The European Hansemuseum in Lübeck is the first museum in Germany to join the “Museum for Future” initiative. The network is made up of museums, cultural organisations and people working in related sectors that are committed to climate protection and pursuing the common goal to achieve the 1.5°C limit set by the Paris Climate Agreement.

As part of the network, the European Hansemuseum would like to make its own contribution to maintaining a viable future on our planet. It sees cultural institutions as a significant component in creating social awareness, and it wants to use its expertise in the fields of “Education” and “Conservation” to improve its own climate footprint and motivate other people and institutions to follow its example.

As a member of the “Museum for Future” initiative, the European Hansemuseum supports the demands of scientists and climate movements, communicates the issues of climate protection and sustainability in projects and campaigns, has set itself the target of becoming climate neutral by 2040 and publicly subscribes to the urgency of climate protection and sustainability with regard to museums, using its networks to communicate these messages.

The European Hansemuseum is currently working on a sustainable mobility concept and on a procurement policy and museum technology that are more protective of resources. The potential for making savings on energy consumption for greater climate protection is also under investigation.

The European Hansemuseum is known as the leading museum in the world on the history of the Hanseatic League. It was the first German museum to join the “Museums for Future” network to put greater emphasis on sustainability in museums. Director Felicia Sternfeld stresses the responsibility of public institutions to play an active role in social solutions.