This letter of intent describes the joint ambition of the nine cultural networks and platforms which make up the SHIFT Culture Erasmus+ co-funded project to systematically reduce the ecological footprint of their organisations and activities and to improve their resilience in the face of climate change, working on both mitigation and adaptation. This ambition will be a legacy outcome of the SHIFT Erasmus+ co-funded strategic partnership (2019-2021). The outcome of this cooperation will be shared with other cultural networks.
The undersigned European and international cultural networks recognise the ecological footprint associated with operating a cultural network. They are committed to minimising this footprint, optimising environmentally sustainable practices, and acting as an example of good practice for their members and other networks, while also recognising the different contexts in which they are evolving. It is their aim to contribute to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals in this certification scheme:
- 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities
- 12 – Responsible Production and Consumption
- 13 – Climate Action
- 14 – Life below Water
- 15 – Life on Land
- 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
The goal of the cooperation is to develop and implement consisting of environmental guidelines for cultural networks. This framework will be specific to the work of cultural networks and implemented through a data-driven certification scheme. The guidelines will cover the main areas of environmental impact and opportunities for action when it comes to cultural network:
- business travel
- accommodation
- events (including venues, catering, conference materials, publications, travel and waste)
- office use
- organisational carbon footprint budgeting
- social contributions and measures which build awareness
- sharing this work with the wider cultural community
