My Carbon Literacy Journey: Learning, Choices and Taking Action

What does sustainability actually look like when you're running a small business?

It's something I've been thinking about for a while. Not just in terms of recycling or reducing waste, but how the decisions we make in business, particularly financial decisions, can have an impact beyond what we immediately see.

In July 2025, I took part in a two-day Carbon Literacy course for accountants and finance professionals, delivered by Sustainability Suite and accredited through The Carbon Literacy Project.

I've since become officially Certified Carbon Literate, but the most valuable part wasn't the certificate. It was the opportunity to think more deeply about the choices I make, both personally and through Chivrall Bookkeeping.

From climate science to practical decisions

The training covered climate science, the UK's net zero ambitions, carbon footprints, sustainability reporting and the role businesses can play in reducing emissions.

There was a lot to take in.

If I'm being completely open, some of it was overwhelming. There's a point where hearing more about the scale of climate change doesn't necessarily help you understand what to do about it.

What I really wanted was the practical side.

• How do we turn knowledge into action?

• How can small businesses make meaningful changes without needing huge budgets, specialist departments or complicated reporting systems?

• And, as someone working in finance, how can I use the skills I already have to help?

The role of finance in sustainability

One of the most interesting areas for me was the impact of our financial choices.

We tend to think about our carbon footprints in terms of energy, transport, shopping and waste. But where we keep our money, who manages our pensions and what our banks invest in are also worth considering.

As a bookkeeper, I'm regularly helping businesses understand where their money goes.

That puts me in an interesting position to encourage conversations about the wider implications of financial decisions.

I don't need to become a sustainability consultant to ask better questions or share useful resources. Sometimes simply making someone aware that they have a choice is a valuable starting point.

Making my Carbon Literacy pledges

As part of the certification process, I made two action pledges.

My individual pledge: reducing my digital footprint

I decided to look at the carbon impact of the digital tools I use.

Running a bookkeeping business involves a lot of software, emails, cloud storage and video meetings. These systems are essential to how I work, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't question how I use them.

My commitment included:

• Reviewing and removing unnecessary emails and subscriptions.

• Clearing out obsolete digital files.

• Monitoring the carbon footprint of my Google Workspace.

• Working towards reducing my reported monthly digital emissions from approximately 150g CO₂e to 125g CO₂e.

I wanted to see whether small, repeatable changes could make a measurable difference.

My group pledge: encouraging better financial choices

For my second pledge, I chose to focus on banking and pensions.

My aim was to encourage clients, colleagues and people in my wider community to consider the environmental impact of their financial providers. Not to tell everyone which bank they should use, but to raise awareness, share resources and encourage people to explore their options. I also committed to reviewing my own arrangements.

Taking the first steps

Following the training, I began sharing what I'd learnt through a series of LinkedIn posts.

Topics included the carbon footprint of everyday decisions, ethical banking, digital sustainability, climate risks for small businesses and the importance of taking achievable action.

I've also made changes myself, including switching banking arrangements and reviewing how I manage my digital workspace.

Another area close to my heart is the pre-loved school uniform shop I help run through our PTA. It's an example of using skills I already have to support reuse and help families in our local community.

Not every sustainability action needs to be a new project or a major investment. Sometimes it's about finding ways to use what we already have more thoughtfully.

Sustainability without perfection

One thing I've become increasingly convinced of is that sustainability needs to feel achievable.

It's easy to become overwhelmed by the number of things we could be doing, particularly when we're juggling work, families and everything else that needs our attention.

I don't believe the answer is to demand perfection.

It's to understand our choices, make improvements where we can and keep learning.

Becoming Carbon Literate hasn't made me an environmental expert, and it certainly doesn't mean Chivrall Bookkeeping is carbon neutral.

What it has done is give me greater awareness, a better understanding of the questions to ask and a commitment to keep improving.

And that's where I want to start.

Small steps. Thoughtful choices. And a willingness to keep learning.

Find out more about The Carbon Literacy Project or explore how your bank approaches climate-related financing through Bank.Green.