Arts & Environment: Carbon Literacy
- OCA Student Association
- May 20
- 5 min read
Did you know? — OU Carbon Literacy Training can be accessed (free) by all OCA staff and students!
OCA Programme Leader for Photography Dan Robinson and Programme Tutor for Graphic Design Emma Powell share their experience of completing the training below.
Dan Robinson
Having recently done OU Carbon Literacy Training (CLT), I wanted to share this brilliant free learning opportunity available to everyone at OCA.
Personally, I found this training super helpful and empowering. I was able to access practical knowledge, toolkits and resources to deepen my understanding and figure out ways to take realistic actions on my own terms.
How can I begin to comprehend these global ecological challenges?
How can I respond on a realistic level — at home and at work?
These were questions I was struggling to find answers to, until I discovered OU Carbon Literacy Training (CLT). The training was developed by Students Organising for Sustainability (SOS-UK) with The Open University and is available to access free for all OCA staff and students.
“The training gives us a solid awareness of climate change and the climate impacts of our everyday actions. It allows us to map our own carbon footprint and gain an understanding and the motivation to reduce personal and work-place emissions”.
What role can creative arts learning play in responding to global ecological challenges?
Wider creative communities are mobilising around this, see for example The Creative Freelancer’s Climate Almanac, launched recently.
At OCA, tutor Emma Powell’s article, Arts, the Environment and Sustainability introduces a learning resource and activities co-created by OCA students and tutors to support exploring responses.
Is this really a priority or relevant to what we do at OCA?
OCA’s collaborative Strategy on a Page (SOAP) sets out a clear vision,
“to reach more students with life-changing creative arts learning that meets their needs, creatively responds to social and ecological challenges and enriches society.”
Why does The OU think this training is important and beneficial?
Former Director of The Open University in Wales, Louise Casella, discusses the importance and benefits of the Carbon Literacy training in this two-minute video and one of OU’s five goals is Environmental and social sustainability.
What does the course involve?
The online learning starts with four hours of self-study activity, followed by four hours of interactive training, and an individual and group action pledge that leads to Carbon Literacy certification.
The course guides you towards making both personal and work-place action pledges, (at OCA and OU these can also be linked into organisational sustainability actions and reporting) so you come out with some really tangible steps on your own terms.
How can I access it?
If you are an OU or OCA staff or student, you can register your interest for the Carbon Literacy Training here. OU will email you the dates and links to upcoming trainings. (please ensure to use your OU/OCA email ID when registering).
Upcoming dates for online trainings, each taking place between 11am-3:30pm:
25th June
30th July
"...Easy to understand even the more complex ideas. This course has truly broadened my perspective on the bigger picture of climate change and sustainability… the flexibility of the self-study part (4 hours) allowed me to complete it at my own pace, breaking it down into manageable chunks. Having a choice of workshop dates, meant I could choose to book this when I felt I was ready. This structure made the learning process both accessible and enjoyable. I can't recommend this course highly enough!" Anna, OU Tutor Support Manager
If you are an OCA student, you can find out more here about the Arts, the Environment and Sustainability activity and resources.
Emma Powell
A few months ago I undertook the free OU training in Carbon Literacy. It involved doing some preparatory work and then an online group session. As part of the pre-course work you are asked to undertake your own carbon footprint assessment. This is easily done using online resources and is very revealing. There’s some information at the end of this blog post with more information about how to do this and how to make some positive changes in your lifestyle.
The training deals with the often upsetting topic of the climate emergency but there is a focus on empowering individuals, and groups of people, to make change. There is a focus on social and climate justice and participants are encouraged to listen to those with less of a voice – who are often more directly impacted by extreme climate events.
You are encouraged to consider your own ‘spheres of influence’ and make two pledges to complete the training and receive the relevant certification.
In summary, one of my pledges was to undertake a sustainability content audit of all the new Graphic Design courses and to include additional sustainability related content in any remaining unit rewrites. My other pledge was to write about the carbon literacy training and to encourage OCA staff and students to find out more about it.
If you have any questions about the training you can email me directly;
OU Resources
If you are interested you can undertake the free OU training in Carbon Literacy and make your own carbon pledges. It is made up of approx. four hours of preparatory work (watching videos, answering quiz questions) and a four hour online session (with breaks).
There is also an OU sustainability hub full of resources aligned to the United Nation’s 17 sustainable development goals.
There are also free OU courses about nature and the environment
You can download a PDF about Sustainability at the OU
You can read about OU sustainability-related research projects
Carbon Footprint Calculator
There’s lots of different calculators that are available but giki zero enables you to set up a free account. It can work out a rough estimate of your carbon footprint and then it suggests categories where you can make additional savings. For example, there is a working from home section, a sustainable day out checklist, links to articles and fun facts as examples. You can scroll through lots of activities, say whether you already do them, gather up ‘footprints’, answer questions and get a more detailed carbon footprint.
Giki zero suggests the use of https://www.ecosia.org/ as a search engine. This may be something you also wish to investigate.
If you choose to undertake the OU Carbon Literacy Training, we'd love to hear how you get on, let us know your pledges, email blog@oca.ac.uk.
We also have our very own Sustainable Practice Pledge which you can sign here.
And watch this space for our Summer of Sustainability 2025!
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