Climate Emergency UK: Local Climate Academy
INSPIRE AND SUPPORT YOUR COUNCIL TO TAKE BETTER CLIMATE ACTION
The next Local Climate Academy (LCA) will run between 9 January and 13 February 2025. This course is specifically aimed at campaigners working with councils and people considering becoming councillors in the future. If this is you, we would love to welcome you at our online sessions. The LCA will equip you with the knowledge, tools and skills to support your council to tackle the climate and ecological crisis. To apply now for a space on the Local Climate Academy click on ‘Tickets’ then ‘Check out’. You will then be able to see the application form. You will not be charged to apply.
What is the Local Climate Academy?
The Local Climate Academy runs online over six weeks:
Weeks 1 and 2 look at how councils work, who really makes the decisions and how you can make the most of council processes to improve your council’s climate performance.
Weeks 3, 4 and 5 use Climate Emergency UK’s Climate Action Scorecards to provide a framework for looking at different aspects of a council’s activity and how carbon emissions can be reduced in different areas.
In the final week, participants create their own climate action plans to implement over the coming months. A certificate of completion will be awarded to participants at the end of the course.
Each week includes a 90-minute online interactive session and a 60-minute online informal session. Participants are also invited to join a WhatsApp group where ideas and support can be shared throughout the course and beyond. We include space for networking and peer learning so councils and communities can learn from each other and invite experts to share experiences in particular areas. We explore difficulties and good practice found across different types of council in Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland. Our aim is to identify barriers to action and to find solutions to overcome them.
Who is the Local Climate Academy for?
This course has been specifically developed to support campaigners working with councils and people considering becoming councillors in the future. However, it can also be useful for newly-elected councillors and early career council officers who want their councils to improve their climate and biodiversity action.
Whether you are a councillor, campaigner or officer, please get in touch to find out more about whether the course would suit you.
How does the Local Climate Academy help?
We understand that councils can be held back from taking climate action by a lack of resources, staff not having the necessary skills and, often, a lack of political will. We recognise, too, that the lack of guidance and finance from national government is challenging. LCA courses demonstrate how it can be possible for councils to take meaningful action despite these barriers and provide information, tools and support to make this happen.
Is the Local Climate Academy for you?
The time commitment for this course is three hours a week over a six-week period. By applying for a place you are committing to attend all six 90-minute formal sessions and to actively engage in the course, including making an action plan to follow at the end.
We are delighted to be able to fully fund this course thanks to a grant from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. The course will be free for all participants who successfully complete the application process to join us in January 2025. An optional certification fee of 15 GBP can be added to your order to support our work.
Training sessions dates and time
Formal sessions: (mandatory)
Thursday 9 January 5:30-7pm
Thursday 16 January 5:30-7pm
Thursday 23 January 5:30-7pm
Thursday 30 January 5:30-7pm
Thursday 6 February 5:30-7pm
Thursday 13 February 5:30-7pm
Informal sessions: TBC (optional)
Prices:
General Admission: FREE
With Certificate: £15
Please get in touch!
If you have any questions about the Local Climate Academy or are wondering whether it might be right for you, contact us at [email protected]