Climate Action in the Arts

The world is facing a climate emergency that requires immediate and collective action.

The findings of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change are clear: we must cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2030 to guard against the impacts of climate destruction.

The art sector can take immediate and impactful climate action to shift the paradigm towards a climate-conscious, resilient, and equitable future.

Climate Action Basics

The specifics of what makes sense for Climate Action in the art sector can vary between galleries, museums, nonprofits, art studios, and institutions. A few basic principles remain the same though. If you are looking at getting started with implementing Climate Action, here are some good first steps.

  1. Understand your emissions.

    • Check out tips for decarbonization from Gallery Climate Coalition.

    • Start to track emissions. You can start with three key areas: Travel (especially flights), shipping, and building energy.

    • Do this each year and set reduction targets.

  2. Minimize Waste.

    • Set waste reduction priorities: implement waste management plans in advance of exhibitions; allow for time for responsible sourcing; participate in circular material platforms like Barder.art; avoid toxic and single use materials entirely.

    • Plan ahead and slow down exhibition turnover.

  3. Support Workers.

    • Ask your team what they need in order to feel supported to take climate action.

    • Make climate action part of all new job descriptions.

    • Ensure supportive work environments: pay transparent living wages; maintain reasonable work hours; support DEI initiatives; provide quality healthcare; provide climate responsible choices at work like low waste food + beverage options, low carbon commute incentives, and fossil fuel divested 401K plans.

  4. Build Community.

    • Contribute to movement building in the sector by aligning with initiatives by PACT organizations and connecting with others in the art sector to collaborate and support each other with climate action.

    • Connect to local community mutual aid and climate justice initiatives.

Resources

Art Sector Climate Action:

  • For examples of Climate Action plans taken by a range of art spaces, check out Climate Action 8x8.

  • To better understand the climate impact of an exhibition or project you are working on, check out Artists Commit’s Climate Impact Reports.

  • To calculate emissions and find peer-reviewed recommendations for reduction strategies, check out the Gallery Climate Coalition and their Carbon Calculator for the art sector.

  • To source, offload, and create collective material access, check out Barder.art.

  • For a comprehensive program providing training and coaching for institutions and individuals to become sustainable while becoming part of a global network of sustainability leaders, check out Ki Culture and their Ki Futures coaching program.

  • Search for more Climate Action resources, plans, and actions in the Climate Action Database.

Visual Arts PACT Organizations (PACT website):

Calculators and Tracking Tools:

Support

Want support with climate action in the arts? Learn more about LHL Consulting.