To help mark Climate Week Scotland we asked Creative Carbon Scotland to share a few top tips for cultural organisations wanting to reduce their environmental impact.
As one of our Regularly Funded Organisations, Creative Carbon Scotland is the national charity for culture and sustainability in Scotland, working to achieve the vision of a Scotland where the imagination and influencing power of the arts and culture are central to us all achieving transformational change to a sustainable future.
Here we go with those top tips...
When it comes to creating plans to reduce your organisation’s carbon emissions and impact on the environment, it’s important to involve people from across your organisation – across all areas of work and all levels of management. Not only does this increase knowledge and awareness for implementing final plans, it also might prompt some new, innovative ideas!
Train up your board to be able to support this work - this year’s Green Arts Conference (7 November) features a free morning session specifically for the trustees of arts and cultural organisations: individuals who have a duty to support the strategic development and risk minimisation essential for our changing world.
Many Scottish cultural organisations have been measuring, monitoring and reporting their carbon emissions (across energy, waste, water and travel) for several years now, and this information will help in anticipating future emissions and spotting opportunities for change:
If you don’t have this information available, try out the Tenant Energy Toolkit to estimate office energy emissions as a starting point!
There are lots of online and downloadable tools which can help you identify and put numbers to estimated carbon emissions savings. Try the Carbon Management Planning Tool to cost up savings, ClaimExpenses.com to ease travel accounting year-round, and the Green Arts Portal to find creative new ideas.
There are already hundreds of cultural organisations in Scotland working to reduce their environmental impact, and who have lots of tips to share.
All Green Champions are invited to come together at the Green Arts Conference on 7 November to learn, share, and exchange their experiences – cross-art form and from across Scotland. Key speakers from the sector will be announced soon!
Moving beyond the cultural sector, to share the innovation and influencing power of the arts and culture with those working on sustainability across Scotland, increases the connections, expertise and opportunities for us all. Take a look at #ScotClimateWeek on social media, or the Scottish Climate Week website to find out about events in your area, and how Scotland is taking positive steps to tackle climate change!
Hosting a #GreenArts event during Climate Week? Let us know! We’re always happy to host relevant events on our website and promote then through our networks.
You can keep up to date with developments and tips in sustainability in the cultural sector year-round through the Creative Carbon Scotland newsletter, joining the Green Arts Initiative, attending Green Tease events, or discovering #GreenArts on social media.
