1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:17,320 Hello and welcome. 2 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:22,040 And thanks for listening to Carbon Climate, an industry podcast that discusses all things 3 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:24,040 energy, carbon and sustainability. 4 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:28,400 We also like to talk about what's getting hot, besides from our planet. 5 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:33,360 I'm your host Anya and today I'm joined by my Carbon Climate co-host Catherine. 6 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:34,360 Hi Catherine. 7 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:35,360 Hey, good to be here. 8 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:40,360 So yeah, can you tell us a bit about yourself? 9 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:43,480 Well before that, why is your week then? 10 00:00:43,480 --> 00:00:46,200 Yeah, my week has been really good. 11 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:51,040 I'm just trying to cook up the nice weather that we've had here in Bells class. 12 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:54,720 I was last weekend at Helens Bay, which was super nice. 13 00:00:54,720 --> 00:00:56,320 I love Helens Bay. 14 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:57,320 Yeah, it was nice. 15 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:03,920 And yeah, obviously I've been watching up with season two of Baylight. 16 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:06,920 Oh my goodness, I'm on episode three. 17 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:10,920 I finished episode four last night, so I'm going to try and finish that. 18 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:11,920 Oh my goodness, yeah. 19 00:01:11,920 --> 00:01:14,920 By the way, I love that when an EPBA series comes on. 20 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:15,920 Yeah. 21 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:17,920 And it's like, yeah, this is what I'm going to do for the next six weeks. 22 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:20,920 Exactly, both, it's like, what's next five days. 23 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:21,920 Oh brilliant. 24 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:22,920 Well, thanks for having us. 25 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,920 Can you tell us your job title? 26 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:30,920 Yeah, so I'm a digital communications officer at the Carbon Electricity Project. 27 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:34,920 Oh brilliant, the Carbon Electricity Project in Manchester. 28 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:35,920 Very good. 29 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:36,920 Very good. 30 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:38,920 And how long have you been in this sector? 31 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:44,920 In terms of marketing, I've been in this sector ever since I graduated, which was five years 32 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:48,920 ago this year, which is slightly depressing. 33 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:52,920 Oh, here I don't like, I graduated in 2017. 34 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:54,920 Yeah, oh my God. 35 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:57,920 And it's, you know, you think, I'll say, yeah, that was only last year. 36 00:01:57,920 --> 00:01:59,920 I'm like, wait, no, it's not. 37 00:01:59,920 --> 00:02:01,920 It's over 10 years. 38 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:03,920 It's like yesterday, it's crazy. 39 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:07,920 But yeah, so I've been doing marketing ever since then. 40 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:12,920 And shortly after I graduated, I picked up a volunteer role with the Carbon Electricity 41 00:02:12,920 --> 00:02:13,920 Project. 42 00:02:13,920 --> 00:02:18,920 So I guess you could say I've been in the environmental sector ever since then. 43 00:02:18,920 --> 00:02:23,920 My first volunteer position was the social media volunteer. 44 00:02:23,920 --> 00:02:25,920 My background is like fully marketing. 45 00:02:25,920 --> 00:02:28,920 But yeah, I guess just like spiraled from there. 46 00:02:28,920 --> 00:02:34,920 And that led me now to a full time career in climate communications. 47 00:02:34,920 --> 00:02:35,920 That's amazing. 48 00:02:35,920 --> 00:02:36,920 Well, well done. 49 00:02:36,920 --> 00:02:40,920 Climate communications, that's such a cool job title. 50 00:02:40,920 --> 00:02:44,920 Or just after you look down at climate communications. 51 00:02:44,920 --> 00:02:47,920 Yeah, it is pretty cool. 52 00:02:47,920 --> 00:02:51,920 Even I remember when I was at uni, like I don't think a role like that existed. 53 00:02:51,920 --> 00:02:54,920 And it's great to see in the last couple of years, like more of that coming about. 54 00:02:54,920 --> 00:02:55,920 100%. 55 00:02:55,920 --> 00:02:56,920 Yeah. 56 00:02:56,920 --> 00:03:00,920 I mean, there's so much more range there for people who want to get into the environmental 57 00:03:00,920 --> 00:03:02,920 sector and range that wasn't there. 58 00:03:02,920 --> 00:03:06,920 Even I didn't believe that, you know, a job like that was possible whenever I graduated. 59 00:03:06,920 --> 00:03:09,920 So yeah, lots of amazing opportunities. 60 00:03:09,920 --> 00:03:13,920 And yeah, I mean, my average job is a green dog. 61 00:03:13,920 --> 00:03:14,920 Yeah. 62 00:03:14,920 --> 00:03:15,920 I like that. 63 00:03:15,920 --> 00:03:22,920 I usually like when the podcast like when talking people will say something and then 64 00:03:22,920 --> 00:03:25,920 it's like, you know, that's really cool. 65 00:03:25,920 --> 00:03:27,920 Like, you know, I like that. 66 00:03:27,920 --> 00:03:29,920 Yeah, yeah, that's great. 67 00:03:29,920 --> 00:03:33,920 Well, thanks for planning to see that go when secondary school. 68 00:03:33,920 --> 00:03:37,920 Did you ever envisage yourself in the role you are in now? 69 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:44,920 Honestly, no, I don't think I ever would have imagined myself being in this role in 70 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:45,920 marketing. 