Sustainability

Our actions are based on the principles of sustainability.

Our Approach

The realisation of sustainability requires worldwide societal change. Cultural exchange as well as language and educational programmes can open new perspectives on sustainability while giving impulses for politics, commerce and society.

Our commitment to the topic of sustainability focuses on the United Nations goals for achieving sustainable development. With our work, we make a contribution to a sustainable and comprehensive climate foreign policy.

In our worldwide work, we address diverse issues and solution approaches regarding sustainability and carry these forward. We enable interactions between people from different cultural and societal contexts. These gain special importance in the context of sustainability: We can only learn from another and share knowledge about the promotion of sustainable development in a dialogue with different perspectives.
 

Our Spheres of Activity

Programmes for sustainability

We initiative and promote artistic formats and projects that address the issues of ecological, social and economic sustainability, thereby contributing to designing new concepts for sustainable societies. We promote holistic dialogue on the topic of sustainability through innovative programmes. These are aimed at target groups from different generations and societal contexts, and include representatives from different professions and academic disciplines. We work with partner organisations and cultural scenes on site and support the mutual teaching and further development of local and global solution approaches.

Become aware

Together with our partners, we develop impact-focused programmes in international culture and educational exchange that explore the ecological, social and economic challenges in an effective way. The effectiveness of our projects is also evaluated according to criteria for sustainability.

Sustainable as an organisation

The Sustainability Code Signatory 2021

In our work, we focus on the ecological, social and economic sustainability goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. We significantly contribute to the implementation of these goals in the following sectors: education, climate and environment, equal opportunities and justice.
 

Examples of our work

Green Libraries

Green Libraries is a multi-part, hybrid format geared to promote sustainable, local library initiatives.

Atlas of Mediterranean Liquidity

Artists from the Mediterranean region and beyond, in collaboration with scientists, are designing interactive maps that are all about water as a cultural asset. The aim is to develop a polyphonic collection of maps with exciting perspectives that tell new stories about our relationship to the element of water.

The Goethe-Institut in the world

The Goethe-Institut has more than 150 locations worldwide; some are housed in historic buildings; others in temporary pop-up premises – a reportage.

Further goals

People carry inflatable island with palm trees on the beach Photo: © Ihti Fahim Photo: © Ihti Fahim

Many children run towards the camera on the beach at sunset Photo: © Goethe-Institut/Sorapong Sawawiboon Photo: © Goethe-Institut/Sorapong Sawawiboon

A robot stands in a library; on its screen, different possibilities for use are displayed. Photo: © Goethe-Institut London/Pau Ros Photo: © Goethe-Institut London/Pau Ros

Two men lift a flagpole on which a European flag is flying Photo: © Herr Willie Photo: © Herr Willie

Several people attend an evening public exhibition of large portrait photos in a public area Photo: © Elmar Witt Photo: © Elmar Witt

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