The summer of 2024 has set a new record as the Earth’s warmest on record, surpassing all previous measures of global surface temperature anomalies. According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, global temperatures from June to August reached unprecedented highs, with Europe alone recording a rise of 1.54°C above the long-term average from 1991 to 2020.

This alarming shift underlines the escalating climate emergency, and more importantly, the immediate need for collective action. One of the most powerful tools we can harness is carbon literacy—an understanding of how our individual actions contribute to carbon emissions and how we can make conscious choices to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

 

The Climate Crisis in 2024: A Sobering Reality

The chart from the Copernicus Climate Change Service clearly demonstrates a trend that can no longer be ignored. As early as the 1980s and 1990s, global temperatures remained slightly below or just around the 1991–2020 average. However, in the early 2000s, the trajectory began to shift drastically.

With each passing year, more red bars have been added to the graph, representing temperature increases. The summer of 2024 has broken these records, with temperatures consistently higher than any previous summers on record. The consequences of this warming trend are evident: more frequent heatwaves, severe droughts, extreme weather events, and a profound impact on biodiversity and human health.

Copernicus Climate Change

 

The data is clear and compelling, but knowing the facts alone isn’t enough. We need to make carbon literacy a key focus of our individual and collective actions. Carbon literacy is not just about understanding the numbers; it’s about empowering individuals, organisations, and communities to take informed and effective action to reduce carbon footprints and contribute to the global effort to mitigate climate change.

 

Understanding Carbon Literacy

carbon literacy

Carbon literacy refers to an awareness of the causes and effects of carbon emissions and the skills needed to reduce them. It is an educational initiative aimed at promoting individual and collective responsibility for carbon emissions.

A carbon-literate person understands how energy use, transportation choices, diet, and consumer habits contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and, crucially, knows how to make decisions that can reduce their carbon footprint.

For many, the first step in becoming carbon-literate is understanding the scale of personal carbon footprints. For example, daily actions such as driving petrol or diesel vehicles, heating homes inefficiently, and consuming products with high carbon costs (such as meat or fast fashion) all add up. Without this awareness, it’s difficult to make effective changes. However, once we understand how every small action contributes to a larger environmental impact, we can make more sustainable choices and encourage others to do the same.

 

 

The Role of Carbon Literacy in Fighting Climate Change

Why is carbon literacy so crucial right now? The data from Copernicus highlights a reality in which the Earth's temperature is increasing faster than many had anticipated. This rapid warming amplifies the urgency for action, and carbon literacy equips people with the knowledge to act effectively.

Here’s how carbon literacy can directly impact climate change:

1. Informed Decision Making

With knowledge comes power. When people understand the carbon cost of their choices—whether it’s the energy used in their homes or the food on their plate—they can make decisions that reduce carbon emissions. Choosing renewable energy sources, for example, or shifting to plant-based diets, can make a significant difference.

 

2. Community Engagement and Advocacy

Carbon literacy is not just about individual change; it’s also about collective action. When communities and organisations commit to reducing their carbon footprints, the scale of impact multiplies. A carbon-literate society pushes for policy changes, holds corporations accountable, and fosters a culture of sustainability.

 

3. Driving Innovation and Corporate Responsibility

A population that understands the importance of carbon reduction will drive demand for green technologies and sustainable products. Carbon-literate consumers can influence businesses to adopt sustainable practices, reduce waste, and innovate in ways that support a low-carbon economy. Similarly, businesses that are carbon-literate can lead by example, reducing their environmental impact while also improving their reputation and financial stability.

 

4. Adapting to and Mitigating Climate Risks

Carbon literacy enables individuals and organisations to adapt to the new reality of climate change while also contributing to mitigation efforts. By reducing emissions at the source, we slow down the pace of warming and its associated risks, such as rising sea levels, food insecurity, and public health crises.

 

5. The Urgency for Collective Action

The latest climate data makes it abundantly clear: we are running out of time. The planet is warming at an accelerated rate, with devastating consequences for ecosystems and human societies. It’s no longer sufficient to wait for governments and corporations to take the lead—though they absolutely must act as well. Individuals have a powerful role to play, and this is where carbon literacy becomes a game-changer.

 

By educating ourselves, our colleagues, our communities, and our governments, we can turn the tide. Carbon literacy training is already being embraced by many organisations, from local councils to multinational corporations, but this effort needs to expand. We must embed carbon literacy into schools, workplaces, and public policy to foster a global culture of sustainability.

 

Carbon Literacy Resources to help you get started

If you’re inspired to take action and become carbon-literate, there are many resources available to help you get started:

1. Online Carbon Literacy Courses

There are a growing number of free and paid online courses that teach the basics of carbon literacy, such as at Cambridge Marketing College.

 

2. Carbon Footprint Calculators

Use tools like the WWF Carbon Footprint Calculator to measure your personal or organisational carbon footprint and identify areas for improvement.

 

3. Community Initiatives

Join or start local groups focused on reducing carbon emissions through activities like tree planting, reducing plastic waste, or advocating for greener public transport.

 

4. Advocacy and Policy Engagement

Encourage your local government and policymakers to take climate action by supporting low-carbon policies and green infrastructure projects.

 

A Shared Responsibility

The unprecedented warming of our planet, as seen in the record temperatures of the summer of 2024, serves as a stark reminder that climate change is not a distant threat—it is here, now, and affecting all of us. We cannot afford to be passive observers.

Through carbon literacy, we can empower ourselves to make informed choices that collectively reduce carbon emissions and build a sustainable future. Climate change is the challenge of our generation, and carbon literacy is a critical tool in overcoming it.

Let’s take action today—for the sake of tomorrow.

 

Authors: Nigel Clark & Neil Wilkins