Manchester Metropolitan Univerity Toolkit, The University of Queensland (UQ) Business School became the first university, and indeed the first organisation, in Australia to launch a Carbon Literacy programme. Director for the United Nations (UN) Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) for the UQ Business School Dr Cle-Anne Gabriel, climate expert Dr Saphira Rekker and PRME manager Roxane Valier-Brasier are leading the program. Here is what they said at their launch:

“We’re empowered to partner with The Carbon Literacy Project to help the community and organisations understand the impact of their daily activities on the climate, and highlight the steps they need to take to reduce their carbon footprint and advocate change.”
– Dr Cle-Anne Gabriel

After completing the short course, participants undergo a pledge and assessment to become certified as Carbon Literate via The Carbon Literacy Project – a global not-for-profit organisation specialising in climate-action training that has certified more than 20,000 people worldwide.

“The partnership with UQ is ground-breaking for the Australian education sector and helps to build a network of Carbon Literacy training to embed climate action throughout the institution and broader public.”
– Phil Korbel, Director of Advocacy at The Carbon Literacy Project

UQ’s vision for Carbon Literacy aligns with this UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report released last week, which underlines the need for all sectors to get on board with the fight to minimise the climate crisis.

UQ is also partnering with other Australian universities to roll out the Carbon Literacy program nationally. Swinburne University of Technology and Federation University Australia are going to be the next to, together, pilot the training, thanks to support from UQ.

“It is crucial to build a greater understanding of carbon impacts in Australia and globally.

“We’re contributing to the development of a Carbon Literate Australia and will foster collaborative partnerships to help provide access to the training anywhere in the country.”
– Roxanne Valier-Brasier, PRME manager

To help amplify the national Carbon Literacy capability, participants can also apply to become a trainer once they are certified by the UQ Carbon Literacy program.

The programme will open during UQ’s Sustainability Week on Monday 16 August. It will train more than 100 people online on the first day and 1000 people by the end of the year.
In the lead up to the full training programme launch, UQ have accredited themselves as a Bronze Carbon Literate Organisation.

Here’s to lots more Carbon Literacy training across Australia!