Measuring and Reporting Greenhouse Gas Emissions: an introduction for museums and cultural institutions

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Intended Audience

“This guide is designed for any museum or cultural institution that is interested in understanding, measuring and reducing its emissions to contribute to climate action.

Directors and managers can use this guide to understand the importance and benefits of GHG accounting and emissions reporting, and how to disclose their activities and emissions with greater confidence and ability. Building managers can increase their understanding of how buildings, energy and waste relate to the different Scope 3 Categories. Those involved in procurement decisions can use the guide to understand the implications of procurement options. Those involved in developing collections and exhibitions can use it to understand how those activities relate to the different Scope 3 Categories. Those involved in public education and communication, including educators and marketing teams, can use this guide to understand the principles of GHG accounting, to incorporate into public-facing activities and messages.”

H. A. McGhie, T. Black, G. Indriago, C. Kapustina and J. Chu, Curating Tomorrow

2022

“There is a lot of talk about net zero and climate action in museums and cultural institutions, including galleries, libraries, and archives (referred to as MCIs throughout this guide), but how can institutions accurately assess their environmental impact and evaluate progress towards their climate goals? This guide has been created to help you understand greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accounting, and how you can use it to assess, calculate, and report your emissions with confidence…

This guide shows how common activities of MCIs relate to the classes of emissions (Scopes and Categories) used in GHG accounting and aims to help you to begin your first GHG inventory, or to better understand your existing reporting and reporting requirements.” (p.9)

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SDGs LINKAGES

The resource can help support SDGs relating to greenhouse gas emissions measurement, reporting and reduction, including SDGs 4.4 (staff training), 7.2 (increase the proportion of energy from renewable sources), 9.4 (retrofitting infrastructure to be sustainable), 12.6 (adopting sustainable practices and sustainability reporting), 12.7 (sustainable procurement), 12.8 (lifestyles in harmony with nature) and 13.3 (education and information for climate action).

Click on the SDG Target to discover Our Collections Matter indicators

SDG 4.4: Increase the Number of People with Relevant Skills for Financial Success
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number of young people and adults in skills-development activities and programmes drawing on collections, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.
Increase in number of young people and adults in such programmes.
Number and proportion of staff who have received training in the last year, to better support their contribution to the SDGs.
Programs and processes in place to ensure the availability of a skilled workforce.
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SDG 7.2: Increase Global Percentage of Renewable Energy
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportion of energy that comes from renewable sources.
Date to achieve net zero, and milestones towards that date.
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SDG 9.4: Upgrade All Industries and Infrastructures for Sustainability
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number and proportion of collections facilities that make efficient use of resources, with an ongoing drive for efficiencies and reductions in energy use and waste of all forms.
Number and proportion of collections facilities that use clean and environmentally sound technologies, including climate-friendly energy sources and materials, with an ongoing commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and waste of all forms.
Number and proportion of collections facilities that adopt and/or prioritise collections-related processes and practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and waste of all forms.
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SDG 12.6: Encourage Companies to Adopt Sustainable Practices and Sustainability Reporting
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Clear visions, strategies and plans in place for all aspects of sustainability – environmental, social and economic (people, planet, prosperity)- across all areas of activity.
Visions, strategies and plans relating to sustainability to be publicly available and incorporated into planning documents.
Commitments to be in line with local, regional, national and/or international targets and ambitions.
Incorporation of sustainability into reporting for funders and other stakeholders, including the public. Reporting to include commitments and progress towards targets.
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SDG 12.7: Promote Sustainable Public Procurement Practices
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Incorporation of sustainability considerations into procurement, in terms of advertisement and invitation to tender, contracts, and selection criteria for suppliers.
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SDG 12.8: Promote Universal Understanding of Sustainable Lifestyles
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development (including climate change education) are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment.
Extent to which global citizenship education and education for sustainable development (including climate change education) are mainstreamed in formal, informal and non-formal education programmes and activities drawing on and related to collections.
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SDG 13.3: Build Knowledge and Capacity to Meet Climate Change
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Plans in place to enhance positive contributions to addressing climate change through use of collections. Plans in place to ensure collections, collections institutions and broader society can adapt effectively to climate change.
Plans in place for effective education and awareness raising on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
Plans in place to reduce negative contributions of collections-related functions, e.g. measuring greenhouse emissions with plans and targets in place to reduce them.
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