Roots & Branches project

The Carbon Literacy Toolkit for Museums was developed as part of the Roots & Branches project. This ambitious two-year, environmentally-driven partnership project between Manchester Museum, Museum Development England and the Carbon Literacy Project is supported by Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants.

This collaboration is passionate about the role that museums can play in addressing the inequalities in our society, including those created by the climate crisis.

The ‘Branches’ of the project is the creation of an environmentally aware museum sector, underpinned by the first sector-specific carbon literacy toolkit. This is foundational work supporting staff, volunteers and partners to build understanding and awareness and take positive, informed action and decisions.

The project aims to create opportunities for 1,500 individuals to become carbon literate, with participants pledging individual and organisational carbon reduction actions, accelerating the sector’s response to the climate crisis.

Why is it so important for museums to engage?

• Museums tell stories of our past, present, and possible futures and climate change is the biggest story of our times
• Museums have a significant carbon footprint, and the sector needs to act
• Museums have a responsibility to communities as public institutions
• Museums are already being impacted by climate change and will continue to be impacted

Participants said:

“I feel more confident that I can have conversations that will be inputted into actions to make a difference on carbon reduction.”

“I had a lot of very enthused, knowledgeable members of staff ready for action, and many suggestions for commitments they will make as a result of the training.”

“I really enjoyed it and it’s given the whole group here a lift in terms of motivation. I’ll be inviting trustees to sign up for a course.”

The toolkit is designed for online delivery and a version for in-person delivery is in development, launching in autumn 2022. You can check when the next course is running with your museum development provider.

For more information, please contact Kaye Hardyman, Museum Development Officer, Museum Development North West, via kaye.hardyman@manchester.ac.uk.