Museums in Hamburg show positive carbon footprint

7 June 2024

Emissions cut by 17 per cent thanks to "Eleven to Zero" - upcoming events

Eleven museums, exhibition centres and memorials in the “Eleven to Zero” initiative have slashed their emissions by 17 per cent in in 2022 over 2019, a press release said Thursday< (May 30,. 2024) . The initiative funded by the German Ministry of Culture and the Media aims to reduce pollution and achieve a national carbon footprint standard in the cultural sector. The carbon footprint in 2022 revealed a total of 6,958.1 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, excluding public transport. The figures are in line with Hamburg’s goal of becoming CO2-neutral by 2045.

"Eleven to zero"measuring emissions nationwide

"We network and motivate each other. We share and scale up recipes for success, learn from setbacks and, above all, tackle things together. In this way we are initiating a holistic change in our institutions," said Alexander Stockinger, Commercial Director of the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg. The Altonaer Museum, Archäologisches Museum Hamburg and Stadtmuseum Harburg, Bucerius Kunst Forum, Deichtorhallen, Deutsches Hafenmuseum, Hamburger Kunsthalle, Neuengamme Concentration Camp Memorial, MARKK Museum am Rothenbaum, Museum der Arbeit and Museum für Hamburgische Geschichte have also joined the initiative. The new CO2 calculator measures the institutions' emissions and makes them comparable across Germany.

Hamburg advancing climate protection

Many of the museums in the initiative have installed LED lighting, for instance, and the Hamburger Kunsthalle has upgraded its air conditioning system to make it more energy efficient. The Altonaer Museum has installed a photovoltaic system. The initiative will host various exhibitions and events on the climate crisis and sustainability, as well as a panel discussion in Jupiter on July 4, 2024. The Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe (Museum for Arts and Crafts) will also host the "National Conference for Culture and Climate Protection 2024" from September 17-18, 2024. Other urban institutions, including the University of Hamburg are taking similar steps to quantify their own carbon footprints.
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