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Royal Ballet and Opera: Sustainable suppliers form and spreadsheet

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Royal Ballet and Opera: Sustainable suppliers form and spreadsheet

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Many cultural sector organisations are beginning to consider how to gather environmental sustainability information from their suppliers to support their analysis of their emissions. A small group of organisations and bodies has been brought together by the Royal Ballet and Opera and supported by Theatre Green Book to create a supplier questionnaire that can be used by anyone to gather sustainability information about any of their suppliers.

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It Started with a Sloth A to Z Sustainability guide: Institution edition

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It Started with a Sloth A to Z Sustainability guide: Institution edition

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This guide is designed for directors, facility managers and operations teams. It includes 26 proven strategies covering everything from adaptive reuse of spaces to zero-waste goals. Learn how to implement renewable energy systems, create biodegradable material policies and develop community partnerships that amplify your sustainability message.

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Immersive education for a sustainable world by Be The Future IMMERS[ED]

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Perfect for directors, facility managers, and operations teams.
Transform your entire organisation with 26 proven strategies covering everything from adaptive reuse of spaces to zero-waste goals. Learn how to implement renewable energy systems, create biodegradable material policies, and develop com

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It Started with a Sloth A to Z Sustainability guide: Educators edition

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It Started with a Sloth A to Z Sustainability guide: Educators edition

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This guide is designed for education teams, outreach coordinators and programme developers.

Inspire the next generation of environmental stewards through innovative, sustainable education programmes. Discover how to create zero-waste workshops, develop community expert partnerships and design activities that teach sustainability while practicing it.

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Immersive education for a sustainable world by Be The Future IMMERS[ED]

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Designed for education teams, outreach coordinators, and programme developers
Inspire the next generation of environmental stewards through innovative, sustainable education programmes. Discover how to create zero-waste workshops, develop community expert partnerships, and design activities that tea

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Hosted by Museums Galleries Scotland, the Scottish Museums Climate Network is a space where museum staff and volunteers can discuss all things climate and biodiversity. The network is on Microsoft Teams with channels dedicated to specific themes. To join, please email Museums Galleries Scotland’s Climate Officer at climate@museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk.

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MuseumNext: Why Your Museum Should Host a Repair Café

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MuseumNext: Why Your Museum Should Host a Repair Café

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A Repair Café is a community event where people bring broken items—such as electronics, clothes, furniture, and bicycles—to be repaired for free by volunteer experts. This article written by Manuel Charr for Museum Next explains why your museum should consider hosting one.

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Why Your Museum Should Host a Repair Café

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A Repair Café is a community event where people bring broken items—such as electronics, clothes, furniture, and bicycles—to be repaired for free by volunteer experts.…

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Radical Ecology: A Framework for Environmental Justice

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Radical Ecology: A Framework for Environmental Justice

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A Framework for Environmental Justice is a report that reflects two years of conversations held under the banner of the Black Atlantic Innovation Network (BAIN) – co-convened by Radical Ecology and the UCL Sarah Parker Remond Centre.

Radical Ecology has explored developments taking place in siloed strands of work including equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), sustainability and decolonisation, identifying common objectives and challenges as well as best practices that shine through across the UK cultural and heritage sectors.

They have further considered that when seen not as separate siloes but as a unified whole, this work begins to reveal what they call a framework for environmental justice – a joined up strategy for facing the future from the heart of our cultural institutions.

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A Framework for Environmental Justice – RADICAL ECOLOGY

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A Framework for Environmental Justice is a report that reflects two years of conversations held under the banner of the Black Atlantic Innovation Network (BAIN) - co-convened by Radical Ecology and UCL Sarah Parker Remond Centre.

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Network of European Museum Organisations (Nemo): Fostering dialogue in divisive times – a guide for museums regarding engagement with community forums on climate action

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Network of European Museum Organisations (Nemo): Fostering dialogue in divisive times – a guide for museums regarding engagement with community forums on climate action

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In an increasingly polarised world, museums hold a crucial role in fostering dialogue and social cohesion. This guide provides practical strategies to help museums create structured, inclusive community forums that promote participation, informed debate and collective problem-solving.

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The Bizot Green Protocol facilitates organisations committing to environmentally sustainable practice across all areas of museum activity. The refreshed 2023 version of the protocol includes science-based guiding principles, climate control guidelines, and a set of accompanying handbooks. The resource offers scientific evidence, museum testimonials and practical tools to facilitate its seamless adoption and implementation.

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Since the publication of the Bizot Green Protocol in 2015, the climate crisis is increasingly recognized as one of the most important threats facing the world today. The cultural heritage sector must take urgent action to lead the fight against this problem.
At the same time, much research has been carried out to unravel the complexities of material behavior and environmental requirements. Current knowledge amply demonstrates that the adoption of broader environmental parameters does not compromise the safety of most collections.
Scientific evidence from experiments, observations, and field campaigns shows that museum collections survive exceptionally well under much wider climatic conditions than traditionally assumed. Practitioners can use user-friendly models and predictive tools developed for the cultural heritage sector to realistically assess the risk of damage posed by temperature and relative humidity for specific collections. These models can also help to identify particularly sensitive objects that can be separated from the general collection and treated with tailored solutions, without the need to apply narrow parameters for the whole collection.

While we argue that the risk posed to collections by variations in temperature and relative humidity within Bizot's parameters is minimal for most collections, it is also important to be clear that the figures 40-60% relative humidity and 16-25°C temperature with a daily variation of 10% have no fundamental scientific meaning. Rather, they represent figures that seemed reasonably acceptable ten years ago. We propose that they should be seen as a starting point for implementing sustainable environmental management strategies. In other words, we do not advocate replacing one prescriptive solution (50 ± 5% RH, 21±2°C) with another (40-60% RH, 16-25°C). On the contrary, we advocate a more nuanced determination of environmental parameters based on the conservation needs of the objects, as derived from scientific research and experience, and on the sustainability objectives of the institution.

To this end, it is essential that institutions adopt a risk management approach that replaces the traditional focus on avoiding at all costs minor risks that typically have a large financial and environmental impact. This transition will be easier if a multidisciplinary approach is also adopted, involving all relevant stakeholders such as engineers, architects, facilities managers, security staff, administrators, archivists, collection managers, curators, heritage scientists, conservators, and registrars.

In December 2022, the Bizot Group initiated an update and formed a working group of 54 museum professionals. They collaborated to align the protocol with evolving knowledge, technology, and the need for change.
The refreshed 2023 version of the Bizot Green Protocol is a science-based guiding principles, climate control guidelines, and a set of handbooks to accompany the protocol, offering scientific evidence, museum testimonials, and practical tools to facilitate its seamless adoption and implementation.
The updated protocol introduces new considerations such as transport and virtual couriering, which were successful during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It emphasise the urgent need for museums to adopt environmentally sustainable approaches to long-term collections care. These principles, which call for proactive and strategic engagement at all levels of the museum landscape, lay the groundwork for a holistic and high-impact transformation.

Delving into the intricacies of climate controls, the protocol deploys guidelines that push museums to adopt a "greener practices first mentality". In addressing the challenges related to carbon reduction, these guidelines highlight the importance of a systemic and collective effort, encouraging museums to prioritize sustainable practices as a core ethic.

A distinctive feature of the Bizot Green Protocol is its series of handbooks meticulously crafted to provide museums with tangible evidence, shared practices and practical tools. These handbooks serve as a repository of knowledge, drawing insights from the wealth of knowledge and experience in diverse museum fields, including contributions from climate science and international reports.
Handbook #1
ADOPTING THE BIZOT GREEN GUIDELINES
Last update: September 2023
This first handbook accompanies the 'refresh Bizot Green Protocol'. It is intended to provide museum colleagues with evidence, tools and case studies to ease the adoption of the Bizot Green Guidelines and, more broadly, help museums to adopt climate control solutions that are safe for the objects and enable museums to reduce their energy consumption and carbon-emission.
Handbook #2
MOBILITY
Towards greener transport
Last update: May 2023
This second handbook accompanies the 'refresh Bizot Green Protocol'. It is intended to provide museum colleagues with case studies and tools to help the adoption of more sustainable practices relating to the movement of objects in particular in the search for alternative to air freight wherever possible and the adoption of virtual courier as the default option.
To ensure its adaptability and relevance, the protocol commits to update every five years. This proactive approach stems from the protocol's dedication to keeping up with evolving knowledge, technological advances and the ever-changing landscape of museum practices.
Much more than a set of guidelines, the Bizot Green Protocol is a living document that evolves with the times. Recognizing challenges and championing collaboration, it positions itself as a catalyst for change. Navigating the complexities of the climate and natural crisis, the Bizot Green Protocol serves as a dynamic guide, orienting institutions towards a future in which sustainability is a fundamental ethic. In essence, it is not merely a protocol, but a visionary roadmap for museums to lead the way in fostering a sustainable cultural landscape.

Bizot Green Protocol, New York, November 13-15, 2014
Guiding Principles
Museums should review policy and practice, particularly regarding loan requirements, storage and display conditions, and building design and air conditioning systems, with a view to reducing carbon footprints. Museums need to find ways to reconcile the desirability of long-term preservation of collections with the need to reduce energy use.

Museums should apply whatever methodology or strategies best suit their collections, building and needs, and innovative approaches should be encouraged.

The care of objects is paramount. Subject to this,

environmental standards should become more intelligent and better tailored to specific needs. Blanket conditions should no longer apply. Instead conditions should be determined by the requirements of individual objects or groups of objects and the climate in the part of the world in which the museum is located;

where appropriate, care of collections should be achieved in a way that does not assume air conditioning or other high energy cost solutions. Passive methods, simple technology that is easy to maintain, and lower energy solutions should be considered;

natural and sustainable environmental controls should be explored and exploited fully;

when designing and constructing new buildings or renovating old ones, architects and engineers should be guided significantly to reduce the building's carbon footprint as a key objective;

the design and build of exhibitions should be managed to mimimise waste and recycle where possible.

