Climate change is an urgent, global problem that can feel overwhelming and too complex to solve alone. Local action offers tangible solutions that can meet communities’ needs and add up to meaningful change. 

How CSE supports communities with climate action

Climate change will impact every area and community differently, and the changes needed vary from place to place. From the best ways to improve the energy efficiency of houses and community buildings, to preserving natural spaces and improving wellbeing, each community faces unique challenges in this transition. Local-level change promotes climate action that is supported by residents and meets the needs of the community.

For more than 40 years, CSE has supported communities to tackle climate change by reducing carbon emissions, using energy more sustainably and creating greener, more resilient places to live. We work with local people to identify impactful changes they can make that meet the needs and aspirations of the community.

CSE provides bespoke support including one-to-one guidance, interactive workshops and practical resources for engaging your community in the action planning process.

We’ve come from a place of recognising the climate emergency but feeling completely overwhelmed … to a place of understanding our role as community leaders, and the opportunity that gives us to be advocates for change.

Bay of Colwyn Town Council, North Wales

Climate action resources

Unsure where to start? Our resources help you to understand where to focus your efforts.

• Create your own climate action plan using CSE’s action plan template.
• Find out your community’s carbon footprint, using our Community Carbon Calculator.

Working with CSE has turned our good intentions into useful steps forward.

Artspace, arts and education based charity based in the Forest of Dean

Work with CSE to develop your action plan

If you need in-depth support, our climate action support package can cover:

• An introduction to climate change and its impacts in the local area.
• Understanding your local carbon footprint using CSE’s Community Carbon Calculator.
• Tools for engaging the local community and communicating about climate change.
• Practical session to draft a climate action plan (including planning for financial, health and wellbeing benefits), using CSE’s template.
• Opportunities to learn from and network with others in your local area.

Our packages start from £1,600 + VAT and we may be able to offer funded support from one of our existing projects.

If you are interested in working with us or would like to find out more about the support we offer, please get in touch with Leah Bromley.

Our work with CSE provided a forum for councillors and council staff to come together in a purposeful and facilitated way. We can now develop a climate plan with short, medium and long term goals – and ensure the community is involved along the way.

Wellington Town Council, Somerset