Being an age-long institution, the museum from time immemorial has been an institution of societal transformation by using its collection, which is not just for static purposes but also as materials for societal evolution through community cohesion, cultural and historical reflection of a group of a people (Sarah Suton, 2015).
Sustainability has become fundamental to the work of museums, since the early 1970s. Museums promote sustainability as monuments for conservation and preservation with climate change in focus (Lauren Styx 2022). For the sustainability of society to be enhanced and ensured, the museum which is an agent that connects the past and the present through its artifacts, historical renditions and custodian of heritages must constantly interface with communities, people and races to create the needed awareness and support for researches & advancement in knowledge, using the past historical information to educate the present generation so as to be able to connect better with the future.
Sustainable development is aimed at balancing a people’s economic, environmental and social needs for a better future (Jacob Thorek, 2015). With the cardinal function of the museum to collect, preserve, interpret and display objects of culture, artistic or of scientific significance, the museum sustains the society from this perspective by greeting and making available avenues for public enlightenment.
In advancing its sustainability for the society, museums in recent times do not advocate for reduction of its consumption alone but canvasse for recycling and re-using measures for its materials through the implementation of environmental management; these are key to reducing pollution and conserving natural resources, especially water and energy.
Being a critical aspect of human endeavour, sustainability through the collaboration with museums seeks to provide solution to present generation needs without distorting the future generation economic growth, environmental cave and social well-being.
Hence, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) synergizes with United Nations, sustainable development goals (SDGs) to ensure people’s prosperity, peace and partnership so as to achieve a holistic well-being in every society.
Museums are perfectly positioned to address and enhance sustainability as they are able to work with communities to raise public awareness, support research and knowledge creation to contribute to the wellbeing of the planet and societies for future generations. (ICOM 2015).
