Museums and Sustainability

NEMO encourages and supports museums to do their part and actively contribute to a more sustainable future. We advocate for stakeholders to fully recognise the potential of museums as allies in the sustainable transition. Explore our resources, webinars and what we do for sustainability and climate action.

New NEMO guide helps museums organise…

In an increasingly polarised world, museums hold a crucial role in fostering dialogue and social cohesion. As trusted institutions, they can provide safe spaces for meaningful discussions on pressing issues such as climate change,…

 
NEMO joins kick-off meeting for Horizon…

From 23-24 January 2025, NEMO participated in the kick-off meeting for TOWCHED in Valencia, Spain. The meeting marked the official launch of this three-year initiative (2025-2027), which explores the role of inclusive, arts-based,…

 
Call for applications: 2025 ENCATC Academy on…

Thanks to our continued partnership with ENCATC, NEMO is excited to accept applications from its members to the 2025 edition of the ENCATC Academy on Sustainable Cultural Management and Policy, taking place from 14–17 April in…

 

What NEMO does

NEMO wants to make sure that museums are recognised and supported by EU policy makers for the work they do to contribute to a sustainable future by:

  1. Advocating for the instrumental role of museums in providing opportunities for decent work, poverty reduction, social resilience, gender equality and other aspects relevant to the SDGs.
  2. Illustrating how museums and creative industries contribute to the realisation of development targets by providing solutions in urban and rural, European national and local contexts.
  3. Providing information about the different approaches that museums in Europe and around the world are taking to contribute to the Green Deal and help make the world more sustainable in the future.
  4. Encouraging co-operation between museums and other players to form strong alliances reaching out to global citizens at every level.
  5. The NEMO Working Group Sustainability and Climate Action contributes to the sustainable development of European museums through research and advocacy and provides a space to exchange knowledge and experiences aligned with tackling the climate crisis. 
  6. NEMO is an active member of Museums for Future and the Climate Heritage Network, and works with a variety of organisations dedicated to climate action and sustainability to help bring the sector together, to align views and actions, and to support museums with a strong voice in their sustainable transition.

NEMO's advocacy actions

Mapping of climate action

NEMO's interactive map demonstrates museums' strength in creating awareness, adapting, and fighting climate change. By joining forces, we can create a museum community that is actively steering the topic forward and show that museums can make an impact and difference for the planet. Please contribute via the submission form.

More information


Pledge for sustainability

NEMO and the European museum sector pledge to work with the community and to use our diverse collections to inspire people to facilitate change for the future sustainability of the planet. This bold statement was prepared and endorsed by all national museum organisations in Europe present at the 2023 NEMO European Museum Conference. It encourages the re-evaluation of museum collections with a view to their social, historical, environmental, and educational impact.

Future of sustainable museum collections

Our ethical and professional priority is to work with our communities for the future sustainability of the planet. Museums have a critical role to play in environmental sustainability and imagining our possible futures. Our commitment is that we will use our diverse collections and the stories that they hold to inspire people and facilitate change. We realise that it is no longer possible to preserve all heritage and collections in their current conditions. We are committed to re-evaluating our collections in terms of their social, historical, environmental, and educational impact.

Latest NEMO resources on sustainability

NEMO report

NEMO’s statement on future sustainable museum collections

NEMO report

Videos and webinars

Resources from EU institutions

Resources from the wider sector

NEMO is a member of