Roundtable 3, Developing IIC’s Position on Sustainable Heritage Environmental Strategies

By Bianca Gonçalves, Sofía Terán , Tatiana Valderrama Gutiérrez 

On the fourth day of the Congress, we had a stimulating discussion during Roundtable 3 with IIC President Julian Bickersteth. Conservators from all over the world joined the conversation online, greeting and showing their excitement for the topic: Developing IIC’s Position on Sustainable.  

Julian opened the discussion by reflecting on the creation of this IIC Congress and the declaration of the Bizot Protocol back in Melbourne in 2014. He emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change and posed the critical question: what does sustainability truly mean?

He referenced a powerful moment in Australia when a girl from Tuvalu confronted wealthier nations, stating, “You rich countries are denying our right to exist.” This highlighted the disparity in climate impacts across regions. Julian also noted IIC’s involvement in COPs (Conferences of the Parties), starting with COP26 in Glasgow, where IIC participated in the Green Zone. Since then, IIC has consistently worked to represent the conservation profession at these climate forums, seeking to bring value and amplify its voice.

Luiz Souza shared insights from his career, recalling a presentation by ICROM during his student years. Even 40 years ago, questions about sustainability in conservation practices were being raised. Since then, countless discussions, documents, and guidelines have been developed, yet we still face an urgent need for action. Luiz underscored the point that while discussions continue, we must move beyond talk and start implementing solutions. He also mentioned Brazil’s government under Lula, which has now declared a climate authority, and discussed the importance of reaching COP 30 with meaningful contributions.

Cecilia Winter spoke about her research at the Getty on environmental fluctuations in storage conditions. She referred to the 2014 Declaration, pointing out that many of the same questions about the need for scientific knowledge remain. However, she argued that we already possess enough knowledge—we now need to navigate it effectively and stop delaying action by asking for more data. Misconceptions about fragility persist, but in the face of a climate emergency, urgent action is required.

Dave highlighted the stark contrast between wealthy nations, which often have climate control and complain about declarations, and less affluent regions that have survived for centuries without air conditioning. Relaxing some of the stringent standards could be key to finding practical solutions in these areas.

Kelly added that climate cannot be viewed in isolation, as it’s tied to many aspects of how we think and operate. She advocated for a more holistic approach, pointing out that we often look for new technologies instead of reevaluating the need for things like air conditioning. IIC, she suggested, can play a vital role in supporting this shift in thinking. As preventive conservators, we must stop denying change—not all change is inherently bad.

Finally, Marcos from Argentina proposed that IIC could act as a catalyst for sharing knowledge across regions, serving as a critical communication tool for the global conservation community. He concluded that we have to make it happen at the base and noted the need to implement sustainability and environmental care as non-negotiable in our practice. 

With all these exciting topics and considerations on the table, the conversation started. Before opening the microphone, Julian reminded us that we all are IIC, therefore we have a collective responsibility in building a much needed new position. The first question came from the floor regarding the misconception of some concepts as “fragility”; making us reflect on the necessity to update our vocabulary to improve the conservation practice to current needs. 

The discussion continued to evolve, and after resolving some technical issues with the online audio, the conversation shifted towards rethinking traditional, rigid practices—such as the predefined temperature and humidity parameters set for loan agreements. There was a strong interest in moving towards more flexible approaches that promote a care-centered concept. While the panelists agreed with this perspective, they also highlighted the other side of the coin: how the discipline is deeply intertwined with legal and administrative frameworks that can sometimes limit a conservator's ability to act. Nevertheless this encourages the floor to start questioning how deep changes have to be done to become stronger and making more pressure on an institutional and governmental level. 

To finish, the audience suggested initiating changes by leading by example, demonstrating to students the possibilities and influence a conservator can have. This perspective was echoed by several participants, who emphasized the importance of educational processes, the need to promote communication, knowledge sharing, and contributions in both economic and management efforts.

The discussion concluded with many expressions of gratitude for the collective effort and solidarity, openness to dialogue, and the incredible network of conservators we are. The online participants left feeling happy and eager to continue expanding on this topic in future meetings.

BLOG AUTHORS
 

Bianca Gonçalves is a Brazilian paintings conservator based in the Netherlands

Sofiá Terán is a contemporary art conservator currently working at the University Museum of Contemporary Art (MUAC) of the National University of Mexico. 

Tatiana Valderrama Gutiérrez is a conservator and restorer of movable cultural heritage in Bogotá, Colombia.