Guidelines

For many classes of object containing hygroscopic material (such as canvas paintings, textiles, ethnographic objects or animal glue) a stable relative humidity (RH) is required in the range of 40 - 60% and a stable temperature in the range 16 - 25°C with fluctuations of no more than ±10% RH per 24 hours within this range. More sensitive objects will require specific and tighter RH control, depending on the materials, condition, and history of the work of art. A conservators evaluation is essential in establishing the appropriate environmental conditions for works of art requested for loan.

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Since the publication of the Bizot Green Protocol in 2015, the climate crisis is increasingly recognized as one of the most important threats facing the world today. The cultural heritage sector must take urgent action to lead the fight against this problem.

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Museums 2030 is a peer support network for UK museums and galleries. An informal group, hosted by the Design Museum in London, it seeks to create a platform for sharing, discussion and the development of a new best practice in exhibition-making in response to the planetary emergency.

Museums 2030 contact information form

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The Networked Condition: Environmental Impacts of Digital Cultural Production

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The Networked Condition: Environmental Impacts of Digital Cultural Production

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This piece of work explores the environmental impact of the creation and delivery of artwork using digital technology and aims to use this research to raise awareness and provide practical solutions to help mitigate these impacts.

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The Networked Condition - A Case Study - Julie’s Bicycle

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The aim of this piece of work was to explore the environmental impact of the creation and delivery of artwork using digital technology.

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Julie’s Bicycle has produced a carbon footprint for Earth Speakr, the artwork from Studio Olafur Eliasson co-created with children and young people from across the world. The Earth Speakr digital platform invites young people to speak up for the planet and the future they want.

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Carbon footprint for Earth Speakr - Julie’s Bicycle

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Julie’s Bicycle has produced a carbon footprint for Earth Speakr, the artwork from Studio Olafur Eliasson co-created with children and young people from across the world. A digital platform that invites young people to speak up for the planet and the future they want, Earth Speakr consists of a playful app, an interactive website, AR (augmented reality) experience and audio-visual presentations in the 24 official languages of the European Union. Julie’s Bicycle’s work with Studio Olafur Eliasson to understand the climate change impact of Earth Speakr looking at both physical and digital impacts from October 2019 to December 2020, covering the development phase and first six months of the artwork. The digital footprint was developed with advice and support from experts on digital technology and sustainability from the University of Bristol: Chris Preist, Professor of Sustainability and Computer Systems and Daniel Schien, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science both with the Department of Computer Science, who provided pro-bono advice, and Paul Shabajee, Research Fellow. Chris, Dan and Paul are part of the team involved with DIMPACT, a collaboration between computer scientists and eleven media companies helping the media industry understand and manage the significant carbon impacts of digital content. Download the report “Calculating Earth Speakr’s carbon footprint has been a pioneering, complex and detailed piece of work. It is the result of a unique collaboration between Studio Olafur Eliasson, Julie’s Bicycle and experts from University of Bristol’s Department of Computer Science. While the final footprint is, in the grander scheme of things, not huge, the insights gained not only inform our understanding of the impacts of digital culture but also what we can do about it. And we are now, for the first time, in a position to explore how to make this approach more easily replicable for the creative and cultural community.” Claire Buckley programme lead, Julie’s Bicycle. Julie’s Bicycle and Studio Olafur Eliasson have collaborated over several years to understand the environmental impacts of a number of the artist’s works (Waterfall, Tate Modern 2019; Ice Watch, Tate Modern and Bloomberg London, 2018; & Ice Watch, during the 2015 global climate talks in Paris). Image: copyright Olafur Eliasson, Earth Speakr, 2020

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The Digital Humanities Climate Coalition Toolkit

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The Digital Humanities Climate Coalition Toolkit

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This toolkit is a guide to making research practices more environmentally responsible. It is geared towards digital practices, but also touches on general areas such as travel and advocacy.

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The Digital Humanities Climate Coalition toolkit for Climate Justice in humanities research.

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Fixing Our Broken Planet: Community of Practice

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Fixing Our Broken Planet: Community of Practice

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Fixing Our Broken Planet: Community of Practice is a space for museum sector practitioners across Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England to develop ways to communicate the planetary emergency with their audiences and facilitate conversations to build a more hopeful future.

Hosted by the Natural History Museum, London, the community of practice exists digitally, through webinars and newsletters, and at in-person gatherings delivered with community members.

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Our Broken Planet: How we got here and ways to fix it

We are living in the age of humans, a time referred to by many as the Anthropocene. Our species has caused huge changes on our planet, including global warming and rapid biodiversity loss. To explore this and inspire solutions, the Natural History Museum developed the experimental Our Broken Planet exhibition and public programme.

Our Broken Planet was successful in sparking dialogue and debate, going on to be shortlisted for the United Nations SDG Action Awards. It brought together scientists and policy makers and empowered young people to be advocates for the planet.

We have ambitious plans to grow the programme. Our aim is to reach the widest possible audience and inspire action across four key themes - food, materials, energy, and health. To enable this, we're building a Community of Practice to support museums to develop local displays and explore how the content could engage younger and more diverse audiences across the UK.

What is a Community of Practice?

This programme was shaped from the responses to a survey of over 70 UK institutions who told us about their interests, needs and existing expertise in addressing the planetary emergency. As a result, this Community will become a place to interact, learn, and collaborate, fostering knowledge exchange among museum teams, scientists, researchers, youth engagement experts, and cultural practitioners. By participating, you can:

Enhance your expertise in developing innovative exhibitions that explore human impacts on our environment.

Learn to connect climate-related issues with local contexts and collections, incorporating contemporary science research.

Develop skills to effectively engage youth through meaningful dialogue and debate.

Connect with like-minded peers, engage in regional events, share valuable resources, and collaborate on climate-focused engagement strategies.

Gain access to potential funding and resources to translate learning and ideas into impactful practices.

A two-year programme of knowledge exchange and collaboration:

Year One: September 2023 - May 2024

The first year is designed to spark inspiration, knowledge sharing, and meaningful connections. Here's what you can expect:

Online 'Bitesize' Talks: a series of dynamic online talks that delve into contemporary science research on OBP themes. We'll explore effective strategies for communicating this research through programming and displays. These talks are the ideal platform to gain insights from experts across the Museum sector, including curators, researchers, PhDs, and engagement specialists

In-Person Networking Events: five in-person gatherings designed to foster informal networking and the exchange of best practices. It's a chance to connect with fellow professionals who share your passion for environmental engagement and conservation.

Announcing Funding Pots: We'll be unveiling small funding opportunities dedicated to the development of Our Broken Planet-related displays and programming. We hope to collaborate with you to bring innovative ideas to life and contribute to the ongoing dialogue around the planetary emergency.

Year Two: June 2024 - May 2025

As we move into the second year, our collaborative efforts will continue to flourish. Here's a glimpse of what's in store:

Fostering collaborations on the development of regional displays and engaging youth programs focussed on Our Broken Planet's core themes.

Carrying forward our community of practice activities tailored to address the specific needs identified throughout year one, ensuring that our efforts remain effective and relevant.

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Our Broken Planet: Community of Practice

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We are living in the age of humans, a time referred to by many as the Anthropocene. Our species has caused huge changes on our planet, including global warming and rapid biodiversity loss. To explore this and inspire solutions, the Natural History Museum developed the experimental Our Broken Planet exhibition and public programme.

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NEMO: Climate protection in museums guidelines

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NEMO: Climate protection in museums guidelines

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These guidelines, published by the NEMO Sustainability and Climate Action
Working Group, aim to empower museums to participate actively in the pressing global issues of climate change and sustainability. The document includes a checklist and provides concrete solutions, from initiating climate impact assessments to integrating sustainability into working mechanisms and educating on climate change.

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National Museum Directors' Council (NMDC): UK Museum Cop report

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National Museum Directors' Council (NMDC): UK Museum Cop report

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In October 2023, NMDC held a Museum Cop event at Tate Modern. The aim of Cop was to secure consensus across museums on urgent action to decarbonise the sector and mitigate the impacts of the climate and biodiversity crises. Following the event UK museum leaders issued their first ever joint commitment to collective action.

The full report is available on the NMDC website, including the presentations and panel discussions on the day as well as results from live voting by attendees in response to questions on critical issues and proposals for collective action. An executive summary of the report is also available to download.

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Representatives of UK museums, sector bodies and funders took part in the first UK Museum COP at Tate Modern on 31st October 2023 organised by the NMDC.

The event secured consensus from museum leaders on collective action to decarbonise the sector and mitigate the impacts of the climate and biodiversity crises.

The museum leaders today issued their first ever joint commitment for collective action:

"As leaders of the UK museums, we feel a responsibility to speak out about the current climate and biodiversity crisis and call upon UK politicians and businesses to accelerate action to mitigate this crisis before it is too late. We are already around or beyond crucial tipping points: global temperatures are higher than they have ever been since humans emerged as a species, and extinctions are occurring at around a thousand times the normal rate. There is an existential threat to the world we have become accustomed to.

Museums are institutions with a long-term view. Many have collections relating to the Earth's five previous mass extinction events, and we are now in the midst of the sixth, the Anthropocene. UK museum leaders feel they have an ethical obligation to take action to alleviate that damage.

We will:

Use relevant collections, programmes and exhibitions to engage audiences with the climate crisis and inspire them to take positive action,

Introduce more sustainable collections management,

Develop and implement decarbonisation plans which include relaxing carbon-hungry environmental parameters,

Undertake measures to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather and adapt to new challenges,

Increase biodiversity in our green spaces.

Like all organisations across the country, museums need assistance with decarbonisation, mitigation and adaptation. We call upon businesses, funders, current and future governments to facilitate this, and maintain and deliver on commitments to achieve net zero carbon emissions and protect our natural environment."

The UK Museum COP was the culmination of work by a series of sub-groups each tasked with considering a different key issue for museums and proposing actions and recommendations to increase momentum in tackling barriers to sustainability. The areas of focus were: ethics; heritage buildings, adaptation and planning; Scope 3 challenges; workforce and skills; funding; and collections and environmental conditions.

