• As a mid-decade checkpoint, the GCC Stocktake Report was published as the most comprehensive assessment to date of the visual arts sector’s progress on climate action. Drawing on six years of GCC Carbon Calculator data, qualitative insights, and sector-wide engagement, the report examines trends in emissions, reduction pathways, systemic and behavioural shifts, and showcases case studies from organisations leading the transition. It also identifies barriers to progress, evidence of an emerging sector-wide tipping points, and actionable recommendations to accelerate collective impact.

    What's in the Report?

    • Headline insights on sector-wide emissions, reduction pathways, and the limits of carbon data alone
    • Case studies of organisations leading the way in embedding climate action into core operations
    • Analysis of the trends and signals that show the sector approaching a tipping point, where isolated efforts begin to align into collective transformation
    • An honest assessment of the barriers slowing progress, from structural constraints to capacity gaps
    • Forward-looking guidance on the systemic and behavioural shifts required to meet 2030 targets
    • Targeted recommendations to help organisations act with greater speed, confidence, and impact

     

    This mid-decade checkpoint is sobering but galvanising. The world is increasingly likely to overshoot the 1.5°C limit set by the Paris Agreement, underscoring the urgency of accelerating sector-wide action. Yet the Stocktake also demonstrates that the visual arts community is already embedding environmental responsibility into culture, strategy, and decision-making.

     

    We invite everyone in the sector - organisations, artists, funders, and policymakers - to explore the report, reflect on the findings, and act together to seize this tipping point. The Stocktake is not just a record of progress; it’s a call to action to transform insight into collective impact.

    Explore the Stocktake Report 2025

    Press Release →

    Executive Summary →

    Full Stocktake Report →

    Thank You to Our Sponsors

    This research project was made possible through the generous support of our sponsors, Hauser & Wirth and Christie’s. Their commitment to sector-wide climate progress ensures that these insights can be shared openly and used to drive meaningful change.