On 20 June the Scottish Government announced that green house gas emissions targets were missed in 2021. It is now more urgent than ever for us to take greater action, invest more resources and put more effort in to rebalance and meet future crucial goals. We are committed to playing our part, and know that our new Platinum Carbon Literate Organisation status will help us to lead bold new action and engage people to help them on their own journey to Net Zero. Here our Deputy CEO Catherine Gee highlights why the journey of our own charity gives us hope that we can meet future goals.
It has been hot and dry for what seems like ages. We joke about ‘taps aff’ weather in Scotland – the rare phenomenon of the sun coming out. But, over the past few years, the sun has shone more. We have had less reliable rain. It is hotter. It is clear our weather is changing.
People come to Scotland for castles, mountains and lochs. They come for our beaches and our heritage. They expect and come prepared for our weather - the rain - and our wildlife – the monsters and the midges (although may not be prepared for the latter). Scotland is known to be green, our scenery luscious, rich and diverse.
This month visitors to our country will perhaps leave with a different impression. One of yellow grass, trees stressed with drooping leaves, images of wildfires in the Highlands, exposure to news stories about water scarcity.
For those of us who live and work in Scotland, the warmer weather is welcomed, but as it has continued, we are also hearing people complain about the heat, worry about watering their gardens unnecessarily and worry about the impact on animals and wildlife.
Our climate is changing. Our norm is not the same. And as we feel the impacts, we can only imagine the severity of similar changes in other parts of the world where baseline temperatures are higher and annual rainfall levels lower to start with. These people and communities have been struggling to cope and adapt to this more extreme weather for a long time already.
I personally want to see Scotland become Climate Literate – we all need to understand what is happening, why and commit to action. There are hard choices ahead, but ones that can benefit us, our natural environment and our economy if we understand them. Since pioneering Climate Emergency Training in Scotland in 2016, we have worked across sectors and subjects to help individuals, businesses, organisations, teachers and young people to understand the Climate Emergency, inspiring appropriate and practical action.
We’ve helped pave the way for a Carbon Literate Scotland with almost 6,000 learners becoming formally certified as Carbon Literate as a result of our Climate Emergency Training accredited by the Carbon Literacy Project. This means almost 10% of the global total of 63,000+ Carbon Literate learners are based in Scotland and have been trained by our team, past and present.
Earlier this month we achieved the highest level of accreditation from the Carbon Literacy Project and became the first Platinum Carbon Literate Organisation in Scotland. Now over 80% of #TeamKSBScot is formally accredited because we recognise this a key part of our own Net Zero transition.
A transition to Net Zero by 2045 is an integral aspect of creating a sustainable future for us all. If we want to take action to protect and restore nature and biodiversity, including our people, from the impacts of climate change, we need to take positive action now. To do that we all need to understand what action is likely to make the biggest difference and support each other to make choices in a different, yet positive way.
Our trainers have supported more than 1,000 people to take their first steps in finding out more about the Climate Emergency through shorter Introductory Training, which includes an e-Learning Module and online webinars. And, our range of accredited training, including 10 sector-based courses for businesses and organisations covers Biodiversity; Communities; Construction; Energy; Housing; Local Authority; Tourism; Sport; Transport and Youth sectors.
If you are concerned about our changing climate, particularly as we hear today about missed targets and what that may mean, then why not investigate what it takes to become Carbon Literate and take the first step today by finding our more about our training.