Key recommendations:

Urgent changes to planning legislation and guidance, and increased investment to ensure the sustainability of heritage buildings,

Development of a new central resource linking to current advice and guidance on sustainability, including clear signposting to appropriate resources for different types of museums,

Sustainability to be incorporated into Learning and Development programmes and recruitment, development of a mentoring scheme to share knowledge, and a cross-organisational training programme to be rolled out in 2024,

Inclusion of environmental sustainability in key routes into the sector such as Museums and Heritage studies and apprenticeships,

Carbon Literacy Training to be sustained, expanded, and strategically funded,

All museums to adopt a 'greener option first' principle in all areas of their practice, including more intelligent and lower-energy environmental conditions for collections, more sustainable exhibition design and transportation of objects.

Nick Merriman, Chief Executive, Horniman Museum and Gardens & COP Chair, said:

"Museums have a special place in the debate about the climate and biodiversity crisis because they can take a long-term view, beyond the short-term cycles of politics and economics. The fact that the whole museum sector has come together to stress the urgency for action is hugely significant. We will now work together to implement the actions we have agreed."

Maria Balshaw, Director, Tate and Chair, NMDC, said:

"The NMDC was delighted to convene the first UK Museum COP at Tate Modern this week to agree actions museums and galleries can and should take to address the climate and ecological crisis. Museums and galleries have a unique perspective as institutions that have to take a long-term view with their mission to preserve collections and stories for the long future. The conference agreed a series of vital actions to reduce the environmental impact of museums and show how they can inspire positive action for our public."

Representatives from the following organisations attended the event: Arts Council England, Art Fund, Association of Independent Museums, Beamish: The Living Museum of the North, Birmingham Museums Trust, Bizot Group, Black Country Living Museum, Bowes Museum, Brighton and Hove Museums, Bristol City Museum & Art Gallery, British Film Institute, British Library, Buro Happold, Department for Culture Media and Sport, Derby Museums Trust, Design Museum, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Fidelity UK Foundation, Gallery Climate Coalition, Garfield Weston Foundation, Hampshire Cultural Trust, Historic Buildings and Places, Historic England, Horniman Museum and Gardens, ICOM UK, Imperial War Museums, Institute of Conservation, John Ellerman Foundation, Julie's Bicycle, Leeds Museums and Galleries, Llywodraeth Cymru/Welsh Government, Manchester Museum, Museum Development North-West, Museum of the Home, Museums Association, Museums Galleries Scotland, National Army Museum, National Galleries Scotland, National Lottery Heritage Fund, National Museum Directors' Council, National Museums Liverpool, National Museums NI, National Museums Scotland, National Museums Wales/Amgueddfa Cymru, National Portrait Gallery, National Trust Scotland, Natural History Museum, Renew Culture, Royal Air Force Museum, Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Royal Armouries, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Royal Museums Greenwich, Science Museum Group, Sheffield Museums, Tate, The Ashmolean Museum, The National Archives, The National Gallery, Touring Exhibitions Group, Tullie, Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums, UK Registrars Group, University of Cambridge Museums, University of Leicester, V&A, Wallace Collection, Wolfson Foundation and York Museums Trust.

Your information will be processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

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Uk Museum Cop - National Museum Directors' Council Website

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Representatives of UK museums, sector bodies and funders took part in the first UK Museum COP at Tate Modern on 31st October 2023 organised by the NMDC. The event secured consensus from museum leaders on collective action to decarbonise the sector and mitigate the impacts of the climate and biodiversity crises.

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Museums and Societal Collapse: The Museum as Lifeboat

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Museums and Societal Collapse: The Museum as Lifeboat

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Robert R Janes, Routledge, 2023

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Adam Corner, Stephan Lewandosky, Mary Phillips and Olga Roberts, Bristol: Bristol University and Oxford: Climate Outreach, 2015

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The Sustainable Museum: How Museums Contribute to the Great Transformation

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The Sustainable Museum: How Museums Contribute to the Great Transformation

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Christopher J Garthe, Routledge, 2022

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The Green Museum: A Primer on Environmental Practice

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The Green Museum: A Primer on Environmental Practice

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Second edition, Sarah S Brophy and Elizabeth Wylie, AltaMira Press, 2013

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Edited by Robert R Janes and Richard Sandell, Routledge, 2019

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Edited by Cameron Muir, Kirsten Wehner and Jenny Newell, NewSouth, 2020

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Evolving Climate Change Policy and Museums

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Evolving Climate Change Policy and Museums

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Henry McGhie, Museum Management and Curatorship, 2020, vol. 35, no. 6, pp. 653-662

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Environmental Sustainability at Historic Sites and Museums

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Environmental Sustainability at Historic Sites and Museums

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Sarah Sutton, Natural History Book Service, 2015

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Curating the Future: Museums, Communities and Climate Change

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Curating the Future: Museums, Communities and Climate Change

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Edited by Jennifer Newell, Kirsten Wehner and Libby Robin, Routledge, 2016

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Fiona R Cameron and Brett Neilson, Routledge, 2017

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Bending the Curve: Climate Change Solutions

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Bending the Curve: Climate Change Solutions

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Edited by V Ramanathan, University of California, 2019

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Mel Evans, Pluto Press, 2015

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Andrew Brown, Thames & Hudson, 2015

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Led by the MA’s climate champion trustee Sara Kassam, the V&A launched its first dedicated sustainability action plan in 2021. The plan sets out the museum’s sustainability ambitions across three areas: place, people and programme.

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The Shift Project: Implementing Digital Sufficiency series

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The Shift Project: Implementing Digital Sufficiency series

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The Shift Project is a French thinktank advocating the shift to a post-carbon economy. This ongoing series of reports sets out a vision for designing digital practices and infrastructures that are resilient and sustainable.

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We are pleased to share with you the third part of our work on the environmental impact of digital technology: " Deploying Digital Sobriety ".

This report is also available in French. Click here.

Our first two reports, "Lean ICT - Towards Digital Sobriety" (2018) and "Climate: the unsustainable impact of online video" (2019), helped us define our vision of the concept of digital sobriety. The findings thus established have fueled, notably through the production of figures, an awareness of the importance of the environmental footprint of digital, its worrying increase and the systemic reasons that lead to this situation.
This third report aims to propose operational methodological frameworks for implementing digital sufficiency: in public strategies and policies, in companies, and in systems of use in the private domain.

Communities and other actors: how to assess whether the deployment of a connected technology, such as connected lighting, is really relevant from an energy point of view, and therefore really "smart"?

Organizations: how can we build and maintain energy-efficient information systems (IS) in companies and administrations?

Public debate: how and why do some digital uses develop rather than others, and why is this important?

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Deploying Digital Sobriety - The Shift Project

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The Shift Project is pleased to share the third part of his work on the environmental impact of digital technology: "Deploying Digital Sobriety".

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Natural History Museum: Strategy to 2030

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Natural History Museum: Strategy to 2030

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The museum’s strategy sets out the part it will play in tackling the planetary emergency as a global scientific and cultural institution.

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We are creating advocates for the planet.

We face a planetary emergency. Our future depends on the natural world, but we are not combating our own destructive impact on the planet.

Earth is now changing fast under the influence of human behaviour. Climate change and biodiversity loss are just some of the manifestations.

By threatening natural systems, we threaten our own future. We must act now, we must act on scientific evidence and we must act together.

Our vision is of a future where both people and planet thrive.

Our mission is to create advocates for the planet.

Our strategy to 2031 sets out the part the Natural History Museum will play as a global, scientific and cultural leader.

Our hope

Understanding life on Earth is the greatest scientific challenge of our age. We cannot hope to develop solutions without research that unlocks the underlying biology and applied science.

Alongside the science, all of us need hope: hope that there is a future where both people and the planet thrive. Building and spreading this hope through evidence and action will be the foundation of our strategy in the coming decade.

In today's challenging times, we will create advocates for the planet: individuals who feel sufficiently informed, confident and motivated to make wise decisions, to get involved, and to use their influence and actions to make a positive difference to the global future.

To achieve this, we will harness our collection, our research and our reach.

Our priorities

Five strategic priorities will be at the core of our activities until 2031:

Our success

Given the urgency of the issues facing the planet, we are aware that we have a global responsibility. We need to shape the future by learning from the past and seeking solutions which will bring a prosperous future.

Success lies in solutions and action. Once people can begin to feel optimistic about the opportunities to create a sustainable future, we will have achieved success. We can't change the world alone, so we will work in partnership with others towards a common goal.

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We aim to challenge how people think about the natural world - its past, present and future. Read about our vision, purpose and priorities.

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The National Trust has produced the first mapping tool of its kind that illustrates climate hazards at some of its significant sites and offers solutions on how to tackle them. The map plots the trust’s sites alongside existing data on climate change related events to understand how risk factors could change by 2060.

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To coincide with Cop26, the National Archives held an event exploring the role of archives and the cultural heritage sector in supporting sustainability. Recordings of the event are available online.

The National Archives has also published information on its energy, environment and sustainability.

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On 8 and 10 November, The National Archives held an event focused on the role of the archives and cultural heritage sectors in supporting environmental sustainability. The event brought together a wide range of speakers and up to 180 archives, collections and conservation professionals to share histories, networks, perspectives, guidance and actions that could inspire and empower them to work towards a more sustainable future.

Thanks are due to everyone who attended and in particular to those who agreed to share their thoughts, expertise and experiences. A summary of some of the main themes to emerge during the event is provided below, but for those of you who wish to revisit or experience the unabridged version, recordings of Day 1 and Day 2 are now available on The National Archives’ YouTube channel.

The need for partnerships and for working together was a common theme. The event introduced a number of different networks and initiatives, including the Climate Heritage Network (CHN), the UK Institute of Conservation (ICON), the ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property) Our Collections Matter initiative, Fit for the Future, Julie’s Bicycle and The Digital Preservation Coalition. May Cassar, Director of the UCL Institute for Sustainable Heritage, spoke on the potential for collaborating with academics; and it was particularly striking to hear about how some of these networks are working together.

Impact

Looking back at past actions at both Jersey Archives and The National Archives, Linda Romeril and Sarah VanSnick demonstrated the importance of collecting and reviewing data that would allow you to quantify the impact of your actions. While it can sometimes be challenging to unpick that data, understanding impact not just in terms of energy reduction and cost benefits, but also of how altering storage conditions will affect the condition and lifetime of the collections under your care, is vital.

