YORKSHIRE Water has collaborated with construction company Galliford Try to become the first company in the industry to run an accredited Carbon Literacy course.
The course promotes an awareness of climate change, highlights the climate impacts of the company’s everyday activities and encourages staff to take action in their personal life and at work.
Gordon Rogers, Yorkshire Water’s Head of Sustainability, said: “I am delighted that we have become the first water company to offer Carbon Literacy training.
“This has advanced our existing colleague carbon training to the next level as one of many actions we’re taking to deliver the step change that will be required to achieve our commitment to net zero carbon.
“We have seen from Carbon Week how engaged and passionate our colleagues are about doing their bit to reduce their carbon footprint and I am keen that we will deliver much more of this in the future.”
The interactive course provides information on how climate change will affect us and how our actions can have both a positive and negative impact on global warming.
The accreditation came off the back of Yorkshire Water’s first-ever ‘Carbon Week’, which was a week of engagement activities with its colleagues, partners and customers.
Over 200 colleagues and partners participated in a series of workshops and activities, with many others getting involved in other ways.
During the week the company saved an estimated 28,500kg of carbon through driving efficiencies in water production and changing company travel habits.
This will all help towards the company’s commitment to reduce its carbon emissions to net zero by 2030.
Phil Korbel from Cooler Project, which run the Carbon Literacy course, said: “Yorkshire Water has recognised that everyone has a role to play in the tackling the climate crisis, that Carbon Literacy is a good way to mobilise their people and that this could work across the whole sector.
“We look forward to supporting YW to make sure Carbon Literacy can grow both in Yorkshire and nationally as other water companies follow their lead.”