71 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:47,920 Yes, I would have pictured myself being in marketing. 72 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:52,920 I'm obviously I was 18 whenever I applied to do marketing at uni. 73 00:03:52,920 --> 00:03:57,920 So yeah, I'm not surprised that I'm still in the marketing sector. 74 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:05,920 But yeah, I think back then, like I was like very interested in makeup and beauty and hair 75 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:10,920 and everything, you know, like most bears in Northern Ireland are. 76 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:17,920 So yeah, I think I probably that's the area I would have seen myself going into. 77 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:23,920 I'm working on my exciting makeup campaigns or anything like beauty related, working with 78 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:26,920 big names in the beauty industry and what not. 79 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:32,920 But I suppose just like throughout uni and as I got a bit older, my values came and I 80 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:37,920 became I became much more aware of the present challenge of climate change. 81 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:41,920 And yeah, it led me to where I am today. 82 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:49,920 Yeah, just changes in my personal lifestyle made me look like for both volunteer, the 83 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:54,920 volunteer position that I ended up being successful for. 84 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:56,920 So yeah. 85 00:04:56,920 --> 00:05:06,920 One of the things that I like at school, like one of the things I'm trying to like pinpoint 86 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:11,920 with this podcast in that at school, like, you know, maybe they've put like, OK, you 87 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:15,920 have to go into this type of role or that type of role. 88 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:18,920 Like, so even as I was at school, I was going to be a zoologist. 89 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:23,920 And then I kind of realized I'd be good at biology, which I wasn't. 90 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:27,920 I was getting straight C's. 91 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:34,920 And yeah, like so even I didn't know this role existed when I was at school. 92 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:36,920 And then it's so it's great. 93 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:40,920 Like there seems to be a really great increase in that. 94 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:43,920 And it's great to see like I'm going to grip us in the same generation, our generation, 95 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:47,920 like, you know, yeah, it's like, OK, all these green jobs, like because as you said, 96 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:49,920 like every job is a green job. 97 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:51,920 Like it seems to be anyone who talks to you. 98 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:54,920 There's some element of carbon or the environment in it. 99 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:56,920 Yeah, yeah, 100 percent. 100 00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:04,920 And yeah, like just going back to that as well, you know, what you said about school, 101 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:07,920 like you don't imagine that like certain jobs exist. 102 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:15,920 Like we're taught like one pathway after uni and just to like always check on job boards or 103 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:19,920 yeah, maybe like looking at a more corporate avenue. 104 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:25,920 But I think for me, what helped was like following my interest and finding a job in that pathway 105 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:31,920 as well. So, yeah, I mean, in terms of like other people who might be looking to get down 106 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:36,920 like a similar avenue, that's like a big piece of advice I would have is like follow your interests 107 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:37,920 and the rest will follow. 108 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:39,920 Yeah, that's like that. 109 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:41,920 You're coming off with some really good stuff here. 110 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:44,920 Oh my God. 111 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:47,920 But really, thanks for the introduction, Catherine. 112 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:53,920 So as you said, you work for the Carbon Literature Project and just a bit of definition of what 113 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:58,920 carbon literacy is. So carbon literacy, carbon literacy is one of those words that, you know, 114 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:03,920 if you say it too much that like, you know, it's a bit of a tongue twister if you keep repeating it. 115 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:09,920 Yeah, exactly. So I'm reading this and I'm going like I'm going to be very careful with how I say this. 116 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:16,920 So carbon literacy is an awareness of the carbon dioxide costs and impacts in everyday activities 117 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:22,920 and the ability and motivation to reduce emissions on an individual, community and organizational basis. 