Putting Culture at the Heart of a Low-carbon Scotland

Notes from Putting Culture at the Heart of a Low-Carbon Scotland 6 December 2011
Pages 1 2 Pages 2 6 Page 6 Main points from the Breakout sessions Take away messages from the presentations (Ben Twists interpretation) Some resources and contacts

Main points from the Breakout sessions

Different colours for different groups Opportunities: Collaborative working practices can help forge new solutions and different partnerships Develop sectoral and geographical groups The time is now: use it to move from fixing things to creating new ways and structures We have the opportunity to shift values and behaviours of audiences The collective voice can be strong we need to work together We can help articulate the possible and the practical We have the opportunity to change the behaviour of audiences, us our associates The artistic/cultural role can help change values: we are good communicators of the values of sustainability Triple Bottom Line reporting offers an opportunity for cultural organisations to be fully valued There seems to be an opportunity to act: Creative Scotland are asking for help and the Scottish Government seem to be looking for a steer. We have the opportunity to influence artists and audiences We can engage audiences on practical issues such as travel to venues Joint procurement and planning offer opportunities for more carbon (and cost) efficient working We need to talk to providers such as public transport groups Triple Bottom Line reporting offers a good opportunity We need to develop common standards and approaches across Creative Scotland, local authorities and others We can use Ecological Modernisation (green technological developments can add value, not just replace existing structures) The sector, using its powers of imagination and communication, is in a position to help create new or reinforce current positive frames (see Common Cause) We dont have a common understanding of where we are and what we need to do The topic seems overwhelming: knowledge and navigational help is needed 1

Challenges

Putting Culture at the Heart of a Low-carbon Scotland Internationalism is a big issue: we want to import and export; it is expected of us and a big driver for CS and SG: but how does it fit with reducing environmental impacts? o NB this led to a longer discussion and the idea of imagining a future (say for 2020 or 2025) that we are happy with, and then thinking about how to get there may be an appropriate way to start discussing this important issue The existing infrastructure, especially buildings The language of cuts, reductions etc makes it seem like an impossibility Lack of knowledge about options, methods, offsetting etc The sector is undercapitalised and overstretched, so change is difficult to achieve Behaviour change is hard It is hard to mainstream the issue and change mindsets It is hard to make the business case The question of internationalism: developments in digital delivery and communications could help here Creative Scotland dont Skype! Capital investment funding tends to focus on energy and so money-saving/ environmental improvement rather than social gain: a case should be arguable on other grounds. This relates to Triple Bottom Line reporting. Internationalism, touring and increasing audiences: all present challenges We lack resources: people, funding, support, knowledge and we need to build capacity for transition and change We lack technology and the knowledge of how to use it: Ecological Modernisation wont happen without that. We need a mapping of whats going on around the country and passing on of good experience Wellbeing is a powerful concept to speak to Government with Creative Scotland could talk to some of the Environmental funders, using the ideas and knowledge of the sector

General Comments

Putting Culture at the Heart of a Low-carbon Scotland

Take away messages from the presentations

Ben Twist Putting Culture at the Heart of a Low-Carbon Scotland 1. A move towards greater sustainability offers an opportunity and wed be foolish not to take it. 2. Legislation and regulation is coming: were better off being ahead of it: our sector is based on travel and consumption which will come under pressure 3. During a recession subsidy of a luxury/elite field risks being cut whilst investing in greening the economy with renewables and green technology will be seen as creating jobs 4. The financial crisis and the Occupy movement are reminding us that financial success is not the only criterion: we need to remember that arts organisations are social organisations as well as artistic and business ones. How can we add to human flourishing? How can we measure ourselves against that yardstick? 5. A return to business as usual after a short recession is not going to happen. We need to shape the new normal. Thats what art and artists do: imagine different futures; think and say the unthinkable and unsayable. Lucy Neal Playing for Time 1. Climate change, Peak oil, Biodiversity loss: there is a perfect storm brewing of unsustainability. 2. Transition movement uses stories to help us explain where we are and where we are going: but most mainstream stories about the future predict disaster (The Road; The Day After Tomorrow etc) 3. But there are many people working on other stories: eg New Economics Foundation; Transition Movement. 4. A powerful way is to imagine the future as we want it to be say 20 years hence and then backcast to work out what we need to do to get there. (Rather than assume the current state of affairs and forecast from here.) How do we cross the yawning chasm in between? 5. Common Cause (http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/common_cause_report.pdf) is an important report that argues we can change the frames through which we and others view the world to engage cultural values to help address bigger than self problems which seem too big for individuals to address on their own. Culture and cultural organisations have a role to play in this. Such shifts have been made before examples include the abolition of slavery and the acceptance of womens suffrage. 6. Working with Mission, Models, Money, SustainableAbility (www.sustainabileability.com) identified the key potential of for the arts and cultural sector in leading a holistic, values-driven, positive and visionary response focusing on: Inner Change; Collaboration; Participation and Learning; New Models and Structures. 7. Futurist John Scharr: The future is not some place we are going to, but one we are creating. The paths are not to be found, but made, and the activity of making them changes both the maker and the destinations. 8. Brian Eno: Humans are capable of a unique trick, creating realities by first imagining them, by experiencing them in their minds. ...As soon as we sense the possibility of a more desirable world , we begin behaving differently, as though that world is starting 3

