How Culture and the Creative Industries Contribute to Net Zero

The recent Scottish Government's draft National Planning Framework opened to consultation. The draft sets out a strategy for ‘Sustainable, Liveable, Productive and Distinctive places’. And puts design at the centre of a net-zero, sustainable Scotland by 2045.

This blog post summarises some of the key points made by Culture Counts in our evidence to the consultation.

It's great to read about the Government's design-led approach to sustainable places in the draft. And there are opportunities for other creative and cultural practices to deliver this too.

Embedded

Creative practice (like design) shares skills and perspectives in a technical capacity as described in the draft. But they also re-imagine our places and can embed sustainability within them.

There are successful projects where embedding practising artists into places can bring new approaches to planning.

These include artists adapting mining sites into useful community spaces in Ohio. Frances Whitehead's work with government agencies has seen many industrial sites find cultural value.

While Glasgow's own Creative Communities project brings artists in residence to every ward of the city. The aim of the programme is to bring new perspectives, mindsets and processes to the city's planning projects.

Creative Carbon Scotland's resources share examples of artists, designers and other creative practitioners, who "not only address environmental sustainability but also change the way we interact in society."

Circular Economy

The NPF4 draft explains ‘A circular economy… is designed to reduce the demand for raw material in products’. A more progressive plan would define waste and pollution as design flaws. Instead the draft only ‘encourages’ the use of previously used materials.

Our definition of circular economy could be more ambitious. Rather than explain circular economy as a reduction in demand of raw materials, it should be clearer that the aim is to close material loops, and shut-off any route for materials to reach landfill.

Recovery and restoration of our natural environment should prioritise design’s impact on the community over the intentions of the designer. Culture Counts support the principles of the Design Justice Network. We have encouraged the Scottish Government to consider signing up to the principles too.

Digital infrastructure

Digital infrastructure is often seen as a way to reduce reducing unsustainable travel and connect communities to services.

But digital services can have a significant environmental impact that isn’t always addressed. As we continue to consume more internet data, the electricity consumed by the internet is growing too. Every click, swipe and log in has an energy cost. Energy-efficient digital design can include;

  • digital service providers using green hosting

  • reducing friction in user journeys through better web and content design

  • clean and efficient code that minimises server load

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Sources

  • https://consult.gov.scot/local-government-and-communities/draft-national-planning-framework-4/

  • https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotland-2045-fourth-national-planning-framework-draft/pages/3/

  • http://magazine.art21.org/2010/08/24/frances-whitehead-embedded-artist/#.YlBGabjTXw6

  • https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/arts-music-and-cultural-venues/creative-communities-artists-in-residence

  • https://www.creativecarbonscotland.com/project/the-embedded-artist/

  • https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotland-2045-fourth-national-planning-framework-draft/pages/9/

  • https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/eliminate-waste-and-pollution

  • https://ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circulate-products-and-materials

  • https://designjustice.org/principles-overview

  • https://www.wholegraindigital.com/blog/website-energy-efficiency/

News, Policy PositionsLori Anderson