How Edinburgh embedded carbon management reporting for cultural institutions
Project: Supporting cultural organisations to embed climate innovation into their practice
To achieve its target of becoming a net zero city by 2030 – and create a cleaner, greener, and fairer future for everyone – the City of Edinburgh Council has been tracking the energy footprint of arts and cultural sector since 2019. In 2023–24, energy and water emissions fell by 10% and waste emissions by 7% compared with the previous year. Four cultural organisations are on track to achieve net zero by 2030, with a further ten aiming for 2045.
Monitoring carbon management to encourage meaningful change
As Scotland’s cultural centre, Edinburgh recognises the need for its arts and cultural sector to play a pivotal role in achieving this transition. To achieve this, the Council funds Culture for Climate Scotland, which delivers an environmental reporting programme tailored to the cultural sector.
Organisations supported by the Council’s Culture Service have been required to complete an annual Carbon Management Plan Survey. Culture for Climate Scotland supports cultural organisations to measure and manage their environmental impact. This framework addresses six areas: carbon emissions, biodiversity, carbon management, influence, climate adaptation, and governance. The approach provides not only accountability but also capacity-building through toolkits, resources, and training.
Supporting cultural organisations to embed climate innovation into their practice
Four cultural organisations are on track to achieve net zero by 2030, with a further ten aiming for 2045. Many are also pioneering new work on biodiversity, digital emissions, and sustainable procurement. Perhaps most significantly, 24 organisations reported active influence on public discourse and policymaking around climate change.
This initiative demonstrates how culture can be a testing ground for climate innovation. By embedding carbon reporting into cultural funding agreements, Edinburgh is positioning its creative sector not just as a participant, but as a driver of the city’s net zero transition.