Transport accounts for around 15 percent of global emissions. In the European Union, its share is much higher and amounts to about 28 percent, most of which comes from road and air traffic. In the arts and culture sector, where travel is a constant feature, transport issues affect many aspects: the mobility of artists and teams from institutions/organisations, technical crews, the delivery of services and equipment, the transport of works of art, and the movement of audiences. Even on a small scale, conscious decisions about travel and limiting the most emission-intensive forms of transport can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of institutions and organised events.
STEP 1
Focus on raising awareness, shaping daily habits and promoting green transport among your team, collaborators and audience, as well as providing basic infrastructure that supports pro-environmental choices.
Everyday commute
Take a look at the daily habits of your employees and regular collaborators. Encourage them to commute to work using zero-emission transport (by bicycle or on foot) or public transport (tram, underground, bus), which has low emissions per passenger. To make this easier, provide maps of cycle routes, information on transport connections and indicate the nearest stops. Consider introducing small benefits for employees, e.g. subsidies for the purchase of bicycles, partial subsidies for public transport season tickets, etc.
Cycling infrastructure
Support for commuting by bike does not require large investments. It is important to provide basic amenities: bicycle racks (preferably covered) or easily accessible bicycle storage, as well as access to showers in the building. This will encourage more people to consider cycling as a viable alternative to travelling by car or bus, especially for longer journeys or in adverse weather conditions. If possible, consider purchasing company bicycles so that your team can conveniently travel to short meetings in the city during working hours. This solution has already been successfully implemented by some institutions.
> Read more about why employers should support cycling infrastructure: Eco-barometre 2025. Have you got a company? Invest in bicycles, source: Nowy Marketing.
Business travel
Limit unnecessary business travel, especially long-distance travel. Organise smaller teams and opt for online meetings instead of physical ones. Promote train travel, especially on domestic routes. Choose other means of public transport as a second option. Car travel should be reserved for places that are difficult to reach by public transport, especially in rural areas, and for people with reduced mobility. Introduce a ‘zero domestic flights’ policy. If you need to take a flight for longer journeys, avoid connecting flights – a significant amount of emissions is associated with the take-off and landing cycle of the aircraft. Choose economy class – its emissions are 4-5 times lower than in first class (seats take up less space, thus increasing the number of passengers on board). Use airlines with newer aircraft models which emit less pollution. Try to maximise the value of such a trip – plan a longer stay, combine it with other meetings and take the opportunity to get to know the local context better. In order to effectively reduce transport-related CO₂ emissions, more and more organisations are introducing specific restrictions on air travel. Examples of regulations include: a maximum of x international flights per person per year, a limit on the total number of flights within an organisation (up to x per year), or a ban on short-haul flights if it is possible to travel by train in less than x hours.
> Many airlines offer CO₂ compensation when purchasing a ticket, but there is a lack of clarity regarding the use of these funds, and the effectiveness of these offsets is increasingly being questioned. Read more: Carbon Offsets Used by Major Airlines Based on Flawed System, Warn Experts, source: The Guardian.
> Be inspired by an interesting example – as an incentive to use green transport, institutions can offer additional paid time off for employees who want to choose low-carbon travel instead of flying when planning their holidays: Climate Perks.
Carpooling
One of the basic principles of sustainable transport is to limit solo car journeys – passenger cars account for a large proportion of emissions. If travelling by car is necessary, it is worth organising carpooling to make the most of the number of seats in the vehicle. Support carpooling, i.e. connecting people travelling on the same route. Make it easier by creating a simple internal system – this could be a notice board (physical or online), a shared spreadsheet, or a group on a messaging app. This will allow the team to arrange carpooling.
> Find out why it is so important to limit solo car journeys: CO₂ emissions from cars: facts and figures (infographics), source: European Parliament.
Read more: How using public transport and carpooling can help the environment, source: Instytut Rozwoju Myśli Ekologicznej.
> This link provides an interesting graphic showing CO₂ emissions associated with annual commuting in Warsaw, including the difference between travelling alone by car and travelling with several other people: Transport expert: Popularity of SUVs (including electric ones) is bad new for the climate, source: Nauka o klimacie.
