Carbon Reduction Strategies for Museums

As museums confront the realities of the climate crisis, the conversation around carbon reduction has shifted from aspiration to action. Institutions are increasingly recognising that environmental responsibility is inseparable from their public mission.

The Green Museums Summit brought this shift into focus through detailed examples from museums already embedding sustainability into daily operations. Their experiences offer a practical and inspirational roadmap for peers across the sector.

The Imperial War Museums (IWM) and Miraikan, the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo, provided two of the Summit’s most comprehensive case studies. Despite operating in very different contexts, both organisations share the conviction that internal transformation is essential to maintaining credibility as public educators on climate issues.

At IWM, sustainability has become a core organisational priority that sits across governance, estate management, and public engagement, driven by growing climate commitments and stakeholder expectations.

Miraikan reached a similar turning point after recognising that its outward-facing sustainability programming needed to be matched by robust internal change. Establishing a Sustainability Promotion Project enabled the museum to re-examine its own practices while modelling the behaviours it hopes to inspire in society.

Decarbonising Energy: The Foundation of Museum Sustainability

Energy use remains the single largest contributor to most museums’ carbon footprints. IWM has addressed this head-on through an ambitious programme of estate decarbonisation. The museum has replaced outdated heating systems, installed air-source cooling at IWM North, and developed innovative passive-house storage facilities.

A major priority for the coming years is eliminating oil- and gas-fired heating entirely, a move anticipated to cut emissions by around a thousand tonnes of CO₂ annually. These efforts are supported by investments in solar generation, battery storage, and the use of existing boreholes for ground-source heating.

Even exploratory ideas, such as generating power for HMS Belfast from tidal flow, show a willingness to think creatively about decarbonisation.

Miraikan has focused on transforming its electricity supply. By committing to purchase one hundred percent renewable energy, the museum has effectively reduced its electricity-related emissions, previously in the region of two thousand tonnes of CO₂—to near zero.

With its remaining emissions tied to a district heating system mandated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the museum plans to pursue dialogue with policymakers while improving its building’s insulation and thermal performance to reduce overall energy demand.

Rethinking Consumption and Waste

While carbon-heavy energy systems dominate emissions, both museums highlighted the value of examining consumption across their operations. IWM’s sustainability strategy moves beyond waste management to address the reduction of materials use, aligning this shift with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Miraikan demonstrates how operational changes can also serve as powerful public engagement tools. By replacing a typical vending machine with one that excludes plastic bottles and displays data on plastic waste, the museum turns a routine amenity into an educational prompt. The intervention encourages visitors to consider their own consumption habits, especially when paired with a nearby water station designed to support the use of reusable bottles.

In a field where bespoke fabrication is commonplace, the museum is also examining how exhibition production can be reimagined to reduce environmental impact. Miraikan intends to study the lifecycle of materials used in exhibitions and develop guidelines to support more sustainable practice, acknowledging the significant carbon implications of temporary and permanent display construction.

Food as a Platform for Behavioural Change

Although catering represents a modest share of most museums’ carbon footprint, Miraikan recognises its symbolic power. By introducing plant-based dishes made from soy-based meat alternatives and accompanying them with information about the environmental impact of food choices, the museum uses its café to spark reflection and conversation. This approach shows how even small shifts in museum services can encourage more sustainable habits among visitors.

Preparing for a Changing Climate

Carbon reduction is imperative, but so too is adapting to the impacts of climate change already underway. IWM has woven climate adaptation into its sustainability strategy by assessing and planning for the risks posed to buildings, collections, and visitor services by extreme weather, flooding, and rising temperatures. This work underscores the dual responsibility museums carry: to reduce emissions today while also safeguarding heritage for the climate of tomorrow.

Embedding Sustainability Through Culture and Governance

Both museums stressed that sustainability initiatives succeed only when they become part of a shared organisational culture. IWM’s approach combines top-down leadership with bottom-up participation. Sustainability is embedded within corporate objectives and key performance indicators, while the Sustainability Action Group and the grassroots Zero Carbon Club allow staff at all levels to contribute ideas and feel part of the process.

Miraikan also places strong emphasis on dialogue. As a museum rooted in science communication, it encourages open discussion among staff and visitors, reinforcing the notion that carbon reduction is not simply a technical challenge but a societal one. The museum’s sustainability initiatives are framed as ongoing conversations, grounded in evidence but enriched by community perspectives.

Using Data to Drive and Demonstrate Progress

Reliable data underpins every successful sustainability strategy. IWM has made “information intelligence” a core theme of its approach, acknowledging the need for strong reporting frameworks and rigorous monitoring to guide investment and measure success. Miraikan is undertaking detailed assessments of its energy use, waste streams, and materials to inform future decision-making. Together, these efforts emphasise that effective carbon reduction must be both measurable and accountable.

A Sector Ready for Transformation

The case studies presented at the Green Museums Summit reveal a sector increasingly confident in its ability to lead on climate action. The work undertaken by IWM and Miraikan shows that carbon reduction can strengthen organisational identity, deepen public trust, and unlock creative solutions across departments. Most importantly, it demonstrates that museums are uniquely positioned to model sustainable futures, not only through the stories they tell, but through the actions they take.

As more museums embrace this challenge, the cultural sector is poised to become a powerful catalyst for change, offering tangible proof that the transition to a low-carbon world is both achievable and inspiring.