The International Council of Museums has recently announced the new definition of a museum. This definition of what museums do and the focus of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have a lot in common. Both practice the 5 Ps – people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership, however with a slightly different lens.

1. People 

SDG – Ending poverty and hunger, in all their forms and dimensions, and to ensure that all human beings can fulfill their potential in dignity and equality and in a healthy environment, form the core of many of the SDGs. Museums – Providing people with meaningful activities and varied experiences for education, enjoyment, reflection and knowledge sharing among diverse communities, is what museums believe in.

2. Planet 

SDG – Protecting the planet from degradation – and that includes degradation through sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change,  is utmost important in order to support the needs of the present and future generations. Museumsprotect and safeguard the cultural and natural heritage, and the tangible and intangible heritage through research, conservation, and interpretation.

3. Prosperity 

SDG – Ensuring that all human beings enjoy prosperous and fulfilling lives and that economic, social and technological progress occurs in harmony with nature. Museums – With more than 105,000 museums across the globe they play a significant and distinctive part in fostering diversity, inclusion and sustainability within the communities they serve and the tourism sector at large.

4. Peace 

SDG –  Peace and Sustainable Development have to be interdependent in order to create impact, and therefore fostering peaceful, just and inclusive societies that are free from fear and violence, becomes an equally important goal. Museums – Museums strive to be inclusive in the way they  operate and communicate ethically. Creating a safe and peaceful environment for their visitors, staff, and stakeholders, is one of their primary goals.

5. Partnerships 

SDG – Mobilising the means required to implement the 2030 Agenda (the plan of action for Sustainable Development) through a revitalized Global Partnership for Sustainable Development is based on the spirit of strengthened global solidarity, focusing particularly the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable, and with the participation of all countries, all stakeholders and all people.

ICOM – Museums have always believed in collaboration and have encouraged partnerships – be it for exhibitions, events, education, or conservation projects. Given the fact that there are so many overlaps between the SDGs and what museums do, how can we deepen this engagement? Curating Tomorrow, a UK consultancy for museums, the heritage sector, and anyone interested in creating a better future, has come up with a guide for museums and the larger culture sector on how this can be achieved. It’s a six-step plan: 1.Consider and keep in mind that the SDGs are interconnected and interdependent, and not independent goals, in order to address the world’s biggest challenges. 2. Decide what role you would be playing when you participate actively – be it leader, follower, or partner. 3. Have a broad understanding of how your museum or your own work contributes to all 17 SDGs, both positively and negatively, and also which ones are particularly your focus areas. ; 4. Explore the Seven Key Activities to understand how your activities relate to certain SDGs and targets that you might be working on  in particular. 5. Choose one or more of the Seven Key Activities and develop a focussed action plan using the SDG targets as a guide, in order to plan the sustainable development outcomes. Make sure you deliver the plan, and communicate your progress. Remember to try to enhance positive contributions and also eliminate negative impacts in and through your activity. Your plan might be for a single activity, department, area of work, topic, or for the whole organisation. 6. Review and renew your action plan regularly.

Museums have the power to influence and create an impact on society through various means. How is your museum creating an impact?