Carbon Conversations are a series of meetings with trained facilitators that offer a supportive group experience that helps students halve their personal carbon footprint by connecting to the participants values, emotions and identity. This project is in collaboration with The Surefoot Effect and Cooler Projects and are a set of meetings creating a non-judgmental atmosphere where people are encouraged to make serious lifestyle changes.
The groups offer:
- space for people to explore what climate change means for themselves, their families and their aspirations
- permission to share their hopes, doubts and anxieties
- time to work through the conflicts between intention, social pressure and identity
- reliable, well-researched information and practical guidance on what will make a difference
- support in creating a personal plan for change
The Carbon conversations that MMU offer also allow the participants to be certified as carbon literate. Carbon literacy is an individual’s ability to identify, measure, manage, apply and communicate issues to do with a developing low-carbon economy. MMU is the first place globally to offer literacy certification alongside carbon conversations.
There are seven sessions students must attend to be certified that include:
- Looking for a low carbon future- a gentle introduction to climate change, low carbon future and an individual’s carbon footprint.
- Energy in the home- studying energy in the home and how to make it more energy efficient by assisting in developing ideas for action.
- Travel and transport- reducing the students carbon dioxide impact and putting climate change into the heart of future travel decisions by looking at various low carbon travel options.
- Food and water- introducing food and water being threatened by climate change, exploring how we can limit the impact of food choices, and minimising the stress we put on the worlds systems.
- Consumption and waste- By exploring carbon dioxide emissions, levels of consumption, the effect of economic expansion on ecosystems and happiness of societies as well as changes in values, students can challenge their individual consumption and reduce their carbon dioxide levels.
- home study and test for carbon literacy- the home study involves researching climate change in more depth and then demonstrating their understanding through a test.
- Carbon literacy group activity and moving on- the first half of the session involves a group activity that is the second half of the literacy certification. The second part of the session involves either concentrating on a previous session subject or has the option of the students running their own session on their chosen topic
“Sometimes I’ve shied away from sharing environmental information, but now I see more value in doing so …I am now planning to share my knowledge…to encourage others to recycle and to try to reduce their carbon footprints in other ways.” Bethan Leivers, 3rd year English and Politics, participant
“Very pleased I joined, lovely to meet new people and discuss issues as a group and to know that even though we’re have different lives and circumstances, we all share the passion for reducing your carbon footprint.” Stephanie Slater, 3rd year English, participant
“I have now started discussion with my children about us taking responsibility as a family for reducing our footprint and making small but effective lifestyle changes” Alan Haughton, MA History , participant
For future Carbon Conversation dates please sign up via MMU Futures participating in these sessions are worth 10 Bronze and 5 Silver.
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