Sustainability needs to go beyond ‘just’ the environment

While environmental sustainability was the key focus of the event, the need to consider sustainability more expansively was highlighted on numerous occasions. Georgina Robinson spoke of how the way in which sustainability has been discussed within the archives sector has changed and broadened over time; a long table session deliberately sought to bring out different perspectives on the topic; and the wider framework of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals was addressed in presentations on the ICCROM Our Collections Matter Initiative – an initiative that The National Archives has recently partnered with.

Advocacy

The power of collections to tell stories that focus attention on and advocate for sustainability was another key theme. Sara Crofts shared The Climate Heritage Network’s new Advocacy Toolkit to help empower and enable everyone to be an advocate for sustainable development. Laura Boon spoke of work carried out at the National Maritime Museum to highlight environmental issues through its collecting and exhibitions programme. In its work to preserve the past for the future, the cultural sector has always been rooted in the idea of sustaining stories and identities and it is increasingly using these stories to highlight important causes, such as that of sustainability.

Action

The scale of the sustainability challenge can often feel overwhelming, particularly as it becomes apparent how core it needs to be in all our decision making. The event sought to show how, even though the actions we can take will be shaped by our own particular circumstances and contexts, we can still act. Arielle Juler spoke about the importance of emergency planning, offering recommendations for acting now. Speakers including Lorraine Finch and Morgane Lirette shared some of the personal actions and decisions they had made, and this proved particularly inspiring for a number of those attending.

During the event, those attending were asked to contribute to a Padlet board with their own views on questions such as ‘what does working for sustainability mean for you?’ These comments echoed a number of the themes highlighted above. For example, in respect of sustainability needing to go beyond just the environment, people spoke of how working for sustainability involved:

‘taking decisions that put the wellbeing of our planet, our species and the species we share it with in first position’

‘taking a holistic view of our actions’

And in terms of action, when asked on which front they felt they were best placed to take action in support of sustainability, people commented:

‘Focus less on switching off lights and more on where your money, time and energy is going’

‘Get better at thinking and doing sustainably at home, build confidence, transfer the learning to work’

‘Focus on the areas I am responsible for and therefore can control’

Looking forward

The National Archives continues to work towards the sustainability ambitions highlighted in our Sustainability and Climate Change Statement and strategy, Archives for Everyone, researching, communicating and working in partnership where possible to have the greatest impact within The National Archives and the wider archive sector. We’re delighted that through our first sustainability-focused event, we’ve been able to inspire and empower others in the archive sector to act. To help broaden this legacy, the recordings of the event are freely accessible here, and links to the resources and networks presented at the event have been included in this post. Let’s keep the conversation going, sharing what’s worked and what hasn’t, collaborating to achieve the sustainable future that we aspire to – one where sustainable development is understood to be part of everybody’s role and within every organisation’s grasp.

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Archives supporting environmental sustainability - The National Archives blog

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On 8 and 10 November, The National Archives held an event focused on the role of the archives and cultural heritage sectors in supporting environmental sustainability.

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Leeds Museums & Galleries has an Environmental Sustainability Policy, and also lists examples and ambitions setting out how it intends to meet Leeds City Council’s environmental policy challenges across all of its sites.

The museum also sets out the steps it took to put sustainable practice at the heart of its 2018 exhibition, Beavers to Weavers: The wonderful world of animal makers, in Creating a Sustainable Exhibition.

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Leeds Museums & Galleries subscribes to the agreed Leeds City Council Environmental Policy, which is as follows:

We recognise that for Leeds to become the 'Best City' we must consider the environment in everything that we do. This Environment Policy aims to guide our people to do their best to protect the environment and deliver high quality, value for money, public services and places.

We will:

1. Reduce the use of energy and carbon dioxide emissions directly linked to our activities.

2. Reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and increase the proportion of energy coming from low and zero carbon technologies.

3. Reduce waste to landfill by improving recycling rates for the council and Leeds.

4. Reduce the environmental impact of transport and travel and promote sustainable alternatives.

5. Reduce the use of material resources and improve environmental quality where possible.

6. Improve the environmental quality of our buildings and those within the city.

7. Improve the environmental quality of our land and landscapes across the city.

8. Protect, enhance and increase biodiversity where possible.

9. Encourage our schools to be more sustainable.

10. Protect the elderly and vulnerable against fuel poverty.

11. Comply with all relevant environmental legislation and other initiatives.

12. Prevent pollution to air, water and land by regulating and monitoring.

The environmental performance of Leeds City Council is publicly available and updated on an annual basis in its Environmental Statement, available on democracy.leeds.gov.uk.

Leeds Museums & Galleries response to the Leeds City Council Environmental Policy

As a service we are responding to these policy challenges through initiatives both at service level and at different sites through see site development plans.

1. We recognise our particular responsibility as a service to ensure that the environmental sustainability and biodiversity messages in our displays and exhibitions are accurate and can have a significant impact on our visitor's attitudes and behaviour.
Example: We have several visitor sites with a strong environmental message including Life on Earth at Leeds City Museum and Thwaite Watermill where developments have focused on improving the biodiversity of the natural environment and improving interpretation for visitors.

2. We also recognise the importance of taking an environmentally sustainable approach in our collections care and conservation work.
Example: We are using recycled materials, and reusing materials in collections care packing and conservation work as much as possible. We are also looking at energy consumption and our environmental control issues especially at Leeds Discovery Centre.

3. As a consumer of materials we are conscious of our responsibility to reduce, reuse or recycle as much as possible.
Example: Our use of recycled paper and sustainable timber. We use fossil fuels directly in our steaming days at Thwaite Watermill and Leeds Industrial Museum, but these are focused events and where possible we use waste wood as one of our fuel sources. We are putting an increased emphasis on e-communications as a means of reaching our audiences rather than through increased print.

4. We encourage sustainable travel options to our sites.
Example: Providing cycle racks at all our sites and public transport information (where available). Staff cannot park at our city centre sites and travel use is restricted.

5. We are actively examining ways to reduce our energy consumption.
Example: Energy use at key sites is monitored and reported on monthly.

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Environmental Sustainability Policy - Leeds Museums & Galleries

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Leeds Museums & Galleries subscribes to the agreed Leeds City Council Environmental Policy, which is as follows: We recognise that for Leeds to become the 'Best City' we must consider the environment in everything that we do.

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Horniman Museum & Gardens: Climate and Ecology Manifesto – two years on

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Horniman Museum & Gardens: Climate and Ecology Manifesto – two years on

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A manifesto outlining the museum’s platform for action and the steps it will take to mitigate against the climate and ecological emergency.

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Climate and Ecology Manifesto - two years on - Horniman Museum and Gardens

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We published our Climate and Ecology Manifesto on 30 January 2020. Two years on, here’s how we are progressing towards our goals.

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The library has published a Net-Zero Handbook, a practical plan setting out the changes it will make to its building to reach “operational net zero” by 2030.

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Net-Zero Handbook | Glasgow Women's Library

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We're delighted to be launching our Net-Zero Handbook, a practical plan setting out the changes we will make to our building to reach "operational net zero" by 2030.

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Dundee Museum of Transport: Case study of actions

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Dundee Museum of Transport: Case study of actions

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The museum has an ambition to become Europe’s first fully carbon neutral transport museum, and has published a case study outlining the actions it is taking to achieve this.

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Dundee Museum of Transport, covering cars, bikes, buses, motorcycles and trams, is spread across three buildings in Dundee: the main museum on Market Street, the object storage facility at Seagate and the dilapidated Grade B Listed Maryfield Tram Depot that is planned to be replaced to become Europe's first fully carbon neutral transport museum, complete with displays on sustainable transport. All three buildings are undergoing changes to reach the ambitious target, and new exhibitions are being made from upcycled or recyclable materials.

Our holistic carbon management planning framework:
The new green building will include:

Ground source heating using underground pipes to extract the heat from the ground to heat the building as well as water supplies

Cycling facilities and electric car and e-bike charging ports

Exhibitions on the Future of Transport, and electric cars

Solar panels

Increased insulation

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Environmental Sustainability: Dundee Museum of Transport - Museums Galleries Scotland

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Dundee Museum of Transport, covering cars, bikes, buses, motorcycles and trams, is spread across three buildings in Dundee: the main museum on Market Street, the object storage facility at Seagate and the dilapidated Grade B Listed Maryfield Tram Depot that is planned to be replaced to become Europe's first fully carbon neutral transport museum, complete with displays on sustainable transport.

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Cornwall Museums Partnership: Green Guide for Heritage Organisations

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Cornwall Museums Partnership: Green Guide for Heritage Organisations

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A guide containing quick, easy and low-cost actions for heritage organisations that want to tackle the climate crisis together. The guide has been researched, developed and produced by a group of emerging professionals who make up the Green Museums Collective.

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Green Guide for Heritage Organisations - Cornwall Museums Partnership

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This guide contains quick, easy and low-cost actions for heritage organisations who want to tackle the climate crisis together.

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A statement outlining the steps Brunel Museum is taking to tackle the climate emergency.

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Sustainability at the Brunel Museum - Brunel Museum

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We are a small museum, but we have big aspirations. We have already made changes to how we operate to become more sustainable. We are continuing to investigate ways to further minimise our impact and make the best choices that contribute to the global transition to a net-zero carbon society.

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The Green Book is an initiative by the cultural sectors – working with sustainability experts Buro Happold, and supported by Arts Council England and the Greater London Authority – to work more sustainably. It is a free resource for everyone in the UK arts sectors. The Arts Green Book: Sustainable Buildings provides guidance for making cultural buildings sustainable.

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We're living in a climate crisis. The Green Book is an initiative by the cultural sectors - working with sustainability experts Buro Happold, and supported by Arts Council England and the GLA - to work more sustainably. The Arts Green Book : Sustainable Buildings provides guidance for making cultural buildings sustainable.

If the arts are to be part of the most vital conversation humanity faces, they have to be sustainable themselves. The Green Book sets out the path to a sustainable future.

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The Arts Green Book: Sustainable Buildings provides guidance for making cultural buildings sustainable for the future.

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Arts Council England and the Design Council: Building excellence in the cultural sector

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Arts Council England and the Design Council: Building excellence in the cultural sector

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Arts Council England and the Design Council have produced a design guide for capital projects setting out the key principles for the development of cultural buildings. The guide features a chapter on sustainability.