Putting Culture at the Heart of a Low-carbon Scotland to come into existence, as though, in our minds eye , we are already there. The dream becomes an invisible force which pulls us forward. By this process it begins to come true. The act of imagining somehow makes it real..... And what is possible in art becomes thinkable in life. Kenneth Fowler Creativity and Carbon Management 1. Its about people, not structures and rules 2. Make it easy to do the right thing and hard to do the wrong thing 3. Scottish Natural Heritage had 5 simple targets each year: 4% reductions in CO2 emissions, paper use, solid waste produced; 4% increase in recycling; biodiversity plan for each office. 4. These resulted in lots of smaller changes: no general waste bins at desks, electronic papers for meetings, video conferencing not travel, no flights, green champions in each department, carbon budgets and reporting by department, sustainability conditions for grants and investment etc 5. This delivered big reduction but the big win was a change in culture. Carbon Management becomes normal practice. 6. Good practice celebrated (and poor practice pilloried!) On-line publication becomes the default setting. 7. But beware of unintended consequences: a big-brother vehicle tracking system led to people using their own cars instead of lower-carbon pool cars.... 8. Creative Scotland: developing an internal carbon management plan, but the bigger opportunity is across the sector. 9. Ideas: Greening as a criteria for investment across all organisations and projects a. Creative Scotland cultural economy programme funding for environmental improvements b. Creative Scotland capital investment programme support for green investment c. Sharing good practice across the sector d. Artistic output Year of Natural Scotland (2013)? 10. Positive communications deliver change:

11. We have an opportunity to create a sector-wide approach. Ben Twist Context 1. Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 sets targets of 42% CO2 reduction by 2020, 80% by 2050 2. Main areas which will affect the sector are very stringent waste reduction targets; drive for renewable heat in buildings (largely decarbonised by 2030); and move to electric vehicles (290,000 on Scotlands roads by 2020). Investment in capital equipment means these issues are becoming current now. 3. Scottish Government Low Carbon Scotland means funders (CS, Las) need to account for carbon impact of their spend and will start exerting pressure on clients. 4. Scottish Governments Low Carbon ScotlandPublic Engagement Strategy (Dec 2010, p10): We will also consider the role of the cultural sector which has the capacity to 4

Putting Culture at the Heart of a Low-carbon Scotland educate, influence and stimulate debate. This offers us an opportunity to shape the policy context. Creative Carbon Scotland: initiative led by Festivals Edinburgh with Federation of Scottish Theatre and Visual Arts & Galleries Association Scotland working for the whole sector. Current projects: FST Carbon Management Project; VAGA Climate Strategy Group; Edinburgh Festivals Green Venue Initiative and Artists and Audience Impact Reduction programme; Sector wide events like today; Green Champion training forthcoming. We are setting up a small thinking group if you want to join, contact Ben@creativecarbonscotland.com We are discussing with Creative Scotland assisting them in developing a sustainability strategy for the sector.

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Julies Bicycle Sustaining Creativity 1. (Alison Tickell Director of JB) Action is necessary many countries are working hard: Scotland has the worlds most ambitious targets for CO2 emissions reduction: 42% by 2020. Collaboration is required. 2. JB aims: a. Reduce the output of carbon and other environmental impacts resulting from the arts and creative industries. b. Present the arguments for acting together and in concert on this issue c. Spread our work across creative sectors in recognition of the commonality of business infrastructures and opportunities of scale. d. Prepare the arts and cultural sector for the capital, legislative, financial and cultural changes that a low carbon society requires. e. Stimulate demand for new and innovative services, goods and utilities markets, and green supply chains. f. Recognise in all our work the social justice issues inherent in environmental sustainability. 3. See www.juliesbcilcyle.com for research and guidance: Green riders, touring, buildings management etc 4. Research into music industry demonstrated that audience travel, venues and CD lifecycle emissions were key areas this prompted action and further research in much of the creative/arts sector 5. Industry Green certification scheme: based on the principles of Commit to reducing your environmental impact; Understand your carbon footprint; Improve your carbon performance; communicate your actions to audiences and stakeholders. 6. Theatre programme (Sian Alexander: Associate Director (Theatre) of JB) strands include: Venues; Tours; Production; Benchmarking; Outdoor events; International Theatre Alliance; and Future Theatre. 7. A number of networks: some mostly theatre (eg Green Theatre Network; London Theatre Consortium) and others geographical (eg Newcastle/Gateshead; Manchester). 8. Reasons for action: Ethics; Regulation; Governance; Brand; Stakeholders; Savings 9. Savings: a potential to save 35m worth of energy by 2015 in arts buildings at relatively low cost 5

Putting Culture at the Heart of a Low-carbon Scotland 10. Things are moving after some years of JB making the case: Arts Council England recently stated Arts Council England is committed to taking practical steps to embed environmental sustainability in the arts and cultural sectors. Within the life time of this funding agreement, we intend to ask all our national portfolio organisations to develop an environmental action policy and annual action plan to improve environmental performance and carbon emissions. Our target for this is 2013 and we will provide support and materials to enable this to happen. Resources and contacts Ben Twist ben@creativecarbonscotland.com 07931 553872 Julies Bicycle an unparalleled resource at www.juliesbicycle.com Festivals Edinburghs Green Venue Guide at www.efgreen.co.uk