NEMO Working Group gains insights in Denmark on energy, climate, and biodiversity

Day 2: SMK – National Gallery of Denmark and Viking Ship Museum

On Thursday morning, the group visited SMK – National Gallery of Denmark in Copenhagen. Pil Rasmussen shared the museum’s work on climate control and the delicate balance between preserving artworks and creating meaningful visitor experiences. Thor Nørmark-Larsen explained how SMK uses loan agreements to promote broader climate parameters and reduce emissions through virtual couriers. These efforts align with international standards such as the Bizot Guidelines and ICOM-CC/IIC Environmental Guidelines.

The afternoon continued at the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde, where Jesper Stub Johnsen, Johanne Østergaard, and Sebastian Løck discussed the challenges posed by rising water levels and the ambitious plans for a new, sustainable museum building. The visit highlighted the importance of collaboration between architects, engineers, and museum professionals in addressing climate adaptation.

Day 3: Louisiana Museum of Modern Art and Karen Blixen’s Home

Friday’s programme began at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, where Anette Hansen presented the museum’s sustainability strategy, guided by a double materiality assessment (DMA). The museum’s initiatives include reducing environmental impact of its café and shop, with measures such as removing beef and veal from the menu. Dennis Ernstsen, Louisiana’s restaurant manager, shared insights into sustainable menu planning, while Rasmus Bahnsen from the Green Academy provided an overview of sustainability through the lens of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

The study visit concluded at Karen Blixen’s Home – Rungstedlund, where Anne-Mette Høeg Andersen spoke about biodiversity efforts on the museum grounds. From maintaining a wild bird sanctuary to organising bioblitzes and bird ringing, the museum demonstrated how cultural heritage sites can actively contribute to ecological preservation.

Key takeaways

The study visit showcased the work of Danish museums in integrating sustainability into their practice. From energy-efficient storage and climate-conscious loan agreements to biodiversity and sustainable catering, the examples shared offer inspiration for museums across Europe.

Below follows a list provided by our excellent hosts at the Green Academy of the Danish Museums Association of some of the resources mentioned during the study visit:

• Case studies and conference presentations from the Getting Climate Control Under Control pilot project with Ki Futures
• Nordic Green Roadmap (we talked about the digital footprint se page 35 and on)
• Conditions for outgoing loans from English Heritage + appendix here
• The Green Bizot Protocol (general recommendations)
• Bizot’s handbook #1 (on preventive conservation)
• Bizot’s handbook #2 (on transportation)
• Canadian Conservation Institutes’ ’Framework for Preserving Heritage Collections’ (poster)
• HERIe (free tool for risk assessment)
• E-Climate Notebook (pay-tool for risk assessment and data analysis)
• Sustainability in a Museum Perspective - Insights and Guidance: Prioritising Sustainability Topics at Danish Museums