Travel arrangements of guests and artists
As with employees, choose public transport for domestic routes and those bordering the country, with trains as the first choice and buses as the second. Organise hybrid events, allowing people from distant locations to participate without having to travel. Minimise flights and eliminate domestic flights. International travel without flights takes more time and can also generate higher costs. When working with sponsors and external institutions, make it clear that the budget includes sustainable forms of transport – transparency may encourage partners to cover the additional costs associated with green solutions.
For guests, choose accommodation close to the event venue to reduce additional transport. Encourage invitees to use public transport and offer them a public transport ticket, preferably in the form of a multi-trip card – it is convenient, low-carbon and often cheaper. If you are inviting guests from far away, plan a longer stay for them – suggest cooperation with other institutions to combine performances or meetings and make the most of their presence in your town. (see: EVENT PRODUCTION)
> More and more artists are choosing to avoid flying, opting instead for ‘slow travel’ by train. Read a blog about such a journey: London to Copenhagen: an Experiment in Slow Travel, source: Workroom Fastfamiliar. Use the platform that helps find international rail connections: Seat61.
> Read about the initiative of scientists who have given up flying or significantly reduced their air travel: No Fly Climate Sci.
Sustainable audience travel
Promote sustainable forms of travel among your audience. On your website, under the ‘Getting here’ tab, indicate cycling, walking and public transport as recommended for environmental reasons. Add maps of cycle paths, walking times from important locations, and indicate public transport stops, underground lines, trams and buses. Provide information about available facilities, such as secure bicycle parking, rest areas and cafés. Consider small benefits for low-carbon travellers, such as discounts or a free drink. In smaller towns, it is worth adjusting event times to local transport timetables. If public transport is insufficient to reduce the number of cars, provide a carpooling platform, links to websites such as BlaBlaCar, or organise bus transport.
For large events, emissions related to audience travel can account for more than half of the total carbon footprint, so it is worth collecting transport data at the registration or ticket purchase stage. It is not about precise data, but about obtaining a general picture that will help to better plan sustainable solutions. Even simple methods, such as short surveys or postcode analysis, can provide valuable information. Key data that will help to refine the picture include: means of transport, distance travelled and number of people travelling together.
> See how a museum located away from main routes encourages visitors to travel without a car: It’s Easy to Vist the Cateran Museum!, source: Cateran Ecomuseum.
> Read about the campaign accompanying one band’s tour, which succeeded in reducing the environmental impact of audience travel: Ticket to Ride: Sustainable Audience Travel for Major Events, source: Vision for Sustainable Events.
> Check out an example of a carpooling tool for people attending a large event: Plan Your Trip, source: Festival d’Avignon.
Logistics and deliveries
Consider the environmental impact of deliveries as early as the order planning and subcontractor cooperation stage. Two tips are key here: minimise the number of journeys (shorten the supply chain) and, where possible, work with local producers. Remember the ‘reuse’ principle, which will help reduce new purchases and transport. For any items you need to get, instead of transporting them from far away, first check what can be ordered locally. Avoid single shipments – try to combine them and group orders into one shipment. For small local deliveries which require fast delivery, order bicycle couriers. This will not only reduce emissions, but also the risk of delays and excess costs. (see: PRODUCTION: MATERIALS)
STEP 2
In the next step, you will learn about more complex aspects of transport, which sometimes require broader cooperation and arrangements, and in some cases, such as the transport of museum collections, a specialised fleet.
Combined tickets
Consider introducing a combined ticket – admission to an institution or cultural event combined with a public transport ticket. Such a solution not only facilitates access to events, but also actively encourages people to give up individual car journeys, which is consistent with the green strategies of large cities aiming to reduce car traffic. They are also successfully used by organisers of large theatre and music festivals or events taking place in multiple locations, effectively reducing their carbon footprint.
> Read about the Berlin Welcome Card, which combines tickets to Berlin museums with the possibility of travelling on public transport: Sustainable Berlin, source: Visit Berlin.
> The admission ticket to the Ruhrtriennale festival, held in the Ruhr area, also serves as a public transport ticket for travel to and from the event venue: Journey, source: Ruhtriennale.
