How Robert Rauschenberg created the first artwork for Earth Day
How Robert Rauschenberg, inspired by his upbringing in a Texas oil town, created the first artwork for Earth Day as part of his lifelong environmental activism
Sustainability
For more than 250 years at Christie’s we have helped steward some of humanity’s greatest artistic treasures across generations and cultures.
As a leader in our market, we want to build a sustainable art business so that we can play another stewarding role, helping to protect the environment so that great natural beauty can be enjoyed by, and inspire, future generations.
Acknowledging the urgent scientific evidence for climate action, Christie’s set ambitious and important goals in 2021 to become a more sustainable business, the first major auction house to do so. Our global sustainability strategy is guided by three key pillars: commit, communicate and collaborate. We work across six operational focus areas: Buildings, Travel, IT, Shipping, Procurement and Publishing.
As a leader in our market, we want to build a sustainable art business so that we can play another stewarding role, helping to protect the environment so that great natural beauty can be enjoyed by, and inspire, future generations.
Acknowledging the urgent scientific evidence for climate action, Christie’s set ambitious and important goals in 2021 to become a more sustainable business, the first major auction house to do so. Our global sustainability strategy is guided by three key pillars: commit, communicate and collaborate. We work across six operational focus areas: Buildings, Travel, IT, Shipping, Procurement and Publishing.
Five years ago we made a decision to create a more sustainable future for Christie’s. With a reduction of 69% since 2019, we have shown it is possible and in doing so have driven change in the art market. Art is a source of personal joy and enrichment and that should not come at the expense of the environment.”– Bonnie Brennan, Christie’s Chief Executive Officer
Key sustainability takeaways
Our sustainability pillars
COMMIT
We pledge to reduce carbon emissions 50% by 2030 from our 2019 base year followed by reaching net-zero and reducing carbon emissions 90% by 2050.
- We will reduce our carbon emissions by 90% across all emission scopes, aligning with climate science to keep global temperature rises to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. We have committed to the Science Based Target initiative to ensure we have a rigorous framework to help us on our journey. View here for the formal letter approval from SBTi.
- We will launch a series of programmes designed to reduce our carbon across all of our main areas of operational activity. From now on, the lens of sustainability will inform how our buildings are powered; how artworks are packed, transported, presented and marketed; and how often we travel.
- We will divert 90% of our waste from landfill.
- We will provide all clients with packaging and printed products that are both high quality and 100% recyclable.
- In December 2021 Christie’s became the first auction house to have our targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a global coalition that promotes best practice and independently assesses and approves companies’ emissions targets in line with strict criteria. It is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
COMMUNICATE
We will report on our progress and insights.
- We pledge to be transparent in the progress that we make, communicating our targets and how we are working towards them clearly and openly. We will share our achievements via an annual environmental impact report and also shed light on challenges to build broader awareness.
- Our annual Art+Tech Summit series of events in New York, Paris and Hong Kong promote dialogue about the role of emerging technologies in the art world and include a sustainability focus.
- Our latest report can be viewed here.
COLLABORATE
We work with others to achieve our targets and help drive systemic change.
- Systemic change requires collective action. We work with others to raise awareness and tackle industry-wide challenges, from suppliers and other companies and institutions to partners and clients.
- We are an Active Member of the Gallery Climate Coalition (GCC) a global non-profit organisation founded by a voluntary group of gallerists and professionals. Their aim is to help the art world reduce its impact on the climate and to develop a meaningful and industry-specific response to the growing climate crisis. As a member of the Coalition, we ensure we collaborate so that we learn from our colleagues in the wider art market and also share what we have learnt. We also contribute financially to the GCC.
- We continue to partner on meaningful projects that have raised significant funds for environmental and climate-focused charities.