118 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:23,920 Yeah. 119 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:29,920 And the term carbon literacy began to gain prominence in 2009 when it emerged in the development 120 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:35,920 of the Climate Change Action Plan for Manchester, which is where the carbon literacy project, 121 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:37,920 your employer is based. 122 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:41,920 So it's come full circle. It's all connected. 123 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:42,920 Yeah, it is. 124 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:48,920 But yeah, like so the plan aims to lower emissions by reducing demand and the use of energy 125 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:52,920 and create a low carbon culture. 126 00:07:52,920 --> 00:08:02,920 Yeah, inspiring a low carbon culture shift is what we're working towards and that applies to everyone everywhere. 127 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:04,920 So nice. Oh my goodness. 128 00:08:04,920 --> 00:08:10,920 I actually, one of the things I like to do with the podcast is come up with some titles, 129 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:12,920 but trying to get them into puns. 130 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:13,920 Yeah. 131 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:18,920 And so when I was reading about low carbon culture, I was like, low carbon culture. 132 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:22,920 I was trying to think if I say low carbon, sure, it's our culture. 133 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:27,920 Like, like what people, because you know the way like people like there seems to be a Northern Irish thing. 134 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:29,920 It's part of our culture. 135 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:30,920 Oh yeah. 136 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:32,920 I like that. 137 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:34,920 I was waiting to see what you would call this. 138 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:35,920 Yeah. 139 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:40,920 There was so much. There was like I did one about like carbon literacy. 140 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:43,920 It was something about reading and I was like, oh sure. 141 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:47,920 That's got literate with or you come in a literate with the literacy or something. 142 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:48,920 Yeah, definitely. 143 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:53,920 Or it's hashtag carbon lit. 144 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:54,920 That is it. 145 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:55,920 Oh my goodness. 146 00:08:55,920 --> 00:08:56,920 That is the new title. 147 00:08:56,920 --> 00:08:58,920 Like, well, I love how everyone's listening to this. 148 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:03,920 Like, everyone's like they're figuring out the title mid episode. 149 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:04,920 Yeah, we're just brainstorming. 150 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:05,920 Yeah. 151 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:14,920 I thought I used like, oh my goodness, I used all the carbon ones because one of my first things was like Ohio Carbine, like, you know, Carbine. 152 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:15,920 Yeah. 153 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:16,920 Carbine. 154 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:17,920 Yes. 155 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:26,920 But OK, you should just take this job now because hashtag carbon lit is like the best thing I've heard. 156 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:30,920 So yes, I'm actually I'm typing that in the script now just so I don't forget it. 157 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:33,920 Carbon lit. 158 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:37,920 So you're saying you're. 159 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:46,920 Again, I'm going to like mispronounce the title, but I can't like climate communications officer for the carbon literacy project. 160 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:54,920 Could you take us through the type of work you do, like what sort of maybe projects you're involved in or tasks you do in day to day? 161 00:09:54,920 --> 00:10:04,920 Yeah, so my role title is digital communications officer, so I'll handle anything really on the digital marketing side of our communications. 162 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:15,920 And within that, I'll oversee our email marketing, coms website, managing and maintaining the content on our website and updating that. 163 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:22,920 And also some social media and paid advertising as well as social media ads. 164 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:25,920 So, yeah, it's all very exciting. 165 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:27,920 And there's never a dull day. 166 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:33,920 We've always got a new campaign or a launch or an initiative or an event that needs promoting. 167 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:42,920 And essentially, my job is just to decide what channels are best to promote those things through. 168 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:51,920 And yeah, how can we reach as many people as possible to, you know, sign up for an event or to get involved with a campaign? 169 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:53,920 And so on. So it's very exciting. 170 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:55,920 That's really interesting. 171 00:10:55,920 --> 00:11:08,920 You must be learning a lot about the likes of psychology and like, is it all people around this this time or what types of people respond to the different types of like media avenues or? 172 00:11:08,920 --> 00:11:09,920 Yeah, definitely. 173 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:11,920 I mean, yeah, demographics is a big part of it. 174 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:21,920 And I know when your audience is a huge element of deciding what communications to send them at what time. 175 00:11:21,920 --> 00:11:24,920 But even like you're talking about demographics there. 