Networking for sustainability: SPK is committed to a climate-neutral culture
Press release from 09/30/2022
SPK joins sustainability action network and signs sustainability declaration for the cultural sector - Parzinger: Making sustainability the basis of our actions
As of today, the SPK is a partner of the Action Network Sustainability in Culture and Media (ANKM). The network, which is funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, is a central, cross-sector contact point for the topic of operational ecology in culture and the media. Earlier this week, the SPK had already signed the sustainability declaration for the cultural sector, which was developed by the Culture4Climate initiative. By signing the declaration, cultural players declare that they will align their actions with global climate and sustainability goals.
Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth: "The growing number of players in the Sustainability Action Network is impressive proof of the great interest of cultural institutions in an operational-ecological and structural transformation that is good for the climate and for the budgets of cultural institutions, and even more so in the current situation of the energy crisis. I very much welcome the fact that the SPK, as the largest cultural institution in Germany, is now strengthening this sustainability action network with another strong supporter. I am convinced that with its expertise in the implementation of exemplary pilot projects, it will make a valuable contribution to developing sustainable climate and environmental strategies for the cultural and media sector in Germany together with all network partners."
Hermann Parzinger, President of the SPK, explains: "By joining the action network and the sustainability declaration, we have taken a further step towards making sustainability a central foundation of our actions. As a collecting cultural and research institution, we preserve the past for the future. In this respect, we cannot be indifferent to what this future looks like. The best possible preservation of the cultural heritage entrusted to us must go hand in hand with a resource-conserving approach - this is the only way we can fulfil our core tasks responsibly."
Since October 2021, two sustainability officers (50% each) have been working to develop and implement a sustainability strategy at SPK. As the greatest energy consumption occurs in buildings, a central starting point for achieving CO₂ neutrality is the energy review of existing buildings and the planning of sustainable construction measures for renovation and new construction projects. However, sustainability should be implemented in all areas of work. Employees from all SPK facilities are working on realising these goals in the "Sustainability/Green Culture" task force and in sustainability working groups, which deal with topics such as "green mobility", "sustainable food and drink", sustainable exhibiting, resource-conserving work, recycling and the ecological upgrading of outdoor areas at SPK. In addition, SPK is currently preparing for certification in accordance with the European environmental management system EMAS.
Nina Schallenberg, Sustainability Officer at the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation and curator at the Hamburger Bahnhof - Museum für Gegenwart - Berlin: "Acting sustainably in our field does not mean that we stop organising exhibitions, publishing books and initiating research projects. However, it does mean that we fundamentally question and change the way we do things. Sustainability is not an add-on, but part of our work."
Sustainability action network and sustainability declaration
In addition to joint projects, the activities of the Sustainability Action Network are centred on the exchange of information on business ecology and structural innovations in the cultural sector. A climate-neutral culture is the common goal.
www.aktionsnetzwerk-nachhaltigkeit.de
Culture4Climate is an initiative for climate protection and sustainability in the cultural sector, funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, which is committed to achieving global climate and sustainability goals.