The surprising power behind global climate action day
Georgina Patel, a leading Carbon Literacy Consultant, recently reflected on her experience during Carbon Literacy Action Day (CLAD) 2025, an event that mobilizes thousands for climate education. Receiving the first Trainer Catalyst Award, Patel emphasized the profound impact of collective action and understanding one's role in environmental stewardship. The day highlighted how bringing diverse groups together, from UK social housing to Ugandan government leaders, fosters powerful discussions and commitments to urgent climate action. This global initiative underscores the critical need for shared knowledge and collaborative efforts to tackle the climate crisis effectively.
During CLAD 2025, Georgina Patel delivered intensive training sessions to participants from 14 organizations across various sectors and countries. She noted that while some attendees arrived with deep climate knowledge, others were new to the subject, making each session uniquely engaging. The most impactful moments came when individuals connected the global climate challenge to their own potential to make a difference, realizing they didn't need to change the world alone, but rather understand where their actions, big or small, could contribute.
The theme of CLAD 2025 was collaboration, a message that resonated deeply across all groups. Participants discussed tangible plans to continue their climate conversations and actions, such as sharing best practices on LinkedIn, forming climate hubs, and building on learning through internal eco-innovator groups. A particularly significant session involved training senior leaders in Uganda, including those from the Office of the Prime Minister, demonstrating the potential for widespread policy influence. This highlights that Carbon Literacy training is merely a starting point; its true value emerges from the ongoing conversations, informed decisions, and collective actions taken afterward.
Patel shared valuable insights for new trainers, stressing the importance of guiding learning rather than dominating it, and using stories to make scientific information relatable. She found that people are often eager to engage with climate change when a safe space is created, and the focus shifts to practical, relevant actions rather than just overwhelming statistics. This approach empowers individuals and organizations to understand how climate action applies directly to their specific roles, accelerating progress towards sustainable solutions and protecting our environment. The strength of the Carbon Literacy community lies in its generosity with knowledge and a genuine willingness to support each other, reinforcing the urgent need for global cooperation.