The Getty has released a comprehensive climate impact assessment of its PST Art initiative, titled Art & Science Collide (2024-25), based on its inaugural Climate Impact Program (CIP). Developed with climate adviser Laura Lupton and artist Debra Scacco, the program provided webinars, guidance, and networking to participating institutions, with over two-thirds completing a climate impact report. Key findings show that air travel and air freight of art are the most carbon-intensive activities, and shifting to sea freight could reduce total emissions by 18%. Many institutions reduced waste through simple, low-cost changes, with some committing to permanent sustainability practices.
This matters because it provides the first large-scale, standardized data on the environmental impact of museum exhibitions, an area where the art world has struggled to measure and address its climate footprint. The findings will shape the next PST Art edition in 2030 and offer a replicable model for cultural organizations worldwide. By demonstrating that voluntary, flexible programs can drive meaningful change, the report challenges the industry to move beyond vague sustainability pledges toward concrete, measurable action.