Transportation of objects and works of art
The transportation of objects and works of art, especially on an international scale, is one of the most demanding aspects of museum and gallery operations. The security of collections requires good cooperation and coordination with other institutions and the use of specialist companies which are able to provide protection against damage and control temperature and humidity. Environmental impact criteria should also be taken into account, and transport options that generate the smallest possible carbon footprint should be chosen. Avoid air transport and choose alternatives such as sea, rail or road transport instead. In terms of transport efficiency, it is worth considering the weight and volume of the work at the design stage, e.g. so that it can be easily dismantled and packed compactly. Use reusable packaging (reusable crates and materials) during transport and avoid non-recyclable materials.
In justified cases, together with the author of the work consider refraining from transporting the original and instead recreate the work on site, using local materials. One of the key recommendations for reducing emissions in the arts sector is to focus on organising exhibitions based on local collections and works created on site. (see: PRODUCTION: MATERIALS)
> In order to reduce the need for physical travel by persons accompanying the transport of works, CIMAM promotes the idea of so-called ‘virtual couriers,’ i.e. remote monitoring of the transport of objects using digital technologies (e.g. environmental sensors, GPS location) and installation carried out by local teams. Read more: Mobility: Towards Greener Transport, source: CIMAM.
> Read an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of different transport options for collections: Shipping and Environmental Considerations of Sea and Road vs. Air Freight, source: Gallery Climate Coalition.
> Read the analysis of how object loans and their transport impact the environment: Life Cycle Assessment of Museum Loans and Exhibitions, source: Sustainability Tools in Cultural Heritage.
> Check out the toolkit supporting the sustainable organisation of touring exhibitions, created in collaboration with the Design Museum in London, Art Fund and The Exhibitions Group: Rethinking Touring Exhibitions. A Tool to Help Reduce the Environmental Impact of Touring Exhibitions, source: The Exhibitions Group.
Touring
Tour planning is an area with enormous potential for reducing emissions. The first step is to choose low-emission means of transport. The second is to design the route so that it combines performances in cities located close to each other – this is a win-win situation for the environment, logistics and economy, both for the performing bands and local organisers. Avoid geographical leaps – one ill-considered transfer can double the carbon footprint of the entire tour. Limit the number of people and equipment travelling with the event. In many cases, local technical staff can supplement the team, and some equipment can be rented on site.
> Some bands touring internationally are introducing their own climate budgets, limiting flights and travelling by train. Read more: The band that doesn’t want you to drive to their concerts, source: BBC, Banding Together: How Your Favourite Musical Artists Are Tuning into the Climate Crisis, source: Carbon Market Watch.
> ‘Concept touring’ is one of the alternatives to traditional touring – it involves international routes in which the idea, process and work travel without the need for people to physically travel. Read more: Concept touring, source: LIFT Festival.
> Fourteen theatres participating in the ‘Sustainable Performances: Re-Stagings’ project have developed a model for co-producing performances about the climate crisis that allows for staging performances without transporting people or goods, using only local resources: About the Project, source: STAGES.
> Eleven European partners from the world of jazz and improvised music are working together to find ways to reduce the carbon footprint of concert tours, including emissions associated with band transportation and audience travel. See more: Better Live Music.
STEP 3
At this stage, the pursuit of sustainable mobility should become part of the institution’s long-term strategy. This means moving away from ad hoc measures in favour of structural solutions that shape the transport policy of the team, guests, the audience and suppliers.
Strategy: sustainable transportation
The final step is to introduce internal regulations – implementing a sustainable transport policy that promotes low-carbon means of transportation and reduces unnecessary travel. It is important that environmentally friendly guidelines are not just isolated measures, but indicate strategic emission reduction targets. It is worth dividing the regulations into four areas: staff, guests and artists, audience, and logistics and deliveries. These regulations should be reflected in contracts and formal documents, so make sure to communicate the new rules to your team.
The institution should also introduce regular travel monitoring, collecting data on means of transport and distances – for the team, guests, audience and logistics. This will enable better mobility management and planning of further emission reduction measures. It is also worth setting a target, e.g. reducing transport emissions by 25% within a year.
> Find out more about creating a sustainable transport policy: Guide to Writing a Sustainable Travel Policy, source: Culture for Climate Scotland – and see a sample strategy: WWF-UK Sustainable Travel Policy, source: WWF.
> Check out free tools available online, such as spreadsheets, which help integrate transport emissions monitoring with reduction planning: Environmental Reporting Tools, source: Culture for Climate Scotland, or a freight transport calculator: EcoTransit.