176 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:26,920 Yeah. 177 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:39,920 Like demographics, like I know a lot of people who do likes of geography and like it's funny geography seems to be that one that I'd like to focus on demographics and people. 178 00:11:39,920 --> 00:11:47,920 And like, maybe understand that's a bit of psychology, but like, it seems to be that one where it's like a course that can take you anywhere. 179 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:59,920 My is going to be my thought. My twin sister's fiancee is he did geography at university and he is now a chartered accountant. 180 00:11:59,920 --> 00:12:10,920 Okay. So even what you're saying about demographics and like if anyone who's interested in numbers, definitely look to your avenue. 181 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:13,920 Oh, yeah. 100 percent. 182 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:30,920 But yeah, that's great. And it's even like climate. I was going to mess up the words. The social media, like the mental work that goes into it. 183 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:34,920 Like you're talking about deciding on campaigns and like what works for a particular day. 184 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:46,920 I love seeing on LinkedIn, like all those particular, oh, here, guys, it's Earth Day today. Yeah. Or it is like World Health Day or something like that. 185 00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:53,920 Yeah, 100 percent. That's like a huge part of our work as well as like being aware of what awareness days are coming up. 186 00:12:53,920 --> 00:13:00,920 So, for example, I mean, obviously in the environmental sector, Earth Day is probably the biggest one of the year. 187 00:13:00,920 --> 00:13:06,920 But yeah, there's also like World Health Day, there's International Day of Forests, World Ocean Day. 188 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:14,920 Oh my goodness. There's also LGBTQ plus Pride Month, Black History Month, everything like that. 189 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:25,920 Climate change is an intersectional issue. So, yeah, it's important that we address all of these awareness days and topics so that we can address the greater issue of climate change. 190 00:13:25,920 --> 00:13:36,920 Nice. Very cool. Thank you so much for that explanation, Catherine. Really interesting role and hopefully it's inspired some people. 191 00:13:36,920 --> 00:14:04,920 Yeah. And see to get to like your role, like the carbon literacy project focuses on the likes of training and like making people more carbon literate. For anyone who's carbon literate or even to get into your type of company, would you recommend any sort of guides or training like, you know, that they could do? 192 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:14,920 Yeah, I mean, the first step I would say is to get carbon literate, get certified. What we offer is a day's worth of climate education. 193 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:24,920 And that is for everyone around the world. There's no one excluded in our offering. 194 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:38,920 Essentially, it's a day's worth of learning about climate change and also how it relates to you, your organization, your community group, depending on who's delivering the training and what you can do about it. 195 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:46,920 So it's like very action based. At the end of the training, you'll devise climate action pledges. 196 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:59,920 Yeah, the two best pledges basically that you can make within your sphere of influence. So yeah, it puts everyone on a level playing field in terms of climate knowledge. 197 00:14:59,920 --> 00:15:07,920 And yeah, we're just past 90,000 certified carbon literate citizens worldwide. 198 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:19,920 Congratulations. Wow. Yeah, it's exciting times and we're fast approaching 100,000, which is an insane milestone to achieve. 199 00:15:19,920 --> 00:15:28,920 I think whenever I became carbon literate, which was in November 2020, my certificate number was like 15 and a half thousand. 200 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:39,920 So that was like eight years after the organization started. So within three and a half years or almost four years, I mean, I can't work out the math. 201 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:48,920 But it's like 75,000 in this. It's like insane speed that we're working up. 202 00:15:48,920 --> 00:16:06,920 But I mean, yeah, it just shows the importance of climate education in this day and age. And there is such an appetite for it right there. So many people want to understand climate change better and what they can do in their lifestyles, in their organizations, in their communities. 203 00:16:06,920 --> 00:16:10,920 So, yeah, I mean, could vouch for it all day. Yeah. 204 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:24,920 Oh, yeah. Like, oh, my goodness. Like class under like 90,000. Well, yes. Okay. I think the numbers think that's almost fourfold in three years. 205 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:32,920 Yeah. That is crazy. I'll just let you do the numbers and I'll give you the right numbers. 206 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:40,920 Good deal. So, yeah, so I was looking on the carbon literacy website as well. 207 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:47,920 And I was saying that you guys not only offer people to be carbon literate, but also organizations. 208 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:54,920 Yeah. And it's really great because I was looking on this VPH and I was coming across all the logos. 209 00:16:54,920 --> 00:17:02,920 Yeah. And there is over or around 200 organizations. Yeah, that's right. On the website all within the UK. 210 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:08,920 And so I'm going to name them to you now. No, like, yeah. 211 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:21,920 But I was like seeing the ones, the ones like Norfords Housing, Doc 10, Jacobs in Manchester, MTV Studios and BBC as well. They all gave like reviews like about their. 