Climate Museum

The Climate Museum is a nonprofit organization in New York City. It was the first museum in the United States to focus on climate change and ways to solve climate problems. The museum shows free exhibitions, art displays, and programs for young people. These activities happen in different places around New York City, including a special show on Governors Island and online events.

History

The Climate Museum started after Superstorm Sandy. Its founder and director, Miranda Massie, used her background in law and civil rights to view climate change as a social issue. In March 2014, the Climate Museum Project began, and in July 2015, the museum received a five-year charter from the government of New York. The following February, the museum became a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

Today, the Climate Museum is part of the Museums and Climate Change Working Group, a group of museums worldwide that work together to include climate change in their shows and activities.

New York City permanent location

The Climate Museum shared in January 2025 that it found a permanent home in Hudson Yards in Manhattan. Building work on the big 24,000-square-foot space will start in 2026, and the museum plans to open its doors in 2029. The museum’s founder, Miranda Massie, hopes this new place will help people learn more about climate science and encourage them to take steps to help the environment.

Exhibitions and arts initiatives

The Climate Museum's first exhibition, In Human Time, was shown at the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center at Parsons School of Design, The New School from December 2017 to February 2018. It looked at polar ice, people, and time through art by Zaria Forman and Peggy Weil.

In September 2018, the museum worked with the NYC Mayor's Office on Climate Policy and Programs to host a citywide art show called Climate Signals by Justin Brice Guariglia. It used 10 solar-powered signs in New York City parks to show messages about climate change in five languages. Special events were held with community groups.

In Fall 2018, the museum opened its first temporary space on Governors Island at the Admiral's House. Events included an exhibition called Climate Changers of New York by David Noles, shown with the NYC Climate Action Alliance, and a digital activity called Create Your Own Climate Signal.

In 2019, the exhibition Taking Action was held on Governors Island. It talked about clean energy, challenges to moving to a carbon-free economy, and ways for visitors to work together for climate solutions.

In Fall 2021, artist Gabriela Salazar showed a one-day sculpture and performance at Washington Square Park called Low Relief for High Water. A film about the project was made by Micah Fink Films. That same year, a poster campaign called Beyond Lies started, designed by illustrator Mona Chalabi. It included a QR code so people could call their Congressional representatives. The campaign ran through March 2022.

In October 2022, the museum opened its first pop-up space in Soho, Manhattan, open until March 2023. The exhibition included a new climate art piece called Someday, all this by David Opdyke. It also shared social science research and ways for visitors to take action on climate change.

In October 2023, the pop-up exhibition The End of Fossil Fuel opened on Wooster Street in SoHo, focusing on climate justice and the fossil fuel industry. It featured a mural by R. Gregory Christie and explored issues like "sacrifice zones" and their effects on communities.

Youth programming

From March to June 2019, the Climate Museum worked with the NYC Department of Education to hold a spoken word program called Climate Speaks for high school students. The program ended with a final performance at the Apollo Theater.

In April 2020, the museum started Climate Art for Congress. This included art, writing, and civics projects for students from K-12 across the United States. Students made illustrated notes about climate concerns and sent them to their congressional representatives.

In the summer of 2021, the Climate Action Leadership Program began. Students, mostly from the New York Metropolitan area, took part in workshops, internships, and volunteer opportunities at the museum and with partner organizations.