Museum Climate Hub

In collaboration with NMDC, we’ve handpicked core resources to help you with your sustainability journey at whatever stage you are at. Find out more about the tool and how we select the resources.

Browse the full list below, or filter on topics you're interested in

Only show me free resources

Collections and exhibitions | Estates and buildings

Bizot’s Refreshed Green Protocol 2023

FREE
Expert
LAST UPDATED: 2023
Best practice

SOURCE: Bizot Group: hosted on CIMAM - International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art

Principles and guidelines agreed by global museum directors to address the climate crisis by adopting sustainable practices and a "greener practices first mentality" for collections and exhibitions.

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Estates and buildings

Buildings Net Zero Energy Resources

FREE
Beginner
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Resource library

SOURCE: Julie’s Bicycle

Resources for achieving net-zero energy targets in cultural buildings.

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Estates and buildings

Cadw Climate Change resources

FREE
Beginner | Intermediate
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Resource library

SOURCE: Cadw

Energy efficiency focused resources and case studies from the Welsh Government's Historic Environment Service

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Networks and collaborations | Training

Carbon Literacy Project

PAID FOR
Beginner
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Training materials

SOURCE: Carbon Literacy Project

An overview of the Carbon Literacy Project's tools and courses.

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Networks and collaborations | Training

Carbon Literacy: Roots & Branches Programme

FREE
Beginner
LAST UPDATED: 2026
Training materials

SOURCE: Museum Development North

A collaborative museum sector programme offering Carbon Literacy training and support for UK museums.

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Reporting, governance and strategy | Training

Climate Action Resources

FREE
Beginner
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Resource library

SOURCE: Museums Galleries Scotland

Resources and guidance from Museums Galleries Scotland to support museums in implementing action on climate, carbon and biodiversity.

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Collections and exhibitions

Climate Outreach Resources

FREE
Beginner
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Resource library

SOURCE: Climate Outreach

Reports, blogs and audiovisual content focusing on public engagement with climate change.

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Reporting, governance and strategy

Climate Resources Bank

FREE
Beginner
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Resource library

SOURCE: Museums Association

A library of useful tools and further information to help build climate action in the museum and heritage sector.

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Networks and collaborations | Reporting, governance and strategy

Communicating Climate Heritage Toolkit

FREE
Beginner
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Guidance

SOURCE: Climate Heritage Network

Tips to strengthen advocacy to a range of audiences, including peers, workplace leaders, and policymakers.

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Training

Creative Climate Action Toolkit

FREE
Beginner
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Guidance

SOURCE: Bristol Bath Creative

The Creative Climate Action Tool Kit is for small creative businesses, SMEs, freelancers, and organisations to support their climate action journey.

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Reporting, governance and strategy

Creative Climate Justice Hub

FREE
Intermediate
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Resource library

SOURCE: Julie’s Bicycle

Library of climate justice articles and guides curated for the arts and culture community.

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Reporting, governance and strategy

Creative Climate Tools

FREE
Beginner
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Tool

SOURCE: Julie’s Bicycle

A free carbon calculator and tracker for cultural organisations to measure and manage their environmental impact.

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Networks and collaborations | Reporting, governance and strategy

Culture for Climate Scotland Guides

FREE
Beginner
LAST UPDATED: 2024
Guidance

SOURCE: Culture for Climate Scotland

Guides for reducing organisational impact on the environment, cutting carbon emissions, writing sustainability policies and embedding climate justice.

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Reporting, governance and strategy

Deciphering Green Gibberish

FREE
Beginner
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Guidance

SOURCE: Julie’s Bicycle

Glossary of common climate, sustainability, and environmental jargon that helps arts and cultural organisations to understand key terms and avoid confusion.

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Collections and exhibitions

Design for a Greener Future

FREE
Intermediate
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Best practice

SOURCE: Design Museum

Championing sustainable design and operations, reducing environmental impact through exhibitions.

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Estates and buildings | Reporting, governance and strategy

Developing a Decarbonisation Plan

FREE
Beginner
LAST UPDATED: 2025
Guidance

SOURCE: Historic England

Guidance for historic buildings to navigate the processes and steps involved in decarbonising their buildings to meet their net zero targets.

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Estates and buildings

Energy Efficiency and Retrofit in Historic Buildings

FREE
Intermediate
LAST UPDATED: 2024
Guidance

SOURCE: Historic England

Technical advice and guidance on climate change mitigation and adaptation for resilience, including energy efficiency, retrofit, and Net Zero.

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Finance, procurement and funding

Energy Resilience Fund

N/A
Intermediate
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Funding information

SOURCE: Social Investment Business

Provides funding to bolster the energy resilience of eligible charities and social enterprises in England.

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Estates and buildings | Finance, procurement and funding

Environmental Sustainability Good Practice Guidance

FREE
Beginner
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Best practice

SOURCE: National Lottery Heritage Fund

The Heritage Fund on how to plan a heritage project with environmental sustainability in mind.

