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Museum Partnerships for future earth
Description/achievement of initiative

Cultural institutions have unique physical sites, living and non-living collections, and scientific and humanities research capacities that can support locally-driven solutions, and nationally and globally-significant changes. As trusted public resources, with staff skilled in public engagement and communication, they can provide the information, interpretation, and engagement frequently missing in the design of policy and product initiatives. Institutional leaders in climate action in the sector address energy and resource efficiency, provide climate education, advocate for sustainable practices, and steward heritage resources that represent both risk and solutions.

Implementation methodologies

-'Handbook of Climate Change Communication' published in 2017, 2018 -conference in April 2018 on 'Museums and Climate Change', with IPCC, UNFCCC, museum sector and academics -'Addressing the Challenges of Climate Change Communication Across Various Audiences' published in 2018 -networking events -advocacy toolkits and advice -current study underway on strategic research questions for museums with natural heritage collections -network members produce film clips for public education and information -they provide advice to other members and the wider sector on connecting their work with the SDGs and climate action.

Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer

This partnership aims to build capacity for climate change action, through supporting museum workers, and partners, to develop shared understandings and action plans towards climate action. Capacity building comes through participating and supporting network members to connect with one another, and through advocacy from network members locally and globally, through e.g. submitting evidence and advocacy pieces to inquiries, social media, and through seeking funding to continue collaboration.

Coordination mechanisms/governance structure

This partnership aims to accelerate action towards the SDGs through effective partnerships between academics, NGOs and the public, through supporting effective engagement in museums. Co-ordination comes through organising conferences, and participating in international networks (e.g. Coalition of Museums for Climate Justice, Cultural Sector of 'We Are Still In', Museums and Climate Change Network), and by working to connect networks and network members with one another for collective benefit.

Partner(s)

Curating Tomorrow Tyndall Manchester, University of Manchester Future Earth Cultural Sector of 'We Are Still In'
Progress reports
Goal 4
4.7 - By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development
Goal 9
Goal 10
10.2 - By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status
Goal 11
11.3 - By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries
11.4 - Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage
11.7 - By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities
11.b - By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels
Goal 12
12.2 - By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
12.6 - Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle
12.8 - By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature
12.a - Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production
Goal 13
13.3 - Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
Goal 14
Goal 15
15.5 - Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species
15.7 - Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products
Goal 16
16.10 - Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements
Goal 17
17.16 - Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources, to support the achievement of the sustainable development goals in all countries, in particular developing countries
17.17 - Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships

Data, monitoring and accountability
17.19 - By 2030, build on existing initiatives to develop measurements of progress on sustainable development that complement gross domestic product, and support statistical capacity-building in developing countries
04/18
Museums and Climate Change: critical approaches to engagement and management
09/2018
Submission to Talanoa Dialogue
2018
2018
Cultural Sector of We Are Still In: 1) a framework for cross-sectoral engagement strategies that involve cultural institutions
2018
Cultural Sector of We Are Still In: 2) a series of success stories as replicable models and a cooperative learning network through We Are Still In.
2019
Participate in UNFCCC 7th Dialogue on Action for Climate Empowerment, for review of Doha Work Programme
2019
Participate in UNFCCC 7th Dialogue on Action for Climate Empowerment, for review of Doha Work Programme
2019
Develop resources to support museum workers to connect with SDG agenda
2019
Contributed to development of Curating Sustainable Futures plenary panel at International Council of Museums triennial conference, Kyoto, Japan
2020
Contributed to development of How To conference at Klimahaus Bremerhaven in Sept and drafted the Bremerhaven Declaration
2020
Worked with The Whitaker museum and art gallery, embedding SDGs into their work and interpretation
2020
Led workshop at Association for Critical Heritage Studies on critical heritage studies and the SDGs. Held as a UN75 Dialogue. Contributions from audience written up and provided to UN75 in Sept
2020
Led workshop at Association for Critical Heritage Studies on critical heritage studies and the SDGs. Held as a UN75 Dialogue. Contributions from audience written up and provided to UN75 in Sept
2020
Keynote at Be Museumer conference (ICOM Russia and Potanin Foundation) on museums and the SDGs, in May
2020
Publish guide on Museums and Human Rights, human rights as a basis for public service, due out December 2020
2020
Published 'Museums and Disaster Risk Reduction: building resilience in museums, society and nature'
2020
Undertook consultation with global museum workers and networks and prepared submission for Doha review, for UNFCCC
2020
Published article "The time machine, challenging perceptions of time and place to enhance climate change engagement through museums" in Museum and Society
2020
Worked on Reimagining Museums for Climate Action design and ideas competition leading to an exhibition at COP26, with R Harrison (UCL/AHRC), C Sterling (AHRC) and E Woodham Glasgow Science Centre
2020
Worked on Reimagining Museums for Climate Action design and ideas competition leading to an exhibition at COP26, with R Harrison (UCL/AHRC), C Sterling (AHRC) and E Woodham Glasgow Science Centre
2020
Worked as consultant on ICCROM Our Collections Matter project on collections and SDGs, with development of set of indicators
2020
Contributed to development of Stemming the Tide conference at Smithsonian Institution in March, lead workshop and wrote up article for publication
2021
Further work on Reimagining Museums for Climate Action
2021
Further work on Our Collections Matter
Other, please specify
Communication: The We Are Still In online platform at www.wearestillin.com
Staff / Technical expertise
Henry McGhie's time
Staff / Technical expertise
Staff: We Are Still In Cultural Sector Lead, Sarah Sutton, and volunteers from the Environment & Climate Network of the American Alliance of Museums.

Basic information
Time-frame: 1 August 2017 - 1 August 2022
Website
Partners
Curating Tomorrow Tyndall Manchester, University of Manchester Future Earth Cultural Sector of 'We Are Still In'
Countries
Contact information
Henry McGhie, Mr., henrymcghie@curatingtomorrow.co.uk
United Nations