Targets:

  1. A minimum 50% CO2e emissions reduction across the sector by 2030*
  2. Near-zero waste** operations by 2030, where facilities allow.

* Reduced from a pre-Covid baseline year. Whilst this target is a sector-wide minimum we do encourage members to go beyond this and a reduction strategy for 70% is outlined in our Decarbonisation Action Plan. See more details below.

** Near-zero waste is defined by GCC as ‘As close to nothing as possible going to landfill or incinerator, in the regions where facilities permit’.

 
 
 
 
Commitments:

GCC members will:

  • Take immediate and effective steps to reduce the environmental impact of their activities, by following Best Practice Guidelines and developing a Decarbonisation Action Plan.

  • Complete regular carbon reports, either via GCC’s free carbon calculator or by conducting carbon audits with an environmental agency/freelance advisor. This would ideally be done on an annual basis.

  • Instead of using conventional offsets, establish a Strategic Climate Fund (SCFs), through which frontline environmental initiatives as well as internal carbon-reducing schemes can be financed in a fair and effective way.

  • Establish a Green Team (or, for smaller organisations, a Green Ambassador) within their organisation to liaise with GCC and implement environmental policies.

  • Work towards near-zero waste and circular operations.

  • Ensure that they are taking action in line with the principles of climate justice, recognising the connections between the climate crisis and other global injustices.

  • Publish an environmental responsibility statement via website and/or social media.

 

In turn, GCC will:

  • Make its tools and resources freely available to all.

  • Provide reliable and actionable information and advice.

  • Leverage our members and community to lobby for industry-wide systemic change.

  • Build an international aligned network of individuals and organisations working collaboratively towards the same goals.

  • Support an active forum for sharing information, ideas, and expertise.

  • Arrange events and roundtable discussions on relevant topics.

  • Develop new research, and tools to inform and educate members. 

  • Identify and work to remove obstacles leading to inaction in our sector.

  • Commission reports on sector-specific issues.

  • Establish and support region specific groups around the world.

  • Collaborate with and promote other organisations working towards the same goals.

 

 

 

 

*With enough mutual support and collaboration, we believe that not just a 50% but a 70% reduction in the art sector’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 is possible. Our Decarbonisation Action Plan offers examples and pathways of how a 50% and a 70% reduction might be reached for different kinds of arts organisations. We realise, of course, that the opportunities and challenges faced by different arts organisations – and the resources they have available to commit to this change - will vary, and so GCC is currently asking its members to sign up to the 50% target. But we cannot emphasise enough that a 70% reduction would be more in line with the demands of climate justice – and the fact that those of us in wealthier Northern countries (where most of GCC’s members are currently based), who have benefited from burning carbon for hundreds of years and contributed most to the problem, have the responsibility to cut emissions first and fastest.

 

If you wish to join GCC but believe your organisation is not yet able to sign up to all of these commitments, please contact us and we will help if we can.