Climate-neutral federal museums

On behalf of the federal museums and the Austrian National Library, we launched a project on climate protection in museum operations in 2022. The project enabled the institutions to independently draw up greenhouse gas balances for their respective organisations in future and implement climate protection measures on this basis. The federal museums/ÖNB are thus fulfilling the exemplary role of the public sector and contributing to the goal of making Austria climate-neutral by 2040. The project was successfully completed in November 2023. It comprised the following phases:

Development of an accounting tool for museums
First, we analysed the museum's operations for relevant sources of emissions. On this basis, we developed an Excel-based tool with which museums of different types (natural sciences, art, etc.) can create greenhouse gas balances for their respective operations (‘Corporate Carbon Footprint’). The tool was based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol accounting standard and on experience from previous projects, such as a project with the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) to analyse its carbon footprint. “Climate Care” exhibition.

Training of the federal museums for independent greenhouse gas balancing

Once the tool had been created, we trained the sustainability officers of the eight federal museums/ÖNB in its use. This support took the form of workshops, training videos, an online forum, bilateral counselling and other documents. After a few months, all museums had successfully completed their first greenhouse gas balance for the ‘base year’ 2019.

Setting an carbon offsetting target

Thanks to their greenhouse gas balances, those responsible now knew how many climate-damaging emissions were generated by which of their activities and processes. Next, we helped the institutions to set a target for how much they wanted to reduce their emissions by 2030. This target was based on the scientific guidelines on how much CO₂emissions must be reduced in order to achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement (limiting global warming to a maximum of 2 °C).

Development of climate protection roadmaps

In the final phase of the project, we guided the museums in developing a strategy for systematically reducing their emissions ("climate protection roadmap") in order to achieve their individual emissions reduction target. With success: at the end of the project, all federal museums and the Austrian National Library had drawn up a roadmap, which they have been working on implementing ever since.