Strengthening the cultural sector’s environmental leadership
Why ECP?
The global cultural sector has a significant role to play in responding to the climate crisis, but many are often overwhelmed with information and ambiguity, and see no clear path forward. Environment & Culture Partners (ECP) provides that path forward.
We can inspire people across the world to become climate educators and advocates, empowering them with the reason, research, and resources to take small and large actions in their communities.
Climate Action Heroes activity from the National Children’s Museum at Association of Children’s Museums annual conference, May 2024. Photo courtesy of S. Sutton.
What we do
Our mission is to strengthen environmental leadership in the cultural sector by providing clarity of work and connection of resources to deliver impact at scale. We empower museums, zoos, gardens, aquariums and historic sites with the knowledge and skills needed to influence change, the partnership needed to do the work, and the voice to advocate for culture in every climate conversation.
ECP team and partners conduct a museum site visit for the Min/Max research project, January 2025. Photo courtesy M. Egolf.
Capacity Building
We are committed to building the cultural sector’s capacity to engage communities in climate learning and undertake climate action. We do this through research, knowledge-sharing, and skills development to empower the sector to make informed, climate-smart decisions.
Managing Director, Stephanie Shapiro (far right) presents at the Society for Imaging Science & Technology’s Archiving Conference, April 2024.
Engagement
We demystify what climate action means for the cultural sector, and shift climate work from a potentially overwhelming or confusing challenge to a clear, actionable plan. With our partners we work to define a research-backed starting point, a practical roadmap, and a realistic end goal.
CEO, Sarah Sutton (center) participates in a panel discussion at the NEXT IN Museums, Innovation, Impact Summit in Madrid, April 2024. Photo courtesy of Acciona Cultura.
Representation
We advocate for the cultural sector’s voice to be heard in environmental discussions and efforts at the community, regional, federal, and global levels. We connect cultural organizations with decision-makers and funders, ensuring the sector’s concerns and aspirations are part of the larger environmental narrative.