Carbon Literacy Training
At the South Downs National Park, tackling climate change is one of our key priorities.
It’s something we are passionate about and there’s a real wave of positive action taking place right across the National Park, in communities, schools, businesses, and also here at the National Park Authority itself.
We know climate change is already having a fundamental effect on the National Park – on the landscape, habitats, species diversity, forestry, agriculture, food production, water resources, rural economy and our local communities.
These effects are expected to intensify over time. It could include more extreme weather events, increased risk of wildfire and drought, more flooding, and declining soil fertility. There are also other threats to food security, and damage to infrastructure and archaeological features.
So back in March 2020, the South Downs National Park Authority adopted a Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, with a goal of becoming a ‘Net-Zero’ organisation by 2030 and work towards the South Downs National Park becoming ‘Net-Zero with Nature’ by 2040.
This work continues with the recent launch of the Authority’s new 5-year Partnership Management Plan, which now includes Climate Change as one of seven key priorities for the National Park.
Carbon Literacy Training is creating a strong foundation to tackle the challenges facing us all.
The training has ensured that all staff have a good knowledge base to understand the causes and impacts of climate change and the actions needed to make a difference.
Carbon Literacy Training is a key step in reaching our aims that the South Downs National Park is a nature-rich, resilient working landscape where wildlife flourishes and that it’s on track to become net zero by 2040.
The training has increased staff confidence in talking about climate change with the public and our partners. It supports better-quality conversations and more joined–up working to further embed climate action across the Authority.
The climate crisis can only be effectively tackled if we all work together with international, national, local and personal actions. Carbon Literacy Training is helping us to play our part in achieving this.
Listen to Chief Executive, Siôn McGeever, talk about the importance of Carbon Literacy Training for the organisation.