Background Information

Museum Development England, in partnership with Manchester Museum and The Carbon Literacy Project, has developed a new online Museums’ Carbon Literacy Toolkit that will be free to access by all museums and rolled out by Museum Development teams across England, with the support of a new Museum Carbon Literacy Officer. The Toolkit and training are part of the Roots and Branches project, supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

The Carbon Literacy Course will give you an understanding of what climate change is, the scale of its effects, and how museums fit into the global, national and local picture to address climate change. You will become Carbon Literate by making an individual pledge, and an organisational pledge to take back to your museum, of what you can do, and is in your power to achieve, to make a significant difference to your carbon impact.

Who is the course aimed at?

This course is for volunteers and paid staff who work across all service areas from Accredited Museums or those working towards Accreditation in the North of England. We advise that, where possible, two people from your organisation attend the course for peer support when developing actions.

The course will be delivered via an online platform for which you will need a computer or tablet to access and includes presentations, joint working exercises and discussion and video content.

What does the course involve?

The course will be delivered in modules. In order to become certified as Carbon Literate, you must complete the entire course and submit your individual and organisational pledges as explained in the final session. By booking on the Carbon Literacy course, you are committing to undertake 7.5 hours of training, split over a series of three sessions:

Session 1: Pre-recorded course introduction and the basic science of climate change Duration 1 hour 30 minutes to be completed between 3rd and 9th May 2023.

Post-session activity: identify your museum object as explained in the introductory video

This session will give and overview of the Carbon Literacy course and a link to watch a documentary that presents the science and facts about climate change. In the Introduction, you will be asked to some questions to consider when watching the documentary.

Session 2: Live online training via zoom Duration 2 hours 30 minutes taking place at 10am to 12.30pm on 10th May 2023 (includes short break).

Post-session activity: calculate your carbon footprint (WWF calculator)

This session will focus on the impacts of climate change, equity and vulnerability as well as the roles of museums in tackling the climate crisis and green recovery. You will be asked to reflect on the questions posed in session 1 during the first part of this session.

Session 3: Live online training via zoom Duration 3 hours 30 minutes, taking place on 11th May 2023. This session will be delivered in two parts, with part one from 10am to 11.45am and part two from 1pm to 2.45pm (includes short breaks).

Post/end of session activity: complete your Carbon Literacy participant form

The morning session focuses on carbon budgets, the UK and International policy positions, and carbon footprints. The afternoon session is all about action planning and how we talk about climate change with others.

Please Note: The information gathered through the booking form will be used MDNW and shared with you regional Museum Development provider to send you joining instructions as well as a follow-up evaluation survey. It will also be shared with and used by The Carbon Literacy Project in order for them to provide you with certification for the course.

Museums' Carbon Literacy Course- May 2023