A good cultural climate for a better climate culture
"We only have one Earth, where will we go if it's destroyed?" This is a fitting quote from the Buddhist monk Tenzin Gyatso, the current 14th Dalai Lama. We in the cultural sector can do a lot to improve the climate. We've compiled a few tips and options here.
Please note: The external websites linked here and the embedded PDF files are not barrier-free!
Table of contents
- The information platform
- Guides and guidelines for climate-neutral events
- Basics and important contact points
The information platform
The NRW-wide information platform klima-kultur offers an online event program that provides cultural institutions with practical and easily implementable tips for more sustainable action.
The nationwide initiative Culture4Climate regularly organizes online seminars and lectures as part of its continuing education program “Climate Responsibility in Cultural Organizations.”
Climate-neutral events: Guides and guidelines for planning, organizing and implementing sustainable events
Guidelines and checklists of the Federal Environment Agency
Guidelines, checklists, a CO2 calculator, and a special topic page on environmentally friendly procurement from the Federal Environment Agency. For the checklist and further information, see (external)
Compass ecological cultural productions of the Federal Cultural Foundation
Just do it! A compass for ecologically sustainable production in the cultural sector, published by the German Federal Cultural Foundation.
Download the compass (external)
Guide for sustainable events
A guide for sustainable events in various fields of activity. Published by the Green Events Hamburg initiative.
Download the manual (external)
Practical guide to climate-friendly events
The practical booklet "Climate-friendly events in socio-cultural practice" highlights fields of action and summarizes the practical experiences of the participating centers of the Now in the Future project.
Download the practical booklet (external)
Online CO2 calculator for events of the Federal Environment Agency
The Federal Environment Agency provides a free CO2 calculator that can be used online to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions generated by the event.
To the CO2 calculator (external)
Sector-specific guidelines and handouts
Almost every cultural sector now has its own handbook. We've compiled a small selection for you in this list. The associations are also well-positioned in terms of information.
To the guidelines for the cultural sectors (external)
Compass for ecologically sustainable production in the cultural sector.
Just do it - The compass for ecologically sustainable production in the cultural sector of the Federal Cultural Foundation provides tips on how public funds can be used in an environmentally friendly way.
Download the compass (external)
Handbook on sustainability in the cultural region of South Westphalia
In addition to introductory information on sustainable development and the sustainability process, the manual defines the areas of action.
Download the manual as PDF
Guide for sustainable and inclusive events
As part of the documentation of the NOW EVERYONE! real-world laboratory for a culture of diversity, we have developed a guide for sustainable and inclusive events. Download inclusive events.
Basics and important contact points
The German Sustainability Code
The German Sustainability Code (DNK) is an internationally applicable reporting standard for sustainability aspects. The German Council for Sustainable Development (RNE) adopted the DNK in 2011. The DNK can be applied to culture in two ways:
- The Code of Conduct can be broken down and applied to the cultural sector. As part of the project "Now in the Future. Developing a Culture of Sustainability: Practice and Perspectives for Sociocultural Centers," a Code of Conduct for Sociocultural Centers has already been developed. Documentation (external)
- Companies could include factors such as support for cultural engagement in their own Code of Conduct. About the Code of Conduct (external)
ISO standards for sustainability
DIN ISO 20121 for Sustainable Event Management
A special feature of ISO 20121 is that it encompasses all three pillars of sustainability. Information in English is available from the Federal Environment Agency (external).
DIN ISO 1401 - Environmental management system standard
This international standard specifies requirements for an environmental management system that enables an organization to improve its environmental performance, fulfill legal and other obligations, and achieve environmental objectives. Information from the Federal Environment Agency (external)
The international specification PAS 2060 is considered the first valid standard for climate neutrality and was first published by the British Standards Institution (BSI) in 2010. A key criterion according to PAS 2060 is the reduction of the carbon footprint. PAS 206 is currently being translated into ISO 14068.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published the "IWA 42 Net Zero Guidelines" at the COP27 UN Climate Change Conference. These guidelines are designed to support stakeholders and organizations around the world in achieving their net-zero targets. The document contains guiding principles and recommendations for a common global approach to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. The guidelines are aimed at policymakers at the national, regional, and local levels, as well as businesses, NGOs, and organizations of all kinds. As of today, the document is available as an International Workshop Agreement. Press release (external)
The standard project ISO 14068 "Greenhouse gas management and related activities - Carbon neutrality" is currently being developed internationally in the working group ISO/TC 207/SC 7/WG 15.
Cultural development planning and sustainability
Sustainable action can be made a component and task of cultural development planning (CDP). Some municipalities have already incorporated this idea into their CDP, and others are still working on it. Old cultural development plans will most likely have to be adapted to the new conditions. Patrick Föhl presents this planning in the 2021/2022 Cultural Policy Yearbook on the topic of Culture of Sustainability. The yearbook can be downloaded free of charge in its entirety as a PDF or individually as an article.
Download the yearbook and download the essay by Patrick Föhl (external)
LWL-Kultur in Westfalen offers information on cultural development planning—from various planning types and literature references to an overview of cultural planning processes in Westphalia-Lippe. Strategic Cultural Planning in Westphalia-Lippe (external)
Local climate protection
Climate management in municipalities
Most municipalities now have climate managers. The climate manager is the person who oversees climate protection or climate adaptation management at the (municipal) level. Although culture is rarely or not part of municipal climate strategies, climate managers are contact persons for questions or advice. The stakeholders are also networked and exchange information through the klimanetz.südwestfalen network. You can find your climate manager through your municipality. To klimanetz.südwestfalen (external)
ECOPROFIT program
Cultural institutions can also benefit from the ÖKOPROFIT program of the NRW Ministry of the Environment. ÖKOPROFIT is a collaborative project between the municipality, the local business community, and other regional partners – such as the Efficiency Agency NRW. The municipality, as the project sponsor, offers participation in the project to interested companies and institutions of all sectors and sizes. For more information, please contact your local climate manager. About ÖKOPROFIT (external)
Environmental and climate protection in culture and media of the BKM
Culture and media were therefore explicitly included in the Federal Government's National Sustainability Strategy "Perspectives for Germany" in 2016. In April 2022, a dedicated department was established at the Federal Ministry of Culture and Media to address environmental and climate protection issues in culture and media. Information on the Federal Ministry of Culture's strategies (external)
Action Network for Sustainability in Culture and Media (ANKM)
The Action Network for Sustainability in Culture & Media (ANKM) provides a central, cross-sectoral contact point for the topic of operational ecology in culture and media. It supports exemplary pilot projects and documents and communicates the results. To the Action Network (external)
ÖkoKult NRW: Sustainability in cultural policy in NRW
The Ministry of Culture and Science has set itself the task of significantly supporting sustainable developments and transformation processes in art and culture and creating the appropriate framework for this. With the planned "ÖKoKult NRW" program for ecological sustainability in culture, the state government aims to contribute to climate neutrality in the cultural sector in the future. Once the program is finalized, you will find more information here! About the work area Sustainability in Culture NRW (external)
Culture4Climate Initiative for climate protection and sustainability in the cultural sector
The nationwide Culture4Climate initiative works with the cultural sector to achieve global climate and sustainability goals. In the face of climate change, the cultural sector has the dual task of reducing climate-damaging emissions in all cultural sectors and promoting a cultural shift toward a culture of sustainability through cultural practice. About the Culture4Climate initiative (external)