Carbon Literacy for Local Authority Leaders | NE England (Community Energy)

Carbon Literacy is ‘an awareness of the carbon costs and impacts of everyday activities and the ability and motivation to reduce emissions, on an individual, community and organisational basis.’

Eligibility Criteria for Funded Training

This training is being funded via the North East & Yorkshire Net Zero Hub. Participants are eligible for funding if they meet all of the below criteria:

1. They work in the North East of England, including Yorkshire
2. They are currently working on or seeking to pursue community energy projects within their role and/or community
3. Their role has the appropriate authority to pursue the above projects.

The aim of the training is to increase capacity for community energy projects across the region. Funding will be allocated to those who are most suitable to contribute to this goal. In your order, you will need to answer a set of questions which will be used to assess your eligiblity and suitability. We will then confirm whether you are eligible for the funding or not within 5 working days.

With a third of the UK’s emissions directly influenced by local authority practice, policy and partnerships, local authorities have a vital role to play in the UK’s decarbonisation. This course aims to help embed climate action at all levels of your local authority; enabling cross-departmental knowledge building, collaboration and empowerment to achieve net zero targets. This content has a particular focus on community energy projects. Therefore, it is suited to those who are working on or aiming to pursue community energy projects.

This training includes two virtual sessions, running from 9:30am - 12:30pm on both days (16th & 23rd October 2025) as well as individual study ahead of the two sessions (around 2 hours) that will give you a well-rounded insight into carbon and climate to apply to your local authority role and setting.

What will I learn?

The practical, solution-focused content helps identify examples of carbon reduction across the sector, whilst group activities provide an opportunity to work together with other professionals to develop new ideas.

By sharing and showcasing best practice, knowledge and expertise, we can make informed decisions to address the scale and urgency of the climate emergency. You will leave the training with tangible and clear ideas on the methods through which you can directly reduce carbon emissions within your role, local authority and across the sector.

This training will include a showcase on community energy (CE). CE projects offer uniquely place-based solutions that help reach local and national net zero targets, empower the local community and fueling the local economy.

Upon completion of the training and evidence form, you can join over 100,000 learners to gain Carbon Literacy certification by completing a short evidence form, including a personal and professional pledge, to the Carbon Literacy Project (CLP) who certify you.

Who is this course for?

The Leadership and Management course enables all local authority leaders and managers to explore how they can provide leadership in the climate emergency and how climate change can be integrated into decision-making. If you are an elected Council member or in a non-leadership position, we recommend joining our training sessions for elected members and general staff.

Funded places are only available to those who meet the eligiblity criteria outlined above, including a mandate that you must be responsible for or motivated to develop community energy projects.

Who will deliver the training?

The course will be delivered by Change Agents UK, a charity and non-profit who have been educating, inspiring and empowering people for over 25 years through their flagship Sustainability Leadership Skills programme, bespoke courses and delivering Carbon Literacy training to hundreds of learners across sectors and regions.

Who created the training?

This course uses the Carbon Literacy Projects' Local Authority Toolkit which was produced in partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Energy, North Somerset Council and Rachel Coxcoon of ClimateGuide. Course development was funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).

Who is funding the training?

This course is being funded by the North East & Yorkshire (NEY) Net Zero Hub. The Hub works with public sector organisations, their stakeholders and communities to develop fundable net zero projects and deliver local energy strategy. They exist to accelerate the region’s ambitious efforts to drive a low carbon, clean growth future. All applications will be assessed by the NEY Net Zero Hub before being accepted onto the course.