212 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:26,920 Yeah, yeah. Some of those organizations would have received the training. Yeah. 213 00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:34,920 And like that, like that's really great. Like the ITV Studios and like Carnation Street. 214 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:37,920 Has a place in my heart. 215 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:53,920 So, yeah, but and one of the things with the coming, oh, no, yeah, I'm with this and with these organizations being carbon literate, they've earned, I'm going to say a rating, like an award. 216 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:57,920 So they can be platinum, gold, silver or bronze. Yeah, that's right. 217 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:07,920 So, yeah, essentially, just like an individual can become trained, so can an organization, so can a trainer with organizations. 218 00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:11,920 It is that tiered scheme and accreditation scheme. 219 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:23,920 So, yeah, it all kind of the tier that you that your organization gets accredited at is the level of action that you've taken and how embedded carbon literacy is within your workforce. 220 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:33,920 So there will be like criteria for different percentages of your workforce trained, you know, at certain levels, you'll have to produce like a case study. 221 00:18:33,920 --> 00:18:39,920 You'll have to influence your wider community or an other organization. 222 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:43,920 It's all different levels of action that you can take. 223 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:58,920 I think bronze really is that entry, hence why there's so many bronze CLOs out there. And yeah, it does become increasingly more difficult to to climb the CLO ladder, but it is possible. 224 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:03,920 And yeah, I mean, a lot of amazing benefits come along with that. 225 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:14,920 Absolutely crazy to hear when I always like seeing the ratings like, you know, it's like platinum gold or silver, but the likes of we we have BPP, we work a lot with a BREEAM. 226 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:29,920 It's it's kind of like the building accreditation award that's given to a building and it can be in it can be like, you know, it gives the rate and it's standing excellent, very good. 227 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:34,920 And it's like, well done. Like, yeah, you did good. OK, you did good. Yeah. 228 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:38,920 Yeah, keep it up. Keep it. Keep it up. Yes, exactly. 229 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:50,920 That's really great. OK, well, Catherine, we've come to the section of the podcast where I've got some facts with you and I get your take on them. 230 00:19:50,920 --> 00:20:01,920 So I try and like name these a fun name. I thought this is going to be amazing. I was like Project Carbon, like, you know, well, groundbreaking. It's going to be like, you know, an MI5 Pips Up project. 231 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:04,920 Oh, yeah. Centigrade or something like that. 232 00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:09,920 But I have to say the hashtag it's carbon, like it's still taking me. I'm still reeling from it. 233 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:23,920 I believe it. Yes. OK, so it's kind of a two part question. So carbon, we're talking a lot about being carbon literate and with the carbon literacy course. 234 00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:36,920 And I've actually did mine last Thursday with the 30 under 30. Very, very informative. Honestly, I thought being in the sector for eight years and only I was like, yeah, here's the stuff. 235 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:41,920 No. So I was like so cool. Like it is absolutely class. 236 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:47,920 And one of the things I did before, I'm sidetracking from the question, sorry about apologies. We'll get back to that before. 237 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:56,920 But you're like they gave us they sent over a quiz that we can do to see so we can see our carbon impact. 238 00:20:56,920 --> 00:21:07,920 And after you filled in the quiz, it's like, OK, you're a carbon consumer or you're carbon and like, you know, you're a carbon friend. 239 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:11,920 And then I actually did it the first time. I was like, you're carbon beef. 240 00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:17,920 And I'm like, wow, wow, what? Excuse me. And I think it was something to do with the airplanes I put in. 241 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:24,920 But I'm like, I don't do that anymore. It's fine. Like, yeah, I think changes. Yes. 242 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:29,920 Small changes, exactly. But I'll link that in this because I'm sure anyone wants to know their carbon. 243 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:35,920 That'd be very cool. I actually don't think I know what the quiz you're talking about is. 244 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:40,920 I would love to see it and where I rank on that. Yes. I'd like to think I'm a carbon friend. 245 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:45,920 Yeah, no, because I thought, yeah, I'm going to say this. No problem. 