Recommendations for environmental friendly practices in Digital Cultural Heritage

New Guidelines for Green ICT in Cultural Heritage

The environmental impact of digital technologies is growing rapidly, with ICT now responsible for an estimated 2–4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. As cloud computing, data-intensive services and Generative AI continue to expand, the cultural heritage sector must play its part in reducing the environmental footprint of digital activities.

A recent survey conducted by the Europeana Climate Action Community, chaired by Michael Culture Association since 2024, gathered responses from more than 100 institutions across 30 countries. While 78% of respondents consider environmental responsibility important, only 14% currently measure the carbon footprint of their digital services and just 3% take environmental criteria into account when purchasing ICT equipment.

To help bridge this gap between awareness and action, a new guidance document presents five practical Green ICT principles for heritage professionals, together with recommendations for the Common European Data Space for Cultural Heritage. The publication offers concrete steps to make digital cultural heritage more sustainable and supports the sector’s role as a leader in responsible digital transformation.