1 August 2023

Major milestone on the road to net zero

Staff training to cut carbon emissions has helped the Benyon Estate to collect a prestigious award for the work it is doing to combat global climate change.

After a series of initiatives, the Benyon Estate has been granted official status as a Silver Level Carbon Literate Organisation by the Carbon Literacy Project.  It received the accolade as part of a wider award made to the Englefield Estate, which comprises rural and urban property interests across Berkshire and Hampshire, London, and Scotland.

The Carbon Literacy Project is based on the key aim that if we are to cut our carbon emissions by the kind of reductions demanded of us by science, then we will need to change culture alongside technology.

Staff at the Benyon Estate underwent carbon literacy training earlier this year to explain the principles of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, both at work and at home. The training followed earlier work to calculate the Benyon Estates’ carbon footprint as an important step on the path to net zero.

Benyon Estate Manager, Edward Benyon paid tribute to the staff who underwent the Carbon Literacy Training and the efforts made since to implement the advice they were given. “This has been such an important piece of work for us,” he said. 

“We have been working towards meeting our targets to reduce carbon emissions for some time, but this has shown that the best way to really make a difference starts with inspiring the people on the ground.”

Englefield Estates Director Edward Crookes added: “It is very important that we maintain momentum across our estates and we will be working with heads of department to implement plans of action over the weeks and months ahead – and indeed for the estate’s operations long into the future too.”

Staff at the Benyon Estate and Englefield Estate undertook face-to-face training on becoming carbon literate with David Cope, an accredited carbon literacy trainer and sustainability adviser.

David, who runs the sustainability advisory business 600 Strategy, said the training helped people to understand the costs and impacts of greenhouse gas pollution and then give them practical training and advice to help reduce it.

He said the training had created a mood of optimism among staff that they could take action to tackle climate change.