246 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:54,920 But it's like the big stuff. And one of the things it said in the course as well was about the impact of driving a car. 247 00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:57,920 I was just going to talk about this. Yeah. 248 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:02,920 And like, I didn't realize like how big it was. Yeah. 249 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:10,920 And I kind of thought, well, the likes of it was all kind of junked in together with public transport and stuff like that. 250 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:14,920 But I'm like, oh, no, like it's way up there. Yeah, I know. 251 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:20,920 It's just it's so difficult, especially like where we're from, you know, in Northern Ireland. 252 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:26,920 There's not an awful lot of transport justice. There's not many transport options. 253 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:32,920 People are I mean, some are forced to have a car. Yeah. 254 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:37,920 You know, it's very difficult to get around otherwise. 255 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:41,920 And as well, I think it's just kind of the culture here as well. People just love their cars. 256 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:44,920 They take so much pride in it. Like, yeah. Yeah. 257 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:51,920 Having a nice car, a nice house, like, yeah, kind of like materialistic things are like. 258 00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:57,920 It's it's it's funny because my twin sister, Niamh, shout out to Niamh. 259 00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:01,920 She doesn't I don't think she listens to this, but it's funny. 260 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:06,920 And she doesn't drive and I've been driving since like the last 10 years. Yeah. 261 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:11,920 And it's funny to see the difference. She always like is like, here, can I get a lift here, please? 262 00:23:11,920 --> 00:23:15,920 But then see, like the likes of public transport. She knows those timetables. 263 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:20,920 Like she she's just like, oh, here we can get the 54 bus that will get us in for this time. 264 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:28,920 And it's like, well, oh, my gosh. Whereas like, like, you know, with the I used to be like that when, like, you know, I didn't drive. 265 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:32,920 Yeah. But then with the knowledge of that, she's like, I feel like, you know, maybe she doesn't need a car. 266 00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:38,920 She can just get public transport. Definitely. I mean, I think the best place for it is Belfast. 267 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:42,920 Although, you know, it could be significantly better where I'm from. 268 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:46,920 You know, there's there's no hope of relying on public transport. 269 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:53,920 Like I would have to walk 20 minutes from my house in the countryside to get a bus into OMA to then go anywhere else. 270 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:56,920 You know what I mean? It's like it's very difficult. 271 00:23:56,920 --> 00:24:05,920 And like that's why that's what I mean whenever I say we're like somewhat forced to drive. It's like you do have to have a car, especially in the rural areas. 272 00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:21,920 But there is like a transport justice issue with that for people who want to take climate action by not relying on a carbon intensive mode of transport or even for the likes of disabled people or even just for people who don't want to drive. 273 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:30,920 And there needs to be better options. So I'm glad that like the new train station is going to be open soon. 274 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:35,920 I hope that is like a sign of the times that there's going to be more train options. 275 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:40,920 I think there's like a couple of trains to Dublin every day, maybe one or two to Derry every day. 276 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:45,920 Yeah, that's like, come on, like, you know, give us more for style. 277 00:24:45,920 --> 00:24:52,920 Yeah, because I've seen it. I've been such a hypocrite. I've been driving past it. 278 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:53,920 Yeah, exactly. 279 00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:57,920 And then like, you know, seeing it being built, I'm like, oh, that's going to be like. 280 00:24:57,920 --> 00:25:03,920 Yeah, it is pretty cool. I feel like I've completely sidetracked from the original question. 281 00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:05,920 I'm so sorry. 282 00:25:05,920 --> 00:25:15,920 Well, it's kind of like a two part question. And I say questions, it is one question because I'm like, oh, yeah, this will be a good chunk of fun. 283 00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:22,920 So are you aware of the term, which in your line of work you probably are, are you aware of the term carbon negative? 284 00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:23,920 Yes. 285 00:25:23,920 --> 00:25:38,920 And so carbon negative is when country actually absorbs more carbon than it emits. So it's really sucked upon as really green, really beneficial, really nice for the environment. 286 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:45,920 So the country that does this is, can you guess the country that does this? 287 00:25:45,920 --> 00:25:47,920 I actually think I can. 288 00:25:47,920 --> 00:25:49,920 I actually think I can, yes. 289 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:53,920 OK, I'm going to be so proud of myself. I get this right. Is it Rutan? 290 00:25:53,920 --> 00:25:56,920 Yes, it is. Oh my goodness. 291 00:25:56,920 --> 00:25:58,920 In the Eastern Himalayas? 292 00:25:58,920 --> 00:25:59,920 Yeah. 293 00:25:59,920 --> 00:26:00,920 Congratulations. 294 00:26:00,920 --> 00:26:07,920 I think the reason why it is carbon negative as well, correct me if I'm wrong, is because it's got such a high percentage of forest cover. 