Climate change is both an immediate and looming threat. Not only is it challenging to comprehend the science behind the interrelated causes and impacts, but it is also difficult to understand the behavioral changes needed to mitigate the impacts. Museums, and broadly the cultural sector, are highly trusted sources of information, far over government and corporate entities, as well as mainstream media. Cultural organizations are also central pillars of communities. This trust and responsibility highlights the sector’s duty to respond to climate change as well as provide the public with opportunities to learn and act in their own way.

Overview

The Carbon Neutral Visiting Initiative^TM (CNVI) addresses the carbon emissions produced by travel to a museum by staff and volunteers, members and visitors. The US Environmental Protection Agency reported that “the transportation sector is one of the largest contributors to anthropogenic U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions… transportation accounted for the largest portion (27%) of total U.S. GHG emissions in 2020.” Through CNVI, organizations can measure, understand, offset, and educate about transportation-related carbon emissions. It’s easy to integrate and can be customized to an organization’s needs and goals. This program is available to any museum, but most applicable for museums where low-carbon transportation (e.g., walking, biking, public transportation) is not readily available and driving is the primary mode of transportation.

Background

Museums have been responding to climate change by using sustainable building and exhibit practices, engaging in energy efficiency and renewable projects, and pursuing carbon neutrality. In late 2020, representatives of Environment and Culture Partners (ECP), including CEO Sarah Sutton and the CNVI Lead, Danielle Sakowski started researching new opportunities for climate action in the cultural sector. Sarah and other museum professionals had already been discussing the potential impacts of offsetting visitor transportation to the museum but needed more data to support the idea and a mechanism to address these carbon emissions. After confirming that the need existed, their research investigated opportunities for partnering with organizations that offered carbon offsets at the point-of-sale. After several months of searching, they discovered Carbon Credit Capital (CCC), a champion of carbon offset solutions.

How CNVI Works

CNVI offsets the travel of anyone traveling to and from a museum. Museums select what group’s travel they would like to offset (e.g., members only), share this data, and select an available offset project which aligns to their goals. CCC and ECP coordinate selection of the offset project, emissions and offset calculations, answering questions, and providing supporting materials such as a CNVI Partner badge for use in marketing and communication.

One of the greatest barriers to incorporating new practices and programs is of course, money. However, the cost for these projects may be as little as a dollar per person, per visit. The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago reported in a 2018 survey that, “…about half of Americans are willing to pay something for a fee on carbon.” Certainly, for a dollar or less and the public’s willingness to pay for their carbon use, there is great opportunity through this Initiative.

Carbon Offsets

Carbon offsets are generated from projects around the world that pull greenhouse gases (GHGs) out of the atmosphere or keep emissions from being released. Each time a project verifies they have reduced, avoided, or destroyed one metric ton of GHG, one carbon offset is created. If you emit one ton of GHG, and fund or purchase one ton of emissions reduction, you have a net carbon footprint of zero. 

Carbon offset projects mitigate GHGs from two perspectives, reduce carbon sources and enhance carbon sinks. Carbon sources include the burning of fossil fuels. Reducing carbon sources can be achieved by carbon offset projects of improving energy efficiency, developing renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power for small communities, and designing more sustainable transport such as electric vehicles and biofuels.   

Carbon sinks are anything that absorbs more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases, such as plants, the ocean, and soil. Carbon offset projects, such as forest, and grassland conservation and landfill composting, can enhance carbon sequestration or the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide.  

The more carbon emissions removed from a carbon offset project; the more carbon offsets can be generated. Similarly, as more carbon offset projects are established and operated properly, the more venues we will have to reduce carbon sources and enhance carbon sinks. 

Who’s Involved

CCC has over 15 years of experience and specialize in connecting their clients to high-quality carbon emission reduction projects all over the world. It is their mission to provide any client with accessible and feasible opportunities for learning about and confronting carbon emissions. CCC is a Certified B Corporation and as a business member of One Percent for the Planet, they donate 1% of their revenue to environmental non-profits globally. ECP is a non-profit organization, co-founded by Sarah Sutton and Stephanie Shapiro. Stephanie and Sarah combined have over 30 combined years of experience leading climate awareness and action within the cultural sector, and they continue to advocate for change. ECP believes that communities and institutions benefit when the cultural sector’s work is connected to other sectors’ efforts on environmental and human health, climate mitigation and adaptation, and community resilience. Examples of work include piloting, scaling, and sharing solutions to decrease the sector’s carbon footprint, collections storage temperature and relative humidity best practices, and contributing climate mitigation strategies to the America is All In Partners Team.

The Discovery Museum in Acton, MA is the very first museum to participate in CNVI. CNVI aligns to their values, commitment to sustainability and the climate, and community. Neil Gordon, Chief Executive Officer of the Discovery Museum shares:

As [the] Discovery Museum worked to develop our 5 Year Sustainability Plan, with a goal of carbon neutrality, we knew the carbon footprint of our visitor, member, and staff travel would be one of the biggest impediments due to a lack of transit options. We were thrilled that CNVI was born out of our industry conversations on the subject, and that the team has delivered to meet this important need. The ability to purchase offsets that are verified and overseen by a legitimate third party such as CNVI makes it possible for us to confidently offer a solution to our staff and members. The offsets and the small contribution to fund them have been wholly embraced by our members, and our staff appreciate that the Museum funds offsets for their travel. We started the program with our member base this year but will expand to cover all visitors next year. CNVI is a solid and welcome tool in our goal to become carbon neutral.

Why This Work is Important

We can’t ignore the reality of the impact of the changing climate. Most Americans want to their leaders to focus on and engage with creating solutions to the climate crisis. The Pew Research Center found that, “About two-thirds of U.S. adults (67%) say the federal government is doing too little to reduce the effects of climate change.” As the most trusted institution in the United States, museums and other cultural organizations are powerfully equipped to inspire change in policies and practices. Participating in CNVI enables museums to offset transportation-related carbon emissions and committing to mitigating the impacts of the changing climate. 

How to Get Started

Learn more about CNVI here or contact Environment and Culture Partners at CNVI@ecprs.org. Learn more about our partners at Carbon Credit Capital by visiting their website.