The Natural History Museum has declared a planetary emergency, launching a new strategy in response to the challenges facing the planet. The attraction will create new galleries, exhibitions and events.
As part of its new strategy, the NHM will create advocates for the planet and expand its efforts to engage the public with planetary issues.
Executive director of engagement, Clare Matterson CBE, said: “An advocate for the planet is someone who can speak up for nature and is empowered to take action to protect it.”
“We are facing a planetary emergency,” said director of NHM, Sir Michael Dixon. “Humanity’s future depends on the natural world, but we are not taking effective action to combat our destructive impact on the planet’s survival systems.
“Climate change, biodiversity loss and extinctions, habitat destruction, pollution and deforestation are just some of the crises which all flow from unsustainable human activity.”
NHM is creating advocates for the planet
We're facing a #PlanetaryEmergency.
The natural world is disappearing faster than ever before. As it starts to vanish, the effects are already being felt.
Humans have caused this crisis, and we must act to solve it.#ForPeopleAndPlanet https://t.co/qkcPQiDjT1
— Natural History Museum (@NHM_London) January 20, 2020
The NHM will open up its collection and share the scientific data and evidence needed to find solutions to climate instability and biodiversity loss.
It will also create new galleries, exhibitions and events, including ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature‘ and a world-class dinosaur gallery exploring biodiversity, extinction and climate change.
In addition, the museum is leading the ‘Urban Nature Project‘, which will tackle urban biodiversity loss and transform its five acres of gardens into an outdoor space for wildlife research and conservation.
Meanwhile, NHM is launching a year-long season of events, activities and digital content on the importance of nature and diversity, called ‘Backing Biodiversity’.
Backing Biodiversity and Urban Nature Project
It is also building a new flagship science and digitisation centre to safeguard and share its 80 million specimens, and is becoming the first museum in the world to set a science-based carbon reduction target.
“In this time of unprecedented threat, we need an unprecedented global response,” added Dixon. “Our strategy is built around our vision of a future where people and planet thrive.
“Our ethos is one of hope that by working together we can change the current path.”
