Carbon literacy training with betternotstop

In our commitment to sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint, AJT’s Green Committee took part in a Carbon Literacy training course hosted by betternotstop via the Better Business Network.

As a certified B Corporation we take our responsibility to the planet seriously, but as a business without a physical office or products, we know that we need to challenge ourselves to think beyond the more obvious steps to reduce our emissions, and this is where the Carbon Literacy training course provided valuable insight.

It can be all too easy for climate anxiety to set in when we turn our attention to the climate crisis. So many factors feel out of our control, and this can feel frustrating and demoralising. But as businesses, we have a responsibility to play our part – not only to mitigate our own environmental impact, but to be a positive force for change within our industries. It was in this spirit that we took the opportunity to engage with this Carbon Literacy training course and bring our findings back to AJT.

Understanding climate science

Our two-day training course began with a comprehensive overview of the climate science and moved on to the risks that climate change poses to businesses and to the planet, now and in different projected warming scenarios. We then reflected on our own carbon footprints, both as individuals and businesses, and discussed how we could best implement effective strategies to reduce our environmental impact going forwards. It was so refreshing to hear impactful, meaningful measures being discussed within our groups, rather than a rehashing of low-impact actions that most people already take. Recycling is great, but we all know that we need to set our sights higher than this to create real change.

“Uplifted” is probably not an emotion you would ordinarily associate with discussions about the climate crisis, but it is truly the best way to describe how we felt on completing day 2 of the course last week. The recap of the climate science on day 1 was very sobering, but the purpose of our training was not to dwell on what has already happened or what we cannot influence, but instead to turn the focus upon our own businesses and communities and identify the areas we do have control over. What is already going on in our communities that we could participate in? What are some immediate, “easy win” actions that we could take to reduce our emissions? How can we continue to incorporate sustainable practices into every aspect of our business operations? Even if some of these questions don’t have obvious, straightforward answers, it’s vital that we rise to the challenge.

Translating knowledge into meaningful action

Taking part in a Carbon Literacy training course has equipped us with the knowledge to improve our own business practices, but it has also helped us to forge connections with a wider community of like-minded businesses, and it was in our group discussions that we felt really energised from the exchange of ideas and a feeling of solidarity. It’s so encouraging and reassuring to have these conversations with other people who share your values and are committed to taking a sustainable path forward.

Thanks to betternotstop, we have come away from our course feeling informed and empowered to integrate what we have learned into our business operations. With the help of our training, we are initiating a thorough review of our current processes to identify areas for improvement, and we are excited to share with you what we will be putting into practice in the coming year.