Ecological Transition
Ongoing Actions
Throughout the year, the SMQ carries out a series of concrete actions to support the museum network's ecological transition. This ongoing mobilization takes the form of active monitoring, structural initiatives, and best practices aimed at providing long-term support to institutions and professionals in the sector.
Strategic monitoring
In order to share advances in sustainable development, sector trends, funding opportunities, and inspiring initiatives for Quebec museums, the SMQ actively and continuously monitors issues related to the ecological transition. This information is regularly posted on our newsfeed to keep the museum community informed, prepared, and engaged in the face of ongoing environmental and societal changes.
Professional development
The socio-ecological transition is one of the priority areas of our training and professional development program for museum professionals. It was the theme of our annual symposium in 2022 and has been the focus of several co-development groups. In addition to being the subject of several of our training courses.
Environmentally responsible symposium
Since 2022, SMQ has been committed to making its symposium an environmentally responsible event by improving its environmental footprint every year. The organization promotes quality exchanges, responsible transportation modes, waste reduction, reuse, local resources, and vegetarian menus, while raising awareness of good environmental practices among symposium attendees, panellists, partners, and exhibitors.
Socio-ecological transition award
Thanks to its partnership with the Caisse d’économie solidaire Desjardins, the SMQ created the Caisse d’économie solidaire Desjardins Socio-Ecological Transition Award, which recognizes innovative initiatives and practices in sustainable development in Quebec museums. This award has been presented annually since its creation in 2024.
Greenhouse gas emission assessment
Since 2022, the Société des musées du Québec has been using Creative Green tools to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions produced by some of its activities. Annual reports on our current activities have confirmed that the impact of team travel and waste related to the SMQ's daily activities is negligible compared to the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by the building and the conference.
In-house training
The SMQ regularly organizes activities to raise awareness among its team about the principles of ecological transition and provides ongoing training on various concepts and approaches with a view to the collective adoption of best practices.
SMQ-produced references4 resources
Charter - Museums and sustainable development
Adopted by SMQ members in 2012, the Museums and Sustainable Development Charter aims to strengthen museums' commitment to sustainable development while taking into account their unique mission. It is based on five guiding principles: social equity, participation, access to knowledge, protection of cultural heritage, and responsible consumption.
Diagnostic - Environmental commitments in Quebec museums
In 2023, the SMQ consulted museum professionals in Quebec to assess their environmental commitments. This report, written by the RQFE, highlights the priorities that need to be addressed in order to support museums in their transition to more sustainable practices.
Best Practices Toolkit – Museums and ecological transition
Regularly updated, this toolkit brings together a collection of references, tools, testimonials, best practices, and guides designed to provide museum teams with the resources they need to carry out their socio-ecological initiatives and encourage them to take action.
Environmental responsibility: practical advice for museum managers
Produced by the SMQ in collaboration with the firm Takt-etik, this guide for museum officials focuses primarily on environmental performance. Designed as a checklist, it facilitates the application of environmental commitment principles. The series of practical tips it contains proposes measures to guide environmental responsibility in museums. Closely linked to the SMQ's Museums and Sustainable Development Charter, this tool is also in line with the spirit of Quebec's Agenda 21 for Culture.
Good to know
In the fall of 2025, the Société des musées du Québec undertook a review of its Museum and Sustainable Development Charter to better reflect scientific advances, social transformations, and new approaches to sustainability and museum practices. Although the current charter remains a reference, particularly for the accreditation of museum institutions, it no longer fully takes into account recent international frameworks into account, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, or the increased role of museums as agents of social change, as recognized under the new ICOM definition.
Developed in consultation with museums, this project aims to create a rallying tool aligned with the network's values, strengthen museums' commitment to the socio-ecological transition, raise awareness of recent advances, and foster collective support for a shared vision of sustainable development.
