New Digital Humanities Climate Coalition Resources
The Digital Humanities Climate Coalition (DHCC) is pleased to announce the publication of two new resources supporting environmentally responsible Digital Humanities research. The DHCC is a Community Interest Group of the UK-Ireland Digital Humanities Association, and these publications reflect its ongoing work to support climate conscious research practices across the field.
The two new publications are:
‘Interpreting UKRI Environmental Sustainability Guidance’
UKRI have increasingly articulated expectations around environmental responsibility, including the introduction of a sustainability strategy, participation in a cross sector environmental sustainability concordat, and the December 2024 update to the AHRC Research Funding Guide, which now includes an explicit statement on environmental responsibility.
Many Digital Humanities researchers welcome these developments, while expressing uncertainty about how high-level guidance translates into everyday research practice. Interpreting UKRI Environmental Sustainability Guidance for the Digital Humanities addresses this gap by offering interpretations of current funder guidance and directing readers to practical advice on operationalising environmentally responsible approaches.
Drawing on the DHCC Toolkit, the document is aimed at DH researchers, technicians, curators, and software engineers, while remaining relevant across the wider UKRI remit. Its purpose is to build confidence that climate conscious work aligns with funder priorities, that environmental action is integral to research excellence, and that challenging barriers to sustainable practice is justified.
DHCC Project Self-Assessment Tool
The DHCC Project Self-Assessment Tool is designed to support researchers and project teams in embedding environmental sustainability throughout project design, delivery, and reporting.
Aligned with the EPSRC AREA framework for responsible research and innovation, the tool encourages reflection on how projects anticipate, reflect on, engage with, and act to mitigate the environmental impacts of DH research. It can be used individually or collaboratively and is suitable for projects of varying sizes and stages.
About the Digital Humanities Climate Coalition
As a Community Interest Group of the UK-Ireland Digital Humanities Association, the DHCC explore the environmental dimensions of Digital Humanities research practice via workshops, events, and a discussion forum. Through these community-led conversations, the CIG raises awareness of climate conscious research practices and builds a shared knowledge base for the Association’s wider membership.
Please also check out the DHCC’s other resources, such as A Researcher Guide to Writing a Climate Justice-Oriented Data Management Plan, The Cloud and the Climate: Navigating AI-Powered Futures and the Digital Humanities Climate Coalition Toolkit, which bring together resources to help researchers reduce carbon footprint and resource use.
The DHCC community welcomes anyone with an interest in its activities. To contact them about getting involved, please email cdcs@ed.ac.uk.
For these resources and other papers written by our community, check out our Resources page.
