Education + action = change

Our courses are designed to bring people together and facilitate a faster transition to a green society and economy.

Our courses

Our courses help participants understand the dangers of climate breakdown, and what actions we can take as individuals, employees, business owners and citizens to stop this happening. Our experienced trainers avoid jargon, and all the courses use interactive exercises with plenty of opportunity for discussion.

Where

The course can be delivered at your premises or at venues such as the Southsea Community Cinema in Palmerston Road. Some of them can also be delivered online.

Formats

All courses, unless stated otherwise, are available in two formats:

  • bitesize: 2 hours
  • full course: 4 hours

Custom formats: we can adapt the courses to be longer or shorter, and also to be more specialised for a particular audience or sector.

Cost

Portsmouth Climate Action is a community organisation, run by volunteers. We have a sliding scale: so that those companies with the deepest pockets can help us offer courses to smaller organisations and micro-businesses for a smaller fee. Please email us for details.

Explore our general courses, and courses for further education, the arts, faith communities and digital carbon.

General courses

Understanding climate change – and how you can help

Two intersecting circles enclose the text ‘CO2 and you’. ‘CO2’ is enclosed within a dark grey circle, ‘and you’ sits within a translucent lime green circle. The area of intersection creates a muted dark green.

This course will help you understand the 4 main greenhouse gases and their sources, what climate change is and why it matters, the carbon footprint of food and travel, the concept of climate justice, and the most impactful changes you can make.

Understanding the role of food in climate change

This course focuses on the climate impacts of our food system. By the end of it participants will understand: 1.What climate change is and why it matters 2. Which foods have the highest carbon footprint and why 3. Sustainable swaps and other ways to reduce the impact of your diet 4. The power of social norms and how best to communicate what you have learnt to others.

What does a zero carbon world look like (and how can you help build it)

There’s a pervasive myth that reducing our carbon emissions will lead to an austere and restrictive future. The reality is that many of the actions we need to take to stop climate breakdown have lots of other benefits, such as lower energy bills, healthier air, better public transport, and more trees, greenery and wildlife. This workshop will open your eyes to a positive vision of the future, and help inform and inspire you to take the actions that will get us there sooner.

The 80% challenge

3 horizontal strips overlay the text ‘80%’. Each strip has an icon representing a category of emissions: a car for transport, a chicken for food, and a spark for energy.

80% of the average UK citizen’s carbon footprint comes from three areas of our lives: food, travel and energy use in our homes. What can we do as citizens, consumers, and householders that will reduce these emissions, and encourage our government to take action? This course will educate and empower you to be part of the solution.

Further education

Carbon literacy for universities and FE (accredited course)

Screenshot of a PowerPoint slide citing that the Carbon Literacy Project is training developed by Manchester Metropolitan University, with sector roll-out funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Inustrial Strategy, and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

This course is for students and staff of Universities and Further Education Colleges, and if completed leads to accreditation by the Carbon Literacy Project. The course can be adapted for a specific University and location, to include its organisational footprint, and net zero policies. By the end of it participants will understand the basic concepts of climate change – including its causes and impacts – and the quickest ways for individuals and organisations to reduce their carbon emissions. They will also be empowered to talk to others about climate change. The course is pledge based, and to get accredited each participant must commit to two significant carbon reduction actions within their own control.The course uses interactive games / exercises and provides plenty of opportunity for discussion.

Formats: the full course is 8 hours long; this can be delivered in two half-day workshops or in three shorter workshops.

The arts

Understanding climate change: and how the Arts can help

Mannequins of two businessmen in grey suits stand immersed up to their abdomen in a moat, alongside the stone wall of a fortress. They each wear a red lifebelt that is keeping them afloat.
‘Waiting for climate change’ Image: Isaac Cordal

This course will help you understand the 4 main greenhouse gases, what climate change is and why it matters, the carbon footprint of food and travel, the concept of climate justice, and the most impactful changes you can make as an arts practitioner.

Faith communities

Creation care: the why and how

This course will help you understand the 4 main greenhouse gases, what climate change is and why it matters, the carbon footprint of food and travel, the concept of climate justice, and the role of the Christian community in addressing this problem. The course finishes with a section on what actions you can take as a church, consumer and citizen that will make the most difference.

Digital carbon

Understanding digital carbon, and how to reduce your IT footprint

This course will help you understand the 4 main greenhouse gases, what climate change is and why it matters, and the carbon footprint of using IT. It will explore how you can reduce the carbon footprint of your digital devices, both through what you purchase and how it is used

Our trainers

Nick Sebley

Nick coordinated the Portsmouth Climate Action Board from 2020 to 2022. Since then he has been co-author of the new Sustainability Policy for the University of Portsmouth and delivered carbon literacy courses to University staff, students, arts practitioners and the public.

Ellie Rundle-Johnson

Ellie has been the Sustainability Coordinator for both the University of Portsmouth and Winchester, during which she co-delivered a number of Carbon Literacy courses to staff. She is currently doing a MSC in Environmental Science and brings both academic knowledge and practical experience to the team.

Tony Sudworth

Tony has had a 40 year career in IT, starting here in Portsmouth with IBM and working in Wales, Canada and Germany. He is a qualified Business consultant and PROSCI Change manager. His last job was Digital Sustainability Lead for the DWP – the largest government department with 120,000 users and a £1.4bn IT budget.