295 00:26:07,920 --> 00:26:10,920 Exactly. Yep. That's what I've got here as well. 296 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:20,920 And fun fact about Ireland actually has one of the lowest percentages of forest cover in the world, which is surprisingly ironic for the Emerald Isle. 297 00:26:20,920 --> 00:26:23,920 Oh my goodness. Yeah. I didn't know this. 298 00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:29,920 Although it is super green here and there is a lot of forestry, but there once was more. 299 00:26:29,920 --> 00:26:40,920 Yeah, there's a wee place, I go walk in in Valley Clare, that's where my friend is. 300 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:50,920 And there's a place we go walk in and we go up this, like we park at this wee valley and it's lovely because you can see out, it's like the Hand Cave Hill. 301 00:26:50,920 --> 00:26:53,920 You can see the wind turbines go in, you're like beautiful. 302 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:58,920 And then you walk up and you see, it's where they grow the Christmas trees. 303 00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:03,920 I'm like, this is really beautiful. And then just come December, they're all gone. 304 00:27:03,920 --> 00:27:06,920 Yeah. And it's like, wow. So sad, isn't it? Yeah. 305 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:13,920 Yeah, I know. And it actually kind of leads me to just a quick fact about offsets. 306 00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:27,920 A lot of carbon offsetting is in relation to tree planting schemes, which, yeah, I mean, just like you said, there's one thing to planting a tree. 307 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:33,920 It's another thing to actually see it through its entire lifespan of 30, 40 years. 308 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:39,920 And that's like for the offset to be worthwhile, it has to reach that stage. 309 00:27:39,920 --> 00:27:45,920 But many, most of the time, we don't know what lifespan it's achieving. 310 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:58,920 Yeah, due to different things, crop failure, temperature changes, maintenance. Yeah, it's so difficult to know. And that's why we at the carbon agency project, we like discourage offsets. 311 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:07,920 Right. OK. That is really interesting to hear because I know one of the things for the lexo planning that London does. 312 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:21,920 So any buildings like are being built, they have to meet a certain carbon target and they try to achieve or they try to encourage the carbon neutral. 313 00:28:21,920 --> 00:28:33,920 Like, you know, if your development, if it's going to emit this amount of carbon, make sure like or if it's projected to emit this amount of carbon, make sure it's taken away this amount of carbon. 314 00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:51,920 Yeah. And one of the ways it does that is like, OK, for every carbon or for every tonne you go over, the amount you actually emit, like, you know, put 90 pounds, 95 pounds of that into like the carbon offset fund. 315 00:28:51,920 --> 00:28:55,920 Yeah. And like, so the London have this carbon offset fund. 316 00:28:55,920 --> 00:29:03,920 And like that's the thing I was actually thinking about the other day. I'm like, why the projects from that? Like, I want to see. Yeah, exactly. 317 00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:09,920 The evidence behind the programs is such an issue as well, because there's a huge lack of it. 318 00:29:09,920 --> 00:29:21,920 And yeah, I mean, like the wider problem with carbon offset and like just on what you said is that it gives people an excuse to continue emitting carbon at the rate that they are. 319 00:29:21,920 --> 00:29:26,920 There's nothing there to discourage people from doing so. 320 00:29:26,920 --> 00:29:37,920 You know, but really what we need to do is inspire them to take different actions or take a different approach to their work, a lower carbon approach so that they emit less. 321 00:29:37,920 --> 00:29:44,920 OK, yeah. Again, you've come out with a number of things this podcast that I'm like, I really like that. 322 00:29:44,920 --> 00:29:49,920 I'm going to use that in like another sentence. 323 00:29:49,920 --> 00:29:53,920 But yeah, so I've actually got to follow up to the question as well. 324 00:29:53,920 --> 00:30:00,920 And it's not so much a question, but can you guess what Bhutan is also referred to as? 325 00:30:00,920 --> 00:30:09,920 Oh, and I'll say this now. It's nothing to do with carbon or environment. It's literally just, I thought, like a colony. 326 00:30:09,920 --> 00:30:12,920 OK, so I'm guessing it's nothing to do with forests? 327 00:30:12,920 --> 00:30:16,920 No. 328 00:30:16,920 --> 00:30:17,920 Oh, I have no idea. 329 00:30:17,920 --> 00:30:21,920 OK, it's also referred to as the land of the thunder dragon. 330 00:30:21,920 --> 00:30:23,920 OK, yeah. 331 00:30:23,920 --> 00:30:28,920 And I was like, that's nice. I'm going to use that. 332 00:30:28,920 --> 00:30:34,920 I feel like that tells us, you know, it gives us a little insight to their ancient history as well. 333 00:30:34,920 --> 00:30:40,920 Yes, it's actually also the thing as well. Bhutan, they take a more holistic approach as well. 334 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:49,920 Like, they're not so worried about the things that maybe us in the UK or America or China that like, you know, we do that to create carbon. 335 00:30:49,920 --> 00:30:50,920 Yeah. 336 00:30:50,920 --> 00:30:52,920 They more focus on happiness. 337 00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:55,920 Yes, I've heard about this as well. 338 00:30:55,920 --> 00:31:03,920 Yeah, there's a thing, is it the who or but there's a World Happiness Index and Bhutan is up there. 339 00:31:03,920 --> 00:31:07,920 I think we all need to take a bit of info from Bhutan. 340 00:31:07,920 --> 00:31:15,920 Yeah, yeah, but definitely. Well, we'll go there and holiday like, you know, just like, OK, work, you need to pay for this excursion. 341 00:31:15,920 --> 00:31:19,920 You need to pay for this sabbatical. OK. 342 00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:27,920 So that's great. OK, so thanks for playing Project Carbon, which might be renamed to its carbon section. 343 00:31:27,920 --> 00:31:31,920 Or hashtag it's carbon. 