ACE plans to reduce emissions 25% by 2024

Arts Council England has published its updated Environmental Responsibility Action Plan 2022-24, which details its goal of establishing a clearly defined pathway to net zero emissions by 2024, in line with the UK’s long-term Net Zero Strategy.

It also aims to reduce office energy use and business travel emissions by 25% by 2024, when compared to 2019/20.

The plan was developed in association with environmental partner Julie’s Bicycle, which helped complete a carbon footprint and environmental snapshot for 2019/20.

Based on what this revealed about ACE's environmental impacts, practice and performance, the updated environmental strategy will primarily focus on its operations and nine offices across England, taking into account limitations imposed by leasing office space and the impact of hybrid-working patterns.

The carbon footprint associated with touring and loaning works from the Arts Council Collection is also scrutinised in the new strategy, which includes a plan to rehouse the collection in a single repurposed building in Coventry, designed and operated to high environmental standards.

Other approaches to tackling emissions include instituting a minimum Energy Performance Certificate rating across all offices, updating the Cycle to Work scheme to include e-bikes, encouraging staff to use personal phones instead of company phones and transferring company pensions to ethical and environmentally friendly funds.