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Arts Council England and Design Council - Building excellence in the cultural sector guide

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ACE’s 2020-30 strategy, Let’s Create, embeds environmental responsibility as one of its four key investment principles. There is an Investment Principles Resource Hub that brings together all of the resources ACE has developed to help organisations embed the principles across their work.

Essential read: Environmental Responsibility (Arts Council England)

Investment principles: Environmental Responsibility (Arts Council England)

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Here you'll find a range of resources from across the creative and cultural sector. They're here to help you make sure your work, and the way you work, is environmentally responsible, ambitious and high quality, inclusive and relevant, and dynamic.

They aim to inspire you, share ideas and provide more information - they're not mandatory guidance.
Who is it for?
Everyone working in creativity and culture!
How can it help me?
The resources are here to help you improve the way you work and the work you produce. We think the best creative and cultural practice embodies all four principles, and if you're applying for our funding we'll be interested to know how you're embedding them in your project or organisation.
Where do I start?
Watch the animation and check out our Essential Reads. They'll give you an overview of what our Investment Principles are about.

Then you're ready to dive into the rest of the resources. Let's go!
Sharing feedback
Let us know what you think about the Investment Principles Resource Hub by completing our survey.

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Take a look at our Investment Principle resources designed to develop organisations and individual creative practice

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Roots & Branches is a collaboration between the Carbon Literacy Project, Museum Development England and Manchester Museum. It aimed to train and certify 1,500 people from 300 museums as Carbon Literate over a period of two years and give an opportunity for museums to converse, experiment and test new ideas for a more sustainable future.

One outcome of the Roots & Branches project is a carbon literacy toolkit for the museum sector, now available to all UK museums.

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Roots & Branches is a collaboration between The Carbon Literacy Project, Museum Development England and Manchester Museum, supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. It aims to train and certify 1,500 people from 300 museums as Carbon Literate over the next two years and give an opportunity for museums to converse, experiment, and test new ideas for a more sustainable future.
Project background
Roots & Branches is an ambitious, environmentally-driven partnership project between Manchester Museum, Museum Development North West and The Carbon Literacy Project.

Manchester Museum will host the 'Roots', creating a nationally significant co-working hub of cultural environmental action that will bring together museums, educators, environmentalists, artists, researchers, third sector organisations and students. This is being coordinated by an innovative new post, Environmental Action Manager, shared between Manchester Museum and The Carbon Literacy Project.

The 'Branches' of the project will create an environmentally aware and active sector, giving museums the tools to respond to 'Let's Create', Art Council England's 10-year strategy in which environmental responsibility is at the core. Over the next two years, this project will enable Museum Development England to scale up the roll-out of Carbon Literacy training across museums in England. A new online Carbon Literacy for Museums Toolkit is now available and free to access by all museums in the UK.

The launch of Roots & Branches coincided with the COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference in November 2021 when The Carbon Literacy Project saw the most people Carbon Literacy trained on that day than ever before.

From 9 th August to 12 th November 2021, on the run up to and during COP26, a social media campaign ran for all museums to join in with, showcasing how the museum sector is responding to the climate crisis. The #MuseumCarbonStories campaign had a schedule of weekly themes linked to environmental sustainability that participating museums respond to over the 14 weeks. To see some highlights of the campaign, visit: https://museumdevelopmentnorthwest.wordpress.com/2021/11/12/taking-action-against-climate-change-museumcarbonstories-highlights/
What is the Carbon Literacy for Museums Toolkit?
Carbon Literacy training is a tried and tested model of delivery that gives delegates a deeper understanding of the climate crisis and how they, as individuals and workers, can accelerate their action to respond to the climate crisis.

The Carbon Literacy for Museums Toolkit has been designed with museum staff and volunteers in mind, and will empower all museum workers to enact significant, achievable change within their workplace to reduce carbon emissions, and to use their platforms to positively influence their audiences and communities.

The Toolkit contains a day's worth of learning and action planning, and has been co-created, reviewed, and piloted alongside a panel of museums and organisations in the sector, ensuring it is a practical and relevant resource to support your museum's environmental responsibility goals. It consists of a Slide Deck; a comprehensive Trainer Manual; activity resources; a 'Getting Started' pack; a pre-recorded video to support delivery; and a post-training resource document for learners. The Toolkit has the flexibility to be adapted for your local area, using local environmental data and case studies.

The Toolkit will be adapted for a face-to-face delivery model in Spring 2022 of the project. Museum Development teams across England will also deliver regional training courses for Accredited non-National museums with the support of a new Museum Carbon Literacy Officer post.
How do I find out more about the Toolkit?
The Toolkit is now available to all museums in the UK for free** via The Carbon Literacy Project. To find out more about the Toolkit, what it contains and for sector testimonials, head over to the Museums pages of The Carbon Literacy Project's website: https://carbonliteracy.com/toolkits/museums/
How can I access the Toolkit and training?
For people working and volunteering in Accredited non-national museums in England, including freelancers, there will be opportunities to attend free Carbon Literacy* courses delivered by your regional Museum Development provider. There will also be additional support to help you roll out the training in your own organisation through Train the Trainer workshops delivered by the Museum Carbon Literacy Officer at Museum Development North West.

Information about your local Museum Development Provider can be found here: https://mduk.org.uk/md-providers/

All museums in the UK will be able to access the Toolkit for free** from the 24 th January via The Carbon Literacy Project website. You can use the content to schedule and run your own training sessions for your workforce. For more information and to access the Toolkit, visit: https://carbonliteracy.com/toolkits/museums/

* Carbon Literacy is an adaptable framework for a day's worth of practical training on how to best contribute to tackling the climate crisis.

**Learner certification fees apply, generally £10 per learner. The training materials are free to use by museums and their approved training providers for the purposes of certified Carbon Literacy training. Museum Development teams may cover the cost of delegate certification of courses they run. Check with your provider.

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Roots and Branches - Museum Development Network

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Roots & Branches is a collaboration between The Carbon Literacy Project, Museum Development England and Manchester Museum, supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. It aims to train and certify 1,500 people from 300 museums as Carbon Literate over the next two years and give an opportunity for museums to converse, experiment, and test new ideas for a more sustainable future.

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Gallery Climate Coalition: Carbon Calculator

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Gallery Climate Coalition: Carbon Calculator

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The GCC Carbon Calculator is a free online tool for estimating the greenhouse gas emissions of art organisations and projects.

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Measure the carbon emissions of your art organisation or project

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Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios: Carbon Review Tool

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Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios: Carbon Review Tool

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This architectural practice has produced a free carbon review tool designed to estimate the whole life carbon of a building to inform decisions prior to detailed design. This makes potential carbon impacts clear to the client, architect and the design team from the outset of the process.

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International Institute for Conservation (IIC): Nothing is Stable

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International Institute for Conservation (IIC): Nothing is Stable

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The IIC brought together members and colleagues around the world during Cop26 to produce this film showing the work of conservators from Sudan to Egypt, UK to India and Antarctica. It demonstrates both the peril our cultural heritage faces from the climate emergency and the steps the conservation profession is taking to address it.

In addition, the April/May 2022 issue of News in Conservation focused on sustainability and climate action in conservation.

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InsightX: A guide to funding cultural institutions in the climate crisis

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InsightX: A guide to funding cultural institutions in the climate crisis

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A guide to help institutions navigate fundraising and protect themselves against reputational damage from corporate sponsorship and fundraising, as well as donations and borrowing from private individuals.

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A guide to funding cultural institutions in the climate crisis

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InsightX has produced a guide on how arts and cultural organisations tackling the climate crisis can protect their reputations when seeking corporate sponsorship or donations and evaluating borrowing artefacts.

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University of the Arts London (UAL): Collections Action Group

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University of the Arts London (UAL): Collections Action Group

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Staff working across UAL’s collections have formed a group to mobilise climate action. The group has collated resources for the museum and archive sectors on the collaborative platform Padlet, which can be hosted or updated on any website. The resources are listed under the following headings:

Activism

Collecting

Declaring an emergency

Processes and practices

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Climate Action Plan case study: Collections combatting the Climate Crisis

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We've set up a Collections Action Group on Intersectional Environmentalism. We did this because curators, archivists and librarians from across the university wanted to challenge themselves to be more sustainable.

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Launched by the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (Iccrom), this project aims to accelerate, increase and amplify activity in support of sustainable development through use, development and conservation of heritage collections. It is aligned with the UN’s sustainable development goals and will provide practical tools and resources for collections-based institutions.

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OCM Field Testing
at Nayong Pilipino Foundation

Our Collections Matter (OCM) is a new initiative launched by ICCROM in 2020 to accelerate, increase, and amplify activities that support sustainable development, through the use, development, and conservation of heritage collections. It does so by adopting a “3T” strategy: tools, training, and transformation.

Society faces many serious social and environmental challenges – climate change, loss of biodiversity, inequality between and within countries, poverty, and intolerance. These challenges must be addressed for people and nature to thrive.

Heritage collections can contribute to a sustainable future in a significant way, but not without scaling up our efforts to more effectively connect them with the challenges we see around us. Many collections-based organizations are interested in doing this but are not sure where to start or what tools to use. It is time to act, together!

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Our Collections Matter (OCM) is a new initiative launched by ICCROM in 2020 to accelerate, increase, and amplify activities that support sustainable...

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Network of European Museum Organisations (Nemo): Museums in the Climate Crisis

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Network of European Museum Organisations (Nemo): Museums in the Climate Crisis

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Published in 2022, this Nemo report details the results of a survey of museums from 38 countries across Europe on how they are addressing the climate emergency. The report outlines seven recommendations on how the sector can support a sustainable transition.

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National Museum Directors’ Council (NMDC): Green Museums – Tackling the Climate Crisis

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National Museum Directors’ Council (NMDC): Green Museums – Tackling the Climate Crisis

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NMDC has produced a guide demonstrating the many different ways that museums are responding to the climate emergency. The report presents case studies from museums within the NMDC membership across three themes: research, public engagement and greening estates and operations.

