Voxpop: December 2013
Should museums be doing more to address climate change?
Liz Hide, museums officer, University of Cambridge
“I think museums make a substantial and fundamental contribution to the issue of climate change. Engaging the public in debate is important, as is the sustainability of our buildings. But, uniquely, our collections – in zoology, geology, palaeontology and botany – are powerful documents of past climate change.
Natural history collections in many cases are truly scientific collections: vital primary resources for researchers working to understand and predict future changes in climate. We need to recognise the status and importance of these collections, support our curators and nurture links with climate change researchers.”
Bridget McKenzie, founding director, Flow Associates
“All organisations should do more, not just about climate but all the planetary boundaries. These are due to be breached in three decades at current rates. Before then there will be more catastrophes, impacting on the poor first and worst. Scientists know there needs to be a fundamental cultural shift and, understandably, are looking at the cultural sectors.
More sustainable operations are helpful but not enough. Museums can be agents for eco-social repair. They can explore global histories, comparative values and sustainable innovations. This requires courage but is essential if museums want to uphold their responsibilities.”
Paolo Viscardi deputy keeper, natural history, Horniman Museum and Gardens
“In a museum context, it can be easy to fall into the trap of focusing on energy and resource management issues. What needs greater consideration is the research into climate that museum collections can contribute towards.
Understanding change over time requires baseline historical records for context, which is what museum collections can provide. Such records have already helped shape our understanding of climate change, and help policymakers take properly informed decisions. Museums should be doing more to actively support climate research and raise awareness of it with our audiences.”
Henry McGhie, head of collections, Manchester Museum
“Museums should aim to connect people with things that will affect them, and empower visitors to do something about them.
People are part of the problem and the solution so we should enable people to interrogate the ‘issues’ and, just as importantly, provide encouragement to those who are considering connecting with climate change and other issues such as habitat loss and the decline of plants and animals.
It would be wonderful if we could get to a place where human connections with nature were about the ways we live our lives, rather than being seen as fixing a series of problems in far-away places.”