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Carbon Literacy Qualification (CLQ)

Climate change is widely recognised as one of the greatest, and most urgent, challenges facing humankind. This challenge has been recognised not only locally but also nationally and globally.

An awareness of the carbon costs and the impact of everyday activities with a drive to reduce emissions is vitally important in tackling climate change. Without such education, the climate crisis will become steadily worse. Becoming carbon literate means not only understanding how we can reduce our greenhouse gas emissions now but also becoming better prepared for the anticipated events and putting in place methods to both mitigate and adapt to the worst eventualities.

The CLQ is a nationally recognised, self-study, short course (approx. 10 hours) designed in partnership with the Manchester Metropolitan University, which you can choose to study during your own time.

This course will give you an overview of the basic science of climate change as well as an understanding of the actions required by governments, businesses and individuals in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change and set us on a path towards a more sustainable future. It will also cover how we can limit the damaging effects of human activity by examining examples of green initiatives and sustainability projects that mitigate, redress or reverse some of the worst effects of climate change witnessed in the past few decades.

Achieving this CLQ qualification will not only leave you better informed and more equipped to tackle climate change, but it will also look impressive on your CV.

The course will require you to think about your own actions and how you can offset your own and collective carbon footprints. The course is intended to provide a vision for future generations of young people who can be well informed and engaged with the issue so that you can consider effective long-term solutions to the current climate change predicament.

There are six modules in this Level 3 qualification:

  • Gain an overview of the basic science of climate change
  • Understand the actions required of the Government, organisations and individuals to tackle climate change
  • Improve your prospects for ‘green jobs’ either in the renewal energy industry or those that require you to have a basic knowledge about carbon footprints, environmental pollution or sustainability
  • Achieve a Level 3 qualification which will make you better informed and look impressive on your CV or university personal statement
Module 1Climate Change Basics: examining the basic scientific facts and evidence on climate change as well as looking at the various greenhouse gases that cause greenhouse effects.
Module 2Exploring Carbon Footprints: examining the local, national and global carbon footprints and their vulnerability to change. It also looks at the carbon footprints of our food and travel.
Module 3A Zero Carbon World: exploring human activities that are causing climate change and the importance of taking action to offset the worst effects of it. Also examining our carbon emissions and imagining a net zero carbon world.
Module 4Influencing Others: examining how the college can deliver zero carbon, implementing sustainable solutions and educating students on the impact of carbon emissions. It also examines the various challenges to communicating climate change to the wider world.
Module 5Our Professional Influence: examining the role of the college in delivering zero carbon in all its actions from calculating its carbon footprint and regular reporting of emissions to progressing the college on the Climate Action Roadmap. It also ensures that carbon literacy and sustainability is embedded across all curriculum courses.
Module 6Taking Action: examining our behaviours on climate impact, making significant changes and taking action on how to make carbon savings. Also making individual and group pledges to reduce our carbon footprints.

You will:

I thought the course was easy to perform as it only takes a few hours and at the same time it manages to be really informative and inspiring. I also don't do geography or environmental science yet believe the course was interesting and useful despite the fact I take no subjects related to climate change.
Isabella Buckwell
I really enjoyed the Carbon Literacy course as it gave me insight on how things work in this field, including how to measure carbon footprints and how to mitigate CO2 emissions. It helped me realise what my family and I can do to fight against climate change.
Howie Jevons
This qualification enhanced my knowledge of the environment which is such important knowledge today. Despite it being self-taught, I felt supported throughout the process by my teacher and found it fun!
Nina Morrish
I found that the carbon literacy qualification opened my eyes to many issues I had only considered at a surface level and the ability to work through it in your own time makes it very accessible.
Clement McClane

Course Essentials

We offer this qualification to all Year 1 students to complete as part of their Planned Study time.