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Green Museums: Tackling the Climate Crisis

Green Museums: Tackling the Climate Crisis demonstrates the many different ways that museums are responding to the climate emergency.

The report presents case studies from museums within the NMDC membership across three themes: research, public engagement and greening estates and operations.

Museums use their collections, including extensive natural history and science collections, to conduct research which makes a huge contribution to fighting the climate crisis.

Programmes and exhibitions inform audiences about environmental issues and inspire them to take positive action.

Museums are reviewing their operations to reduce the environmental impacts of all activities. They are addressing this challenge using new technologies and implementing green solutions across their sites.

Download the report in full here.
Below are a selection of additional case studies which further exemplify the work museums are undertaking to address the climate crisis under the themes of research, public engagement and greening operations.
Image Caption: image taken by Maeve Cushla from Lights Out for Darker Skies exhibition, raising awareness of light pollution ©PK Porthcurno

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Green Museums: Tackling The Climate Crisis - National Museum Directors' Council Website

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Green Museums: Tackling the Climate Crisis demonstrates the many different ways that museums are responding to the climate emergency. The report presents case studies from museums within the NMDC membership across three themes: research, public engagement and greening estates and operations.

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Museums Galleries Scotland has developed a range of climate action resources, including case studies and toolkits.

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An alliance that unites a global community of museum professionals and cultural institutions in the fight to remain below +1.5°C of global heating. The alliance lists actions and local groups on its website.

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This project was developed as the AHRC Heritage Priority Area contribution to COP26, with an international competition in 2020 resulting in an exhibition at Glasgow Science Centre before and during COP26. The project developed the following resources:

The Mobilising Museums for Climate Action toolkit to help museums to understand, plan, deliver and communicate climate action.

A website with a range of inspirational concepts of possible museums, as well as links to organisations and networks, and other resources to support climate action.

An open-access book, Reimagining Museums for Climate Action, which is an extended catalogue of the exhibition.

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Exhibition and design and ideas competition to rethink and reimagine museums as catalysts for climate action.

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Museum Freecycle is a group for UK museums to exchange exhibition build items and other museum-specific materials for free in order to reduce the environmental footprint of the industry.

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An international community of interest that shares ideas and inspiration about addressing the challenges of the climate crisis.

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As councils work to deliver net zero carbon by 2050, the LGA has launched a climate change resource hub offering an overview of the support it offers, and relevant events, publications and examples of best practice.

The LGA has also published a sustainable procurement toolkit for commissioners, procurement practitioners and contract managers to help them deliver local environmental, economic and social priorities.

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We are the national voice of local government, working with councils to support, promote and improve

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Ki Culture is a global organisation dedicated to creating actionable steps to make culture and heritage a leader moving towards a sustainable future. Ki Books offers step-by-step guides on implementing sustainable changes within cultural practitioners’ day-to-day practices, themed on waste and materials, social sustainability and energy.

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Who We Are

We are the bridge between culture and sustainability - the full-time dedicated resource for solving problems, building partnerships and creating a better future. We are cultural professionals who believe in sustainability and see culture's potential to inspire the rest of the world to create meaningful change.

Ki Futures

Culture holds the key to a sustainable future. Ki Futures is an accredited training program, network and set of tools, to help you make it happen.

Ki Books

Download our FREE step-by-step guides which show how simple it is to implement sustainable changes today.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking "Accept", you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Read More

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We are the bridge between culture and sustainability - the full-time dedicated resource for solving problems, building partnerships and creating a better future. We are cultural professionals who believe in sustainability and see culture's potential to inspire the rest of the world to create meaningful change.

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Julie’s Bicycle is a non-profit mobilising the arts and cultural sectors to take action on the climate and ecological crisis. A range of resources are available on its website, including its guide for museums and heritage on taking creative climate action.

The organisation has also produced the Museums Environmental Framework resource, building on the environmental practice and leadership of a vital part of the UK’s cultural sector.

Julie’s Bicycle has also launched the Creative Climate Justice Hub, a dynamic library of climate justice resources curated for the arts and culture community.

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Historic England: Research magazine, climate change special issue

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Historic England: Research magazine, climate change special issue

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The magazine’s 2021 special issue presents some of the ways in which Historic England and partners are working to help better understand and respond to the challenges of the climate crisis.

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A video exploring how cultural heritage institutions, researchers, practitioners, civil society actors and policymakers are responding to the climate emergency, and how might they achieve more integrated and radical action. Visit the website for more.

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Powering climate action through heritage policies, organisations, research and public programmes

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The programme for EU side events at COP26 is now available at https://cop26eusideevents.euWhether you're planning a trip to Glasgow or joining us online, the...

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The Happy Museum Project supports museum practice that places wellbeing within an environmental and future-facing frame, rethinking the role that museums can play in creating more resilient people, places and planet. Its website features a suite of resources and case studies.

The project has also produced a series of online conversations on the theme No Going Back.

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An environmental sustainability network that facilitates knowledge sharing and collaboration across organisations and sectors. The network’s website features a range of case studies.

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Curating Tomorrow, a consultancy that works with museums to develop their response to the climate and environmental crises, has produced a series of free publications and resources. Actions for Climate Empowerment was published in April 2022.

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Culture Declares Emergency is a growing movement of people in arts and culture declaring a climate and ecological emergency. The movement pledges to tell truths, take action and seek justice.

The Culture Takes Action toolkit is aimed at practitioners and organisations in the arts, heritage and design sectors, outlining a three-stage process to develop a policy and action plan in response to the emergency.

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Culture Declares Emergency - Culture declares a climate and ecological emergency

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Culture Declares Emergency are a growing movement of people in arts and culture declaring a climate and ecological emergency. We pledge to tell truths, take action and seek justice.

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Creative Carbon Scotland works with individuals, organisations and strategic bodies engaged across cultural and sustainability sectors to harness the role of culture in tackling the climate crisis. Through year-round work and one-off projects, it offers a range of programmes supporting the development of artistic practices that address sustainability and climate change.

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Coalition of Museums for Climate Justice

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Coalition of Museums for Climate Justice

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The Coalition of Museums for Climate Justice is an international network that aims to build museums’ capacity to promote awareness, mitigation and resilience in the face of climate change. The organisation has a range of free resources on its website.

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Climate Outreach seeks to effectively engage people with climate change, communicating the complex issue in ways that resonate with their sense of identity, values and worldview. Informed consent and support from people across society and around the world creates what they call a social mandate for climate action. They’ve released resources including:

Theory of change – creating a social mandate for climate action, a report setting out why broad-based public engagement in climate action is so important.

Communicating climate justice with young adults in Europe, a report on how young people across Europe understand and respond to climate justice messaging.

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Climate Outreach works with people and organisations to help create new climate stories. Every year, we work with hundreds of partners - from charities to governments to business - to help them navigate difficult climate conversations and unlock more ambitious climate action.

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Climate Museum UK is an experimental museum that curates and gathers responses to the Earth crisis. A collective of creatives from across the UK, the museum organises activations to help people play, create and talk about the crisis. It opens imaginations to possible futures, and builds skills to engage others with these issues.

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A membership organisation with a digital network covering topics such as the role of arts, culture and heritage in decarbonisation, and promoting climate solidarity. The network has produced an advocacy guide to help heritage organisations strengthen their advocacy to a range of audiences, including peers, workplace leaders and policymakers.

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At the heart of this resource is the belief that anyone can be an advocate. The Advocacy Guide provides tips to strengthen your advocacy to a range of audiences, including peers, workplace leaders, and policymakers. It can be used by cultural heritage professionals, students, volunteers, and anyone else with passion for the role of culture in climate action.

For those already doing this work, this Advocacy Guide can help you take the next step towards amplifying their message. It can help form an approach to connect your ideas, research results, and recommended actions with others - within the Sector and beyond.

The Advocacy Guide is supplemented with additional resources. Use the Climate Heritage Mission Statement to help form the backbone of your advocacy approach. The Resource mapping and analysis carried out by the working group assessed currently available climate heritage resources with a focus on their intended audiences and main call to action.

Use these materials to help add an engagement, communication, and advocacy element to your work.

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Communicating Climate Heritage Toolkit - Climate Heritage Network

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At the heart of this resource is the belief that anyone can be an advocate. The Advocacy Guide provides tips to strengthen your advocacy to a range of audiences, including peers, workplace leaders, and policymakers. It can be used by cultural heritage professionals, students, volunteers, and anyone else with passion for the role of culture in climate action.

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UK Sport: EDI and sustainability procurement guide

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UK Sport: EDI and sustainability procurement guide

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UK Sport has produced this guide to set out its expectations of suppliers and its commitment to EDI and sustainable procurement. The guide includes an EDI and sustainability questionnaire that must be completed to a satisfactory standard for any for company to be considered for any quote or to tender for a UK Sport contract.

While this guidance is not museum sector specific, it provides a useful framework for museums.

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We will be providing training dates over the year, to complete a sports-specific Carbon Literacy toolkit. This will cover climate change, why it’s relevant and how you can take action.

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Julie’s Bicycle: The journey to selecting more sustainable suppliers with Metal Culture

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Julie’s Bicycle: The journey to selecting more sustainable suppliers with Metal Culture

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Julie’s Bicycle has featured a case study on its website from Metal Culture, an arts organisation that has pledged to look into the impact of its suppliers. The case study provides an approach to selecting more sustainable suppliers.

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Metal Culture's journey to selecting more sustainable suppliers

Making environmental commitment
Metal Culture is an arts organisation with three sites across the UK. All of our buildings had a previous use and two are grade II listed. Until pledging to take action in our environmental policy in October 2020, we were not looking at all at the impact of our suppliers on our sustainability targets as an organisation. Since making a pledge to look at the impact of suppliers, we have introduced decision making matrices into our project planning.

The decision making matrix

This is a simple table style form, which weighs up the different impacts against choosing more energy efficient suppliers. This is structured to encompass different themes of procurement: energy, travel, waste, food and materials.

Although we have long-term leases with each of our buildings, we don't own them. This means that we are limited in the direct negotiations we can enter into around Scope 1 energy use. In Liverpool, we work from Edge Hill Station, which is a Network Rail property. We do not choose the service provider for our utilities. However, we are currently in negotiation regarding our gas supply (which has recently been affected by a gas leak) and converting that supply to electric. Similarly, through our work with SHIFT network (a sustainability network of 60 Liverpool based cultural organisations), both small and big organisations have highlighted the difficulty in making a difference when you don't have autonomy over your energy supplier.

