Tides of change: Youth, museums and heritage in the climate emergency

This paper explores how youth engagement with heritage in small island communities can advance climate justice through participatory museology. Drawing on the Shared Island Stories project connecting Barbados and Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, it demonstrates how transnational exchanges and intergenerational knowledge-sharing empower young people as climate changemakers. Through critical pedagogy, co-curation and community-led practices, museums become active sites of resilience, challenging colonial legacies and fostering sustainable futures. The paper highlights the transformative potential of youth-led initiatives in reshaping museum roles — from custodians of history to catalysts for environmental and social justice in climate-vulnerable regions.