Climate and Sustainability

The climate crisis poses an urgent threat to tangible and intangible cultural heritage worldwide.  We acknowledge our shared responsibility to promote sustainability and build resilience to climate-driven impacts to cultural heritage and have made it one of the core values of our organization.

Sustainability Tools in Cultural Heritage (STICH)

Sustainability Tools in Cultural Heritage (STiCH) utilizes quantitative data and case studies to help people working in cultural heritage make educated, sustainable choices to lower the environmental impact of their work.

Held in Trust

Held in Trust is a multi-year project to evaluate the state of preservation and conservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage in the United States. The project focuses on the intersection of conservation and preservation with nine critical areas of study, including Climate Crisis and Environmental Impact.

Climate Resilience Resources for Cultural Heritage

Climate Resilience Resources for Cultural Heritage is the first action item resulting from the work of Held in Trust, and will consist of an interactive climate risk map, learning modules, and communities of practice to help cultural institutions and heritage sites prepare for and mitigate climate-related environmental hazards.

Sustainability Committee

Our Sustainability Committee creates and shares content that highlights sustainable approaches to the preservation of cultural heritage, including conservation, restoration, collections care, preventive care, and sustainable living. Visit our Sustainability Resources page to sign up for their online community and bi-monthly email, listen to their podcast series, and access other resources.