“If you’re reading this, it probably means you’re interested in the connection between museums and climate action. Many people and organisations are, but they are often unsure what they can do, in the face of a massive challenge that can seem both important yet intangible and abstract. You’ve probably heard of the Paris Agreement, but you might not know how it relates to the work of museums, or how they can make practical use of it for climate action.  

The Paris Agreement is more than an environmental agreement: it is also a social, political, technological agreement, that also supports peace, across generations. 

Climate action requires deep, radical action to stem the worst impacts of climate change, and the Paris Agreement is a powerful tool to make these changes.

Working with the principles, goals and actions in the Paris Agreement helps to ‘mainstream’ climate action into museums, and museums into climate action.

Museums and similar institutions can contribute to climate action in many, many ways, but this can be significantly increased, accelerated and amplified. This short guide aims to help you achieve this, by connecting your work to the Paris Agreement. This guide outlines how the Paris Agreement can be better embedded into the work of museums, and museums into action for the Paris Agreement. It draws on the contents of the Paris Agreement and identifies key actions that contribute to the Agreement’s success.

It should help you play a concrete role in driving down greenhouse gas emissions, climate adaptation, and making sure this is done in fair ways as part of sustainable development. With around 100,000 museums worldwide, there is a massive potential to support climate action everywhere.” (p.13)