Cambridge Carbon Footprint led a course for CAG members over the weekend of 10/11 July 2010. The weekend course was an intensive session to train people so that they can run other small practical courses on low-carbon living.
Cited in 'The Guardian' as one of the top 10 solutions to climate change, Carbon Conversations is an inspiring, practical 6-session course offering behaviour change solutions based on the psychology of change. It is emotionally engaging, technically sound and is rigorously up to date.
There are now 18 CAGs trained as Carbon Conversations facilitators in Oxfordshire. These will organise groups of 6-8 and meet in their homes or at community centres, workplaces or other venues. The idea is to have six 2-hour meetings engaging people both emotionally and practically, helping them overcome the barriers often associated with making large carbon reductions. The process does not preach at participants or make them feel guilty but is done by engaging members in games and sharing material that gives sound advice. Participants explore the basic climate change problems, their responses to it, their ideas for a low-carbon future and the four key areas of the footprint – home energy, travel, food and other consumption. From past experience most members make reductions of 1 tonne CO2 during the course and develop plans to halve their footprints over a longer period.
Tim Nicholson, from Low Carbon Oxford North said, "This course is brilliant. It asks stimulating questions provides clear information and fun exercises and then helps you make your own decisions about what you can do. I am really keen to share this with other LCON members and really make a difference in this area."
For more information about trainings that are happening near you please contact the CAG Project Manger.