Since March 2022, we have been working closely with Ecotricity, renewable energy suppliers, to begin conversations with the cultural sector to move over to them. We know of one organisation that has invested in solar panels through their support. The cost is larger with Ecotricity but the compromise offered to the network is enhanced customer service benefits and dedicated officers in the organisation, as well as PR opportunities. We had hoped that the collective buying power of a consortium of organisations could produce a favourable deal with a green energy supplier, but as yet this has not been realised due to the varying landlord relationships and mixed tenures of buildings.

Although we haven't entered directly into negotiations with suppliers, we have many examples of how making a pledge to reduce our carbon emissions has resulted in our work having a wider impact. Following our relationship with the LCEI (Liverpool's Low Carbon Eco-Innovatory), we have reduced emissions through our staff travel; being flexible to staff members working from home and encouraging staff to shift habits and walk or use public transport more. Our marketing campaigns and partnerships also strongly promote sustainable transport. For example, during the Estuary festival in Southend we secured partnerships with C2C and Southeastern railway companies and worked hard to promote sustainable forms of travel. The resulting statistics show that a high proportion of audiences travelled using public transport/walking despite the ongoing Covid restrictions during May/June 2021: 49% of our audiences travelled to the festival using a combination of public transport, cycling and walking, 21% used rail or bus, 41% cycled or arrived on foot.

One of the main impacts of beginning this work is that we now factor in more time to avoid last-minute spending, which results in having to use inefficient online services, and fast delivery options. Instead, we regularly choose to shop locally or spend more time sourcing suppliers with green credentials. Allowing for longer project planning stages meaning we can factor in a negotiation stage and the potential for waiting longer for a delivery. We regularly cook food as part of our programme, since 2019, we have moved to an exclusively vegetarian menu. To do this, we have sourced several local supermarkets and caterers, which also source food locally. We have also stopped using disposable cups/cutlery and re-use plastic containers for any leftovers.

For our Scope 2 energy use, we have reduced desktop computer use on site, switching to laptops, and choosing refurbished models when hardware needs replacing. We also requested LED lighting for some recent building improvement works. We switched from Biffa to Emerge recycling for our waste disposal. Emerge offered to recycle soft plastic, paper, tetrapak, and metal materials for recycling, which was not provided by Biffa.

The artists we work with are a driving force behind us considering different approaches and suppliers. For example, Ross Dalziel, a recent residency artist created a prototype bio-plastic from materials widely available online. The workshop aim was to share with the wider public the methods of growing your own bio-plastic. Ross undertook research to source all these materials within the North West. This has led us to explore the use of sustainable materials for exhibitions and future artwork production.

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The journey to selecting more sustainable suppliers with Metal Culture - Julie's Bicycle

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Metal Culture is an arts organisation with three sites across the UK. All of our buildings had a previous use and two are grade II listed. Until pledging to take action in our environmental policy in October 2020, we were not looking at all at the impact of our suppliers on our sustainability targets as an organisation.

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Bristol+Bath Creative R+D: Creative Climate Action Checklist

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Bristol+Bath Creative R+D: Creative Climate Action Checklist

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This toolkit is aimed at small creative SMEs, organisations, collectives, businesses and freelancers to support their climate action journey. Section 5 focuses on procurement, materials and waste.

It is the outcome of a series of interviews and workshops with a broad range of small creative practitioners and businesses in the Watershed and Pervasive Media Studio community.

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The Creative Climate Action Tool Kit is for small creative businesses, SMEs, freelancers, and organisations to support their climate action journey.

Most of us want to act and do our bit, but the climate crisis can feel totally overwhelming - we can feel like we have to be an expert to talk about it, like what we do won't make a lick of difference or feel paralysed at the scale of change needed.

And further, most resources for climate action in the creative sector are geared towards larger creative and cultural venues, organisations and entities who have buildings, large staff sizes, regular income, exec groups and boards. This doesn't represent a large proportion of our thriving creative sector in the South-West. For smaller and more dynamic creative entities, the challenges and opportunities are totally different and require smaller scale, more flexible approaches.

This tool kit is the outcome of a series of interviews and workshops with a broad range of small creative practitioners and businesses in the Watershed and Pervasive Media Studio community - and is geared towards creatives wanting to be more environmentally responsible within their practice but are unsure of where to start. The Tool Kit includes:

1. Creative Climate Action Video: This video gives an overview of key principles which help make the task of climate action feel more achievable and exciting, and breaks down different pathways to action. Laying out the unique barriers and opportunities for smaller creative practitioners and businesses, it suggests a guided exercise to help map and prioritise which actions to take forward.

2. Creative Climate Action Worksheet: This is a worksheet to be used in accompaniment with the guided exercise, to help structure thinking and map ideas generation.

3. Creative Climate Action Checklist: This can be used in tandem with the guided exercise or entirely on its own. It introduces 6 action areas: Buildings & Energy, Digital, Finance, Travel & Touring, Materials and Waste, and People. For each of these, it has a list of action prompts (sourced from different small creative entities through workshops and conversations) and a directory of tools and resources that can provide more information or support further action.

Take time to watch the video and go through the checklist. If you have any thoughts or feedback, don't hesitate to contact zoe.r@watershed.co.uk.

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Creative Climate Action Tool Kit - Bristol + Bath Creative R&D

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Climate Action Researcher, Zoe Rasbash, shares her Creative Climate Action Toolkit, designed by and for creative SME's. This toolkit enables creatives organisations and freelancers to assess and act when working towards more sustainable business practices.

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The National Maritime Museum features a page in its online shop dedicated to sustainable products.

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Reduce, reuse and recycle: shop our carefully curated collection of eco-friendly gifts including reusable bamboo kitchen items and toys, products made from plastic or sustainable materials, and plastic-free toys. This range of environmentally friendly sustainable gifts has been created to help reduce the waste we all create and protect our planet.

Learn more from climate experts about the consequences of the climate crisis and discover what you can do to protect the planet and reduce your environmental footprint with our selection of insightful books.

We ship online orders using no additional single-use plastics. Our postal packaging is 100% recyclable and, where possible, is made from recycled materials.

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Buy Eco-friendly, sustainable gifts | Royal Museums Greenwich Shop

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Discover ocean and planet friendly gift ideas. These items are made from environmentally friendly, sustainable material or recycled plastic. Free UK shipping over £50. Every purchase supports Royal Museums Greenwich.

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National Maritime Museum: Our Ocean, Our Planet

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National Maritime Museum: Our Ocean, Our Planet

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An online hub hosted to explore ocean issues, the climate crisis and our changing relationship with the sea. The hub combines scientific research with the latest developments in art and relevant discoveries from its collections.

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Scientists, artists and communities come together at the National Maritime Museum to highlight ocean issues and conservation success stories. Will you join them?

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Culture sector consultancy Indigo researched audience attitudes towards the role of cultural organisations and their communities in tackling the climate crisis.

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Sponsored by Supercool, this sector wide research took place throughout July, with 86 organisations gathering 17,500 responses. The report published today explores the role of cultural organisations and their audiences in tackling the climate crisis.

The 17,500 survey responses told us that:

87% of cultural audiences are worried about the climate crisis and 93% have made changes to their lifestyle to help tackle it.

Audiences and visitors think organisations are not doing enough or feel that they are not communicating what they are doing effectively. 77% of think cultural organisations have a responsibility to influence society to make radical change in response to the climate emergency.

Younger respondents are even more likely to think organisations have a responsibility to influence society to address the climate emergency.

Audience members have high expectations of cultural organisations. 93% expect organisations to ensure their buildings are as energy efficient as possible, while 94% expect organisations to be reducing and recycling waste.

3 in 4 audiences want information from organisations about how they can act more sustainably. 66% want more information about how to travel sustainably.

Audiences and visitors want to play their part to help organisations fulfil their sustainability goals but need information and infrastructure to help them do that.

Results webinar: Watch again

On 11 September 2023, we presented the results of Act Green on a Supercool Session, attended by nearly 200 people from across the sector. The speakers were:

Kate Mroczkowski - Strategy Director, Supercool

Katy Raines - CEO, Indigo Ltd

Flo Carr - Associate Director, Indigo Ltd

Catrin John - Arts Consultant and MSc student in sustainability and behaviour change

Methodology

Cultural organisations in the UK, including theatres, arts centres, festivals, touring companies, museums and galleries, were invited to participate in the Act Green research. The research was open to all cultural organisations in the UK, and it was free for organisations to take part.

Organisations were each provided with a unique link to send out to a recommended sample of around 3,000 - 5,000 of their previous attenders. They were provided with a link to see the results from their own organisation in real time, and the results from all organisations were then aggregated to form the baseline data set.

The survey ran throughout July 2023 and during that month, 17,479 complete responses were gathered through 86 cultural organisations.
Indigo CEO Katy Raines says:
"The results of this year's Act Green clearly show what audiences and visitors perceive the role of cultural organisations to be in tackling the climate emergency. They have high expectations for what organisations should be doing to reduce their own carbon emissions, and how they should be facilitating conversations and inspiring action in their communities.

"There is a challenge for organisations to effectively communicate what they're doing and engage audiences to help them reach their sustainability goals through provision of information and infrastructure.

"We are so grateful to the 86 cultural organisations who took part in Act Green 2023, and to research sponsors Supercool whose sponsorship meant we could offer the research free to the sector.

"This was a collective effort, and we hope the results will benefit the whole sector."

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this sector wide research took place throughout july

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500 responses. the report published today explores the role of cultural…

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Act Green 2023: Report released | Indigo

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The results of Act Green 2023 are ready to view.

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The 2021 experimental exhibition explored how museums can have a positive impact on the environment by encouraging people to make sustainable decisions. The museum worked with a consultant in environmental behaviour change and to research what effect the exhibition had on visitors.

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A touring exhibition which displays a collection of publicly-donated water and tells stories of the people and places it comes from with a focus on raising environmental awareness.

