To mark World Environment Day, the Royal Society for Public Health and Westminster City Council (WCC) have today announced the successful pilot of a new qualification to help local people build healthier and greener communities.
Level 2 Award in Supporting Climate-related Behaviour Change
The Level 2 Award in Supporting Climate-related Behaviour Change is among the first in the UK to combine practical public health skills on health improvement with key features of the climate emergency.
Designed for people working closely with communities, the qualification covers a broad range of topics that connect climate and health. This includes building an understanding of the key features of the climate emergency and its impact on health, and how to communicate messages which encourage healthier and greener lifestyles.
Climate champions pilot the qualification
Earlier this year 11 learners from Westminster City Council’s ‘North Paddington Volunteer Climate Champion’ programme went through the pilot of the qualification.
The Climate Champion programme is a community volunteering initiative aiming to make North Paddington a healthier, greener and more sustainable neighbourhood. It is part of WCC’s broader Climate Action Plan which aims to see the council become carbon neutral by 2040.
RSPH and Westminster City Council are encouraging other local authorities and voluntary sector organisations to adopt the qualification in different parts of the country.
Lola May is a local Community Climate Action Coordinator who took part in the training. She said:
“The training session was a brilliant way to learn about climate change, both at a local and a global level, as well as learning more about who is most impacted by it. We particularly enjoyed the hyper-local sections, allowing us to see how events that have happened in our area are actually a result of climate change. It was great to combine that with behaviour change training, giving us a practical grounding in how to interact and influence others to make changes in their day to day lives.”
Jenni Peprell FRSPH, Director of Qualifications, Royal Society for Public Health, said:
"The climate crisis is a public health crisis. It is a global issue that impacts communities all over the world. However, the effects are felt differently at a local level. From active travel and buying sustainably sourced local food, to helping out a community allotment – local action can make a big difference.
The successful pilot of the qualification in North Paddington shows that health improvement and climate action can go hand in hand. We want to see ensure the learning from the pilot gets put into practice elsewhere so other communities can see the benefits too."
Nafsika Butler-Thalassis, Westminster City Council , Deputy Leader, said:
“People living in busy areas of cities are among the most exposed to a changing climate. Our residents care about the environment, they want to understand the risks and get involved in reducing the impact of climate change.
“Training courses like this one are going to educate and empower people to make a difference locally. By developing this programme with the Royal Society for Public Health we have been able to build a practical programme which offers useful tips and advice anybody can follow. We’d love to see this role out further."
Register your interest in our upcoming climate-related behaviour change eLearning
Later in 2025, RSPH will be launching an eLearning programme to support learners to access the Level 2 Award in Supporting Climate-related Behaviour Change, using our RSPH Learn platform. To register your interest in this programme, please complete the form below.
