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Build your knowledge

The climate emergency is a huge topic, and it can feel difficult to speak confidently to staff and other stakeholders if you’re not sure of the science behind it. There’s lots of jargon around environmental sustainability, which is why we’ve created a climate glossary to help you with key terms. You can also visit our Learn page to build a wider knowledge around climate change. The key to engaging those around you is finding out how your local area has been affected, including what concerns people the most about change.

Key

Sections

You can complete sections in any order, but following our suggested sequence may be beneficial.

Exercise

Complete this on the page to connect today's learning with your current activities and goals.

Task

Take this task away to work on with your team. When you feel it’s complete, come back to tick it off.

Tip

Something else for you to consider, like another resource on our website, or an opportunity.

Task

What do you know already?

It's a good idea to have a base knowledge of why your organisation has chosen to make environmentally positive changes. Keep the wider picture of climate change and the effects of carbon emissions in your thinking, however let your local context be your focus as this is the relatable experience that your colleagues and community will engage with the most.

Mark as Complete
Tip

What do you know already?

It's a good idea to have a base knowledge of why your organisation has chosen to make environmentally positive changes. Keep the wider picture of climate change and the effects of carbon emissions in your thinking, however let your local context be your focus as this is the relatable experience that your colleagues and community will engage with the most.

(Link opens in a new tab)
Exercise

What do you know already?

It's a good idea to have a base knowledge of why your organisation has chosen to make environmentally positive changes. Keep the wider picture of climate change and the effects of carbon emissions in your thinking, however let your local context be your focus as this is the relatable experience that your colleagues and community will engage with the most.

Save Answers
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Task

Join a course

There are lots of opportunities to expand your knowledge in the North of England and online. Look into workshops and training courses that are taking place in our region. Here are some useful links to start you off.
Mark as Complete
Tip

Join a course

There are lots of opportunities to expand your knowledge in the North of England and online. Look into workshops and training courses that are taking place in our region. Here are some useful links to start you off.
(Link opens in a new tab)
Exercise

Join a course

There are lots of opportunities to expand your knowledge in the North of England and online. Look into workshops and training courses that are taking place in our region. Here are some useful links to start you off.
Save Answers
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Task

Attend one of our events

Join one of our information sharing events to learn more about the climate crisis and how to take action in your community. You could decide to take notes from the meeting, and then present what you’ve learned back to your team afterwards. Visit our events page to find out what events are coming up both from Going Green Together and from external organisations.

Our Events Page
Mark as Complete
Tip

Attend one of our events

Join one of our information sharing events to learn more about the climate crisis and how to take action in your community. You could decide to take notes from the meeting, and then present what you’ve learned back to your team afterwards. Visit our events page to find out what events are coming up both from Going Green Together and from external organisations.

Our Events Page
(Link opens in a new tab)
Exercise

Attend one of our events

Join one of our information sharing events to learn more about the climate crisis and how to take action in your community. You could decide to take notes from the meeting, and then present what you’ve learned back to your team afterwards. Visit our events page to find out what events are coming up both from Going Green Together and from external organisations.

Save Answers
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Mark section as complete

Where we live, what we eat, how we travel, and how we stay healthy all depend on a stable climate. Climate change can make it harder to grow food, it can damage our homes, and it can reduce access to resources we need, like medicine. Extreme weather caused by a changing climate, like droughts, wildfires, heat waves and intense cold weather, can be deadly.


Where we live, what we eat, how we travel, and how we stay healthy all depend on a stable climate. Climate change can make it harder to grow food, it can damage our homes, and it can reduce access to resources we need, like medicine. Extreme weather caused by a changing climate, like droughts, wildfires, heat waves and intense cold weather, can be deadly.

The term ‘carbon footprint’ reflects the total greenhouse gas emissions of an individual or organisation over a year, often measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide. This indicates the size of environmental impact you have. The smaller the carbon footprint, the better.


The term ‘carbon footprint’ reflects the total greenhouse gas emissions of an individual or organisation over a year, often measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide. This indicates the size of environmental impact you have. The smaller the carbon footprint, the better.

Fossil fuels contain millions of years of stored carbon. When carbon is burned to create energy or for use in industry, it is released into the atmosphere as a gas. This gas is a ‘greenhouse gas’, which is very effective at keeping heat in the atmosphere. This leads to an increase in the average global temperature. This affects the temperature in the sea, the polar ice caps, the ground, and the air, which are all part of climate.


Fossil fuels contain millions of years of stored carbon. When carbon is burned to create energy or for use in industry, it is released into the atmosphere as a gas. This gas is a ‘greenhouse gas’, which is very effective at keeping heat in the atmosphere. This leads to an increase in the average global temperature. This affects the temperature in the sea, the polar ice caps, the ground, and the air, which are all part of climate.

Environmental sustainability is a goal or ideal to act in a way which preserves the natural world, and minimises your negative impact on the climate and nature. This often means reducing your carbon footprint, but can include reducing how much resources you use and waste you create, and supporting a healthier natural environment.


Environmental sustainability is a goal or ideal to act in a way which preserves the natural world, and minimises your negative impact on the climate and nature. This often means reducing your carbon footprint, but can include reducing how much resources you use and waste you create, and supporting a healthier natural environment.

Every year nature is becoming more and more degraded through deforestation, poor land management, and the death of wild species. Helping nature to recover means ecosystems are stronger and more resilient to climate change, and can more effectively remove carbon from the atmosphere. A healthier natural world is important not only because we rely on nature for food, water, medicine and more, but because we have an ethical responsibility to care for other living beings.


Every year nature is becoming more and more degraded through deforestation, poor land management, and the death of wild species. Helping nature to recover means ecosystems are stronger and more resilient to climate change, and can more effectively remove carbon from the atmosphere. A healthier natural world is important not only because we rely on nature for food, water, medicine and more, but because we have an ethical responsibility to care for other living beings.

What does climate change mean to your organisation's context? Think about increasing your knowledge around the impacts, concerns and initiatives being done in your local area. Explore recent local events that have proven links to climate change but also local opportunities for networking and funding. The regional overview from the North East Environmental Hub is a great place to start.


What does climate change mean to your organisation's context? Think about increasing your knowledge around the impacts, concerns and initiatives being done in your local area. Explore recent local events that have proven links to climate change but also local opportunities for networking and funding. The regional overview from the North East Environmental Hub is a great place to start.

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If you have a question or need more guidance on what to do next, we're here to help. Paul and Eilidh are just a click away and ready to support you throughout your journey.

Contact us
1
Understanding your organisation
2
What are you doing already?
3
Build your knowledge
4
Communicate Effectively
5
Engage your colleagues
6
Make the business case
7
Create an environmental policy
8
Join networks and speak with other organisations
9
Develop an environmental action plan