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Museum of Water is a collection of publicly donated water and accompanying stories. This is an invitation to ponder our precious liquid and how we use it

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Design Museum - Exhibition Design for Our Time

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Design Museum: Exhibition Design for Our Time guide

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Design Museum: Exhibition Design for Our Time guide

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The Exhibition Design for Our Time guide examines the opportunities for reducing impact across areas including shipping and transport, programming, design and construction, materials, communications and energy use. It includes a link to the carbon calculator/impact model developed by the Design Museum to make decisions, measure and reduce the carbon impact of temporary and touring exhibitions.

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Design Museum - Exhibition Design for Our Time

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Waste Age was an exhibition which explored how the design industry has contributed to creating an extractive throwaway culture but also how design can – and must – help to find less wasteful ways to live and consume. The show also considered how to design exhibitions to be less wasteful.

See also the exhibition case study by Teo.

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We are living in the age of waste. Is design the answer to leaving our throwaway culture behind?

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Natural History Museum: Urban Nature Project

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Natural History Museum: Urban Nature Project

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With partners across the UK, this community engagement project aims to give people the motivation and tools they need to safeguard nature in urban spaces. The museum is transforming its own gardens into a biologically diverse green space.

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Our five-acre site in South Kensington has been transformed into a welcoming, accessible and biologically diverse green space in the heart of London.

Our gardens are place for people to learn about the diversity of life on Earth and how our planet is changing over time. They also showcase our scientific research.

A living laboratory

The Urban Nature Project is developing new scientific tools and skills urgently needed to monitor, understand and protect urban nature.

Our gardens are a hub for urban nature identification and field survey skills. We're piloting a range of technologies for monitoring change in urban environments, including eDNA and acoustic monitoring, where an array of recorders will listen to the gardens, pond, soil and even inside the trees.

We're also developing a new public-facing biodiversity and environmental monitoring data ecosystem to help capture, share and interpret urban nature data.

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We're working in partnership across the UK to help communities connect with nature in their towns and cities and to develop new scientific tools to monitor wildlife.

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Horniman Museum & Gardens: Environment Champions Community

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Horniman Museum & Gardens: Environment Champions Community

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A community group that suggests activities people can do from home, at the museum or in their local community, to help them take action in their daily life.

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Joining the ECC

The ECC is free to join.

Follow the Horniman on Facebook every Friday to find out what's happening locally, link up with other people, and share what you are doing. This can be anything from community action days to tips for saving energy.

You can also sign up to our mailing list to receive a newsletter all about events, projects and initiatives at the Horniman Museum and Gardens linked to our Climate and Ecology Manifesto. Just go to our mailing list sign up page, enter your contact details and select the 'Environment Champions Community resources and activities'.

What can I expect to do when I join the ECC?

We will suggest activities you can do from home, at the Horniman or in your local community, to help you to take action in your daily life.

Activities could include:

Finding out how to support pollinators

Reducing plastic pollution with easy swaps

Cooking a meat free meal

There will also be a series of events throughout the year, from litter picks to workshops.

Each one of us can make small positive changes in our day to day lives to take care of the environment.

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Environment Champions Community - Horniman Museum and Gardens

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We are local people sharing ideas to help the environment and tackle climate change in our day-to-day lives.

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Glasgow Museums: Scenes from Our Climate

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Glasgow Museums: Scenes from Our Climate

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A Smartify tour through the museum service’s paintings collection, to discuss the impacts of climate change and how these are reflected in the artworks.

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Join Glasgow Museums in a tour through our paintings collection, to discuss the impact...

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Art UK: Climate change and environmental learning resources

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Art UK: Climate change and environmental learning resources

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A round-up for teachers showcasing learning resources from across Art UK's partner collections in order to raise awareness and champion change.

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From the energy we use to what we eat, wear and throw away, human activity has a huge impact on our environment. The damage caused by climate change and issues such as pollution and waste affects everyone, but its impact will be felt most by children and young people. In 2021 a global survey led by Bath University showed that nearly 60% of young people are worried about climate change.

We've gathered a selection of learning resources from our partner museums, galleries and art collections around the UK which help explain and provide suggestions for creative ways of investigating and responding to climate change and the ecological emergency, with your students.

British Council resources: climate change, plastics, pollution, and zero waste

The British Council's Connecting Classrooms website has a range of useful resources for primary and secondary-age students that can be used in the classroom or at home. Learn about the journey of plastic objects from land to sea and the damage they cause, investigate air pollution in your local town, and discover which countries produce the most waste and who is best at recycling. Explore activities for raising awareness and taking action against climate change.
Resources for primary students: Climate action and rising sea levels Zero Waste - tackling climate change Resources for secondary students: Clean Air - tackling pollution Life Below Water - tackling plastic pollution
Resources from Kew on ecology and climate change

The Royal Botanic gardens at Kew's resources are designed for home or classroom learning. The resources for primary and secondary students explore themes such as how we can tackle biodiversity loss and threats to temperate plants caused by climate change, as well as food sustainability and tackling world hunger.
Download Kew's learning resources from their website
Climate scientists warn that rising temperatures and global warming will cause irreversible damage to the environment. We have until 2030 to limit global temperature rises to 1.5˚c and prevent extreme weather conditions from impacting the lives of millions of people.

Explore climate change and pollution with Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales

Find inspiration on practical ways to bring the challenges facing nature to life, with these resources from Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales. Investigate the journey of carbon in the environment, and research and design games that explore the impact of climate change on different species. Find out about air pollution and investigate how toxins, pesticides, and particulate matter impact nature.
Visit the Museum website and download their EXPLORE: Climate Change pack Visit the Museum website to download their EXPLORE: Pollution pack
Be inspired by an early environmentalist with The William Morris Society Youth Forum

You may have heard of William Morris as a designer, but did you know that he was also an early environmentalist? His novel News from Nowhere imagines a utopian future and his wallpaper and textile designs drew upon nature to provide people with a deeper connection to the natural world.

The Youth Forum at The William Morris Society imagined what their local area could look like in the future and created artworks inspired by Morris to encourage people to live more eco-friendly lifestyles.

They also produced a zine that addresses the environmental crisis, encourages people to live more sustainably, and aims to mobilise a movement of climate activists inspired by William Morris and the wider Arts and Crafts movement.
Visit The William Morris Society website to explore the Youth Forum project Browse the zine "The earth and the growth of it and the life of it!"
What a load of rubbish!... plastic in our oceans

Did you know that around 10 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean every year? Decades of poor waste management and overuse of single-use plastics have damaged our seas and their marine life.

Through the Horniman Museum's World Ocean's Day resources for primary students, you can find out more about the damage caused to marine life by plastics and discover activities for learning about what we can do to help save our oceans.
Visit the Horniman Museum's website to see their Nature Challenge: World Ocean's Day resources Watch the Horniman Museum's home learning resource Turtle Trouble
The climate explored and explained with the Science Museum

From hands-on activities to videos of panel discussions for young learners, the Science Museum has a wealth of resources to support primary and secondary students in exploring and explaining the relationship between the natural environment and human activity.
Explore the Science Museum's climate resources and activities
Recycling is one of the ways that we can reduce waste, and creativity is key to building a more sustainable world.

Find out how things that people throw away can be re-used with these resources from the V&A and Tate.

V&A resources

This short V&A video looks at how rubbish can be made into something to sit on!
Watch the V&A's video Sitting on Recycling
Discover blog articles on the V&A's website and find out how designers are looking at how to reuse and recycle things that would normally be thrown away: from coming up with new materials to make things, to investigating how fashion can be more sustainable.

And have a go! Join the sustainable fashion revolution by making a stylish bag from recycled textiles.

These resources are suitable for Key Stage 4 / CfE Senior Phase or lifelong learners or could be used for ideas in planning lessons.
Read this V&A blog about recycling old into new Find out how fashion can be more sustainable in this blog article Circular Fashion Make your own: Japanese 'Boro' bag
Tate Kids making activities

It's time to dig into your recycling bin - you never know what useful treasures are there...

Visit the Tate Kids website to find out how to re-use the stuff that you've thrown away and make fun things! The activities are suitable for primary age children and can be easily done at home.
Make a robot Make a junky funky sculpture Discover artworks made from recycled materials
Be inspired! Take a look at sculptures from museums, galleries and art collections around the UK that are made from recycled materials.

What could you make from things that are thrown away?

The final section of this Round-up resource provides activity suggestions for exploring, enjoying, and sustaining our environment.

Find projects for encouraging wildlife, growing plants, and building a weathervane. Explore how artists have pictured the world around us and discover activities for making art outdoors.
Nature boxes
Make a nature box with this activity from Elgin Museum. Find out more about the bits and pieces that you pick up when you are out in nature and create your own museum display! This activity is suitable for primary years students and would make a great family activity.
Download the Nature Boxes resource from Elgin Museum Make a bird feeder
This activity from New Art Gallery Walsall is designed to educate primary years students on the importance of seasons for animals and plants and to help identify garden birds.
Visit the New Art Gallery Walsall's website to download the resource Gardening-themed activities
Find out how to build a weathervane or re-use plastic bottles as self-watering plant pots with these hands-on gardening and weather-themed activities from Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales. The activities for primary age students are perfect to try at home or in the classroom.
Explore the Spring Bulbs for Schools activity pack Explore outdoor spaces with learning activities

Motivate learners to engage with our natural heritage with these 10 simple challenges from the National Galleries of Scotland. They can be used in any outdoor space with any age group.
Explore the National Galleries of Scotland's outdoor learning challenges Make an outdoor sculpture
Inspired by the sculptures of artist Andy Goldsworthy, Jupiter Artland has created this brilliant resource for making a sculpture from the natural materials around us.
Download the Notes from Jupiter: Found Art - Andy Goldsworthy activity Our world in pictures
This Britsih Council resource for primary age students suggests ways of getting creative in exploring the theme of 'My World' through the work of contemporary artists.
Visit the British Council website to explore the resource A World in Pictures

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Climate change and the environment resources | Art UK

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From the energy we use to what we eat, wear and throw away, human activity has a huge impact on our environment. The damage caused by climate change and issues such as pollution and waste affects everyone, but its impact will be felt most by children and young people.