Dresden relies on e-tool: culture advances with a sustainability strategy!

Dresden relies on e-tool: culture advances with a sustainability strategy!

Today, on August 22, 2025, the city of Dresden took a further step towards climate protection and sustainability in the cultural sector with the new e-tool culture. This instrument, which emerged from the SME energy transition and climate protection initiative, has been available to all craft businesses free of charge since 2021 and has now been specially adapted for the cultural sector. This means that not only the cultural institutions in Dresden, but also those in Leipzig should benefit from 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 institutions signed the “Dresden Charter for Sustainability in the Cultural Sector”, which underlines the serious will to implement climate goals. “Culture & Sustainability Dresden” is a network that promotes collegial exchange and enables those involved to develop efficient approaches to achieving their goals.

Sustainability at the local level

A significant step towards climate neutrality is the plan that will require municipal cultural institutions to submit an annual greenhouse gas balance from 2024 and to prepare a sustainability report every two years. This is based on the requirements of the GHG Protocol, which serves as an important basis for the accounting of greenhouse gases.

At the same time, 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 balances and develop measures to reduce emissions. In particular, the event series “Circular Economy in the Cultural Industry”, which was launched in 2021, serves as a platform for implementing sustainable practices in the cultural industry. A new checklist with legal criteria for sharing and donating materials is expected in fall 2025.

New network and common goal

Another highlight is the founding of the climate protection network for the independent cultural scene in Leipzig in spring 2024. This network promotes the exchange of knowledge and collaboration among 20 participating institutions and underlines the common goal of both cities to achieve climate neutrality by 2040.

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