Carbon Literacy in the tech world: My takeaways...

I recently had the opportunity to represent UrbanChain at a Carbon Literacy Training Day hosted by Autotrader in collaboration with The Carbon Literacy Project and sponsored by Manchester Digital.

The day wasn’t just a refresher on climate science it was a reality check on how deeply climate change is tied to everything we do in business and tech. As someone who left education five years ago, it was eye-opening to revisit topics like the greenhouse effect, carbon footprints and the global climate pledges shaping the future of our industries.

The course unpacked the core science behind climate change and how our individual and organisational choices feed into global emissions.

• Carbon footprints: Every decision from the energy we use, to the food we eat has a measurable impact. I hadn’t realised how large a role diet plays in emissions until we explored how livestock farming, food waste and supply chains all contribute.
• Global context: The UN's Emissions Gap Report 2024 warns that to stay within the 1.5°C limit, global emissions must fall by 42% by 2030. Current national pledges (NDCs) still point to around 2.1°C of warming – showing how much more we all need to do.
• Climate justice: The training highlighted how climate impacts are uneven. Those least responsible for emissions often face the harshest effects – a reminder that sustainability must include fairness and accountability.

At UrbanChain, we’re already working towards a greener energy landscape by simplifying access to renewable energy through our clean energy operating system.

But the session helped me see how we can take that same mindset and apply it internally – from how we travel to how we manage resources.

As part of my certification, I made two pledges:

• Individual pledge: This article (and a company-wide presentation) to share what I learned and explore new ways UrbanChain can further reduce its footprint. This will further aid in the work UrbanChain are doing in the tech space.
• Group pledge: To rethink our travel and accommodation policy, introducing eco-friendly hotel options and encouraging low-carbon travel such as trains where feasible.

As we continue to grow, we’re focused on:

• Improving data transparency – giving customers clear insight into the carbon savings achieved through UrbanChain’s network.
• Expanding partnerships with eco-conscious businesses, councils and developers who want to power their operations with clean energy.

We’re also reviewing ways to:

• Reuse and refurbish laptops instead of buying new.
• Track emissions from business travel and operations.
• Explore digital tools like carbon calculators for our website and partner portal to make our impact visible and accountable.

The session reminded me that carbon literacy isn’t about guilt; it’s about understanding and empowerment. The more we know, the better decisions we can make – individually and as businesses.

UrbanChain sits in a powerful position within the renewables sector. We’re not just reducing emissions through clean energy; we’re also shaping a culture where sustainability drives how we work every day.

This isn’t just a call for climate awareness – it’s an open invitation to action. If your organisation is serious about reducing emissions, cutting costs, and building resilience in a rapidly changing energy market, work with us.

Climate change isn’t a future issue; it needs to be a focus every day. Every choice counts whether that’s a hotel booking, powering a data centre or choosing what to eat.

At 23, I’m still early in my career, but I’m proud to be part of a company that believes the tech and energy sectors can be both innovative and sustainable. At UrbanChain, we’re proving that sustainability and innovation don’t have to compete – they can drive each other.

Let’s keep pushing for that balance as individuals, as teams, and most importantly as an industry.