344 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:37,920 But yes, you're talking about the likes of you've talked about your activities and you're doing your job. 345 00:31:37,920 --> 00:31:42,920 So the reposting of campaigns. Can I ask you what's your favourite part of the job? 346 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:44,920 Like, what do you love to see happening? 347 00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:49,920 Oh, my God. That's a tough question. 348 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:52,920 My favourite part. 349 00:31:52,920 --> 00:32:01,920 I feel like what's really exciting is whenever you spend weeks or months planning ahead of a project or a campaign or an event, 350 00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:11,920 and then you finally see it come to fruition or the event takes place or the campaign is launched or the campaign ends and it's really successful. 351 00:32:11,920 --> 00:32:16,920 I think that's something that you get a lot of satisfaction from that. 352 00:32:16,920 --> 00:32:27,920 And especially something that we've been doing kind of more so in the last couple of years is the Carbon Literacy Action Day, which is an annual event. 353 00:32:27,920 --> 00:32:31,920 It's the largest climate education training event of its kind. 354 00:32:31,920 --> 00:32:35,920 Oh, my goodness. Just a little plug. 355 00:32:35,920 --> 00:32:38,920 Yeah, it's in its fourth year at the minute. 356 00:32:38,920 --> 00:32:46,920 So, yeah, we've launched the date. It's taken place later on this year on the 14th of November. 357 00:32:46,920 --> 00:32:48,920 Yeah, sorry, I didn't mean to come on and promote this. 358 00:32:48,920 --> 00:32:51,920 Yeah, no, please do. That's awesome. 359 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:56,920 Yeah, it is. It's a super exciting time. It's essentially our answer to a global movement. 360 00:32:56,920 --> 00:33:08,920 And it takes place at the same time as the annual COP conference. So the first one was in November 2021 when COP26 took place in Glasgow. 361 00:33:08,920 --> 00:33:13,920 This year it will take place while COP29 takes place in Azerbaijan. 362 00:33:13,920 --> 00:33:15,920 So, yeah, each year it aligns with that. 363 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:32,920 And our tagline is kind of while world leaders meet to discuss and negotiate on climate policy, carbon literacy learners will be on the ground learning, taking action, becoming empowered to do their bit. 364 00:33:32,920 --> 00:33:35,920 Yeah, it's a super inspiring time. 365 00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:45,920 Obviously, the key is we're trying to have as many people trained in a single day as possible. It's kind of, you know, like a bit of novelty, a bit of a challenge. 366 00:33:45,920 --> 00:33:55,920 But yeah, I mean, last year on the third action day, we had 2,303 learners trained on that day. 367 00:33:55,920 --> 00:34:05,920 So it doesn't mean that they got certified on that day, they just completed their training. But that was completely record breaking for us. It was such a super exciting time. 368 00:34:05,920 --> 00:34:16,920 And for me, I play a role in the communications aspect of the campaign. So everything from now, like this time of year with the launch of the campaign. 369 00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:25,920 So we've just recently launched it at the start of this month and everything now for the next couple of months until the event takes place in November. 370 00:34:25,920 --> 00:34:40,920 Just communicating with different audiences, ensuring the public is aware of it, making sure anyone who wants to become carbon literate or deliver carbon literacy training on the day finds out about it and can do so. 371 00:34:40,920 --> 00:34:49,920 So, yeah, it's very exciting time. Yeah, hopefully we're going to smash our target for this year. 372 00:34:49,920 --> 00:34:52,920 That's class. I'll definitely try and get BPP involved. 373 00:34:52,920 --> 00:35:02,920 Yes, we need like a BPP carbon literacy course. Yeah, adapt the framework and make a course for your organization. 374 00:35:02,920 --> 00:35:05,920 I look forward to future collaboration. 375 00:35:05,920 --> 00:35:07,920 Penny, thanks. 376 00:35:07,920 --> 00:35:13,920 Oh, thank you so much. You've been an absolute delight to have on the podcast. 377 00:35:13,920 --> 00:35:16,920 I'm glad to say this has been very exciting. 378 00:35:16,920 --> 00:35:27,920 See, just before we go, do you have any advice to any future inspiring people who might want to end up in the energy sector? 379 00:35:27,920 --> 00:35:41,920 In the energy sector, I'm not sure. I don't have an awful lot of experience with that exactly. But in terms of the wider environmental sector, I suppose, pick your area of interest. 380 00:35:41,920 --> 00:35:46,920 In this case, there was probably a lot of energy listeners. 381 00:35:46,920 --> 00:36:02,920 Yeah, find organizations, groups, any kind of networks that you can involve yourself in, try and meet like minded people. If it means volunteering or working for free at the start, you know, give it a go. 382 00:36:02,920 --> 00:36:12,920 You never know what opportunities might arise from that. I started off as a volunteer at the carbon project and never imagined turning into this. 383 00:36:12,920 --> 00:36:22,920 And it's a job that I absolutely love. So, yeah, I suppose what I said earlier, follow your interests, follow your passion and a job will come from there. 384 00:36:22,920 --> 00:36:27,920 Brilliant. Thank you so much, Catherine. You'll definitely be back on. 385 00:36:27,920 --> 00:36:34,920 Yeah, we need to do this on this exact date next year. See, what all has changed. 386 00:36:34,920 --> 00:36:38,920 We're like, OK, the world's on fire. 387 00:36:38,920 --> 00:36:40,920 Not if there's enough carbon-free citizens. 388 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:44,920 See, this is it. That's a good plug. That's a good plug. That's it. 389 00:36:44,920 --> 00:36:47,920 OK, well, brilliant. Thanks Catherine again. 390 00:36:47,920 --> 00:36:58,920 OK, thanks for listening to Carbon Climates. If you follow us on Instagram at carbon underdrawer climates, you can keep up to date with all our latest posts, news and episode uploads. 391 00:36:58,920 --> 00:37:11,920 OK, thanks for listening. Bye.