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Finance, procurement and funding | Reporting, governance and strategy

Essential read: Environmental Responsibility

FREE
Beginner
LAST UPDATED: 2024
Best practice

SOURCE: Arts Council England

How to embed environmental responsibility practices in your work as an organisation in the creative and cultural sector.

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Networks and collaborations

Fit for the Future Network

PAID FOR
Intermediate
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Network

SOURCE: Fit for the Future

An environmental sustainability network with over 250 charities, heritage organisations, cultural venues, public sector bodies.

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Collections and exhibitions | Networks and collaborations

Fixing Our Broken Planet: National Programmes

FREE
Beginner
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Network

SOURCE: Natural History Museum

A space for museum-sector professionals across the UK to develop ways to communicate the climate and nature crises with their audiences.

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Collections and exhibitions | Finance, procurement and funding

Gallery Climate Coalition Carbon Calculator

FREE
Beginner
LAST UPDATED: 2024
Tool

SOURCE: Gallery Climate Coalition

The Gallery Climate Coalition Carbon Calculator is a free online tool for estimating the greenhouse gas emissions of art organisations and projects.

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Reporting, governance and strategy | Training

Greenhouse Gas Accounting Training

FREE
Intermediate
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Training materials

SOURCE: DAERA Northern Ireland

Training materials for public bodies focused on greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting, which is essential for mitigation reporting.

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Estates and buildings

Low and Zero Carbon Technologies

FREE
Beginner
LAST UPDATED: 2024
Guidance

SOURCE: Historic England

Guidance for historic buildings on low and zero carbon technologies to generate energy from renewable or low carbon sources.

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Reporting, governance and strategy

Met Office Local Authority Climate Service

FREE
Beginner
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Guidance | Resource library

SOURCE: Met Office

The Met Office's climate service for Local Authorities in the UK will help you better understand climate change in your local area and support your adaptation journey.

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Finance, procurement and funding

Private Sector Finance

N/A
Expert
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Funding information

SOURCE: National Wealth Fund

Information about investment in private sector projects which support the UK's transition to net zero and local and regional economic growth.

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Collections and exhibitions

Rethinking Touring Exhibitions

FREE
Intermediate
LAST UPDATED: 2023
Tool

SOURCE: Art Fund, Design Museum, The Exhibitions Group

A practical resource to reduce the environmental impact of exhibitions, loans and tours.

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Reporting, governance and strategy

Sharing Your Climate Action

FREE
Beginner
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Guidance

SOURCE: Julie’s Bicycle

Practical tips and inspiration for cultural organisations to share their climate stories with confidence.

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Collections and exhibitions

Strategies for Reducing the Carbon Impact of Temporary and Touring Exhibitions in the Museums and Galleries sector

FREE
Expert
LAST UPDATED: 2024
Guidance

SOURCE: Future Observatory (Design Museum)

Research reports from the Design Museum’s national research programme for the green transition.

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Collections and exhibitions

Sustainable Exhibitions Checklist

FREE
Beginner
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Tool

SOURCE: The Exhibitions Group

Areas of activity to consider when weighing up the most sustainable and economically advantageous approach before, during and after touring an exhibition.

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Finance, procurement and funding

Sustainable Purchasing: How to spot greenwashing

FREE
Intermediate
Guidance

SOURCE: South Ken ZEN+

Developed to raise the bar on sustainable purchasing and help you spot the signs of potential greenwashing and know what to ask if you’re presented with vague or unsubstantiated claims.

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Finance, procurement and funding

Sustainable Suppliers Form

FREE
Intermediate
Tool

SOURCE: Theatre Green Book and Royal Ballet and Opera

Suppliers, organisations, freelancers and contractors that have voluntarily added their sustainability credentials so that you can easily assess how they are getting on with sustainability. Note this information is updated by the suppliers themselves; the owners of this list are not responsible for any of the information provided or for verifying its accuracy.

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Reporting, governance and strategy | Training

Theatre Green Book: Making Theatre Sustainable

FREE
Expert
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Guidance

SOURCE: Theatre Green Book

Standards for the performing arts industry, providing practical guidance, toolkits, and a measurement system.

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Estates and buildings | Networks and collaborations

UKGBC network

PAID FOR
Intermediate
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Network

SOURCE: UK Green Building Council

A membership-led industry network radically transforming the sustainability of the built environment.

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Reporting, governance and strategy

What are Scope Three emissions and why do they matter?

FREE
Beginner
LAST UPDATED: Ongoing
Guidance

SOURCE: Carbon Trust

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol – which provides the most widely recognised accounting standards for greenhouse gas emissions – categorises GHG emissions into three ‘scopes’. What are Scope 3 emissions, how can they be measured and what benefit is there to organisations measuring them?

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