Museums and the Climate Crisis

Museums and the Climate Crisis shows the ways in which museums are responding, and can respond in the future, to the global climate crisis. The inter-related crises of climate, pollution and extinction affect everyone around the globe. Museums have a unique role in tackling these crises because they are amongst the few institutions that take a long-term perspective, beyond the short-term cycles of politics and economics, and their scholarship and independence mean that they remain trusted by the public.

Providing insights and international case studies from a range of museum and gallery professionals, academics and consultants, this book explores how museums can use this unique perspective to engage the public as active citizens, and how they are exemplars of good practice in areas such as emissions reduction and encouraging biodiversity. It shows how museums can combat climate exhaustion by drawing on behavioural psychology about positive motivation, and how to develop exhibitions, events and activities that are calls to active citizenship. A parallel strand of themes focuses on use of renewables, environmental controls and standards, travel (including virtual couriering), waste management including recycling, plastic reduction, composting, reducing pollution and increasing biodiversity within museums.

Museums and the Climate Crisis will be important reading to those studying in the fields of Museum Studies, Heritage Studies and Conservation. Taking a practical approach, it will also be beneficial to museum, gallery and heritage professionals who are grappling with the challenges of the climate crisis.