Dresden relies on e-tool: Culture with sustainability strategy!

Dresden relies on e-tool: Culture with sustainability strategy!

Today, on August 22, 2025, the city of Dresden took another step towards climate protection and sustainability in the cultural sector with the new e-tool culture. This instrument, which emerges from the energy transition and climate protection from the SME initiative, has been available to all craft businesses free of charge since 2021 and has now been specially adapted for the cultural industry. This should not only benefit from the cultural institutions in Dresden, but also those in Leipzig from a targeted exchange and common strategies.

In Dresden, several cultural institutions have already developed individual sustainability strategies as part of the “Culture for Future” project. In 2022, 37 of these facilities signed the "Dresden Charter for Sustainability in the Culture Sector", which underlines the serious will to implement climate goals. "Culture & Sustainability Dresden" is a network that promotes collegial exchange and enables actors to develop efficient approaches to achieve their goals.

sustainability at the local level

An important step towards climate neutrality is the planning of the municipal cultural institutions from 2024 to present a greenhouse gas balance annually and to create sustainability reporting every two years. Here you are based on the requirements of the GHG Protocol, which serves as an important basis for the accounting of greenhouse gases.

the accompanying process "climate neutrality of cultural institutions and (cultural) events" has been running in Leipzig since 2021. This commitment aims to create independent greenhouse gas balance sheets and to develop measures to reduce emissions. In particular, the “Cultural Business Center” event series, which was launched in 2021, serves as a platform to implement sustainable practices in cultural business. A new checklist with legal criteria for passing on and donating materials is expected in autumn 2025.

new network and a common goal

Another highlight is the foundation of the climate protection network for the free cultural scene in Leipzig in spring 2024. This network promotes knowledge exchange and cooperation among 20 participating institutions and underlines the common objective of both cities to achieve up to 2040 climate neutrality.

The e-tool culture is an important part of these endeavors and meets the requirements that are necessary to control and achieve the climate goals in Dresden and Leipzig. With the help of this innovative platform, cultural institutions can design their steps in the right direction and work together on a sustainable future for culture and beyond. These efforts are not only a profit for the environment, but also for creativity and exchange within the cultural scene.