Nature tour on IHME Festival 2018, photo: Veikko Somerpuro.
Carbon footprint
We have calculated the carbon footprint of IHME using the calculator created by Hiilifiksu järjestö (carbon-smart organization) project. The calculator is divided into: energy, transport, purchases, waste and services. It uses the latest data on the climate impacts of flying and food. You can read more about the calculations in Ecoblog posts in the section Read and listen.
The carbon footprint is often divided into three different categories (scopes 1, 2 and 3), depending on how much the organisation itself can influence emissions. This classification is used in the widely used GHG Protocol method. Most emissions produced by IHME are indirect emissions. There are no direct energy emissions (Scope 1), because we work in rented premises and do not own a car. There are indirect energy emissions (Scope 2) that are generated by the district heating of the office. The electricity we use at the office is renewable wind power.
For indirect emissions (Scope 3), we have included the following sources of emissions: employee, artist and audience travel, artwork transportation, emissions from waste management, and the following purchased products and services: printed materials, mailing services, food and catering, cleaning, information technology and web services.
Read more about the carbon footprint of IHME:
In 2024, IHME had a total carbon footprint of 15 800 kg CO2e. This consisted of the following emissions:
Basic operations (office, administration and curation) – 5200 kg CO2e, of which
staff travel and accommodation total 39% (2040 kg CO2e)
Preparation for IHME 2023 commission – 5,700 kg CO2e, of which
flights 88%
accommodation 12%
In 2021, the flight emissions made up 68%, other travel and accommodation 18%, together 86% of the total emissions. The office energy consumption was 9% and other emissions 5% of the carbon footprint of IHME Helsinki.
In 2021, the total carbon footprint of IHME was 12000 kg CO2e
Basic operations (office and administration) – 3000 kg CO2e, of which
In 2021, the travel emissions made up 60% of the total emissions of IHME Helsinki.
In 2020, the total carbon footprint of IHME was 4200 kg CO2e
Basic operations (office and administration) – 4000 kg CO2e, of which
Office heating and electricity 45 %
Travel 30 %
Listening Through the Dead Zones kick-off event – 200 kg CO2e
NB. IHME commission 2020 Listening Through the Dead Zones took place in full form only in 2021. There were practically no travelling abroad in 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Ecological guidelines of IHME
Read below our guidelines to reducing the environmental impact of art productions and events from the perspective of an art commissioning agency.
listening to the artist’s premises and views
supporting sustainable choices and creating the conditions for making them
requiring reporting flights
Artworks and events
minimizing the need to travel and transportation
organizing the event in a place, easily accessible by public transport
collecting information about the audience travel along other feedback
favouring transport companies with environmental certificates
Staff and artists
favouring public transportation, walking and cycling
avoiding flying and minimise traveling by car
using online meeting options
when travelling, combine multiple purposes in the same trip
Accommodation
favouring energy-efficient accommodation
favouring accommodation with environmental certificates
encouraging service providers to find out the carbon footprint of accommodation
Audience events
favouring venues with good public transport connections
favouring venues with an environmental certificate
asking for information about the carbon footprint and waste management of the venue
Office
keeping the office temperature not too hot, not too cold
paying attention to window insulation and ventilation
encouraging landlord and housing association to carry out energy renovations
Food
serving vegan food according to the season, and wild fresh water fish (Cyprinidae)
minimizing food waste (e.g. coffee)
Other purchases
favouring products and services with an environmental certificate
favouring energy-efficient products and services
the eco-coordinator maintains a purchase list recommending the use of certain products or service providers
Waste management
waste is designed out at events
waste is sorted according to the premises’ waste-sorting rules (paper, card and cardboard, biowaste, plastic, metal, mixed waste/burnable waste) at the office and event venues
eco-coordinator delivers other types of waste (electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), hazardous waste) for waste recycling as appropriate
eco-coordinator maintains the waste management plan for the office and events
Chemicals
artworks and events are designed to use as little chemicals as possible
eco-coordinator maintains the chemical inventory of the office and is responsible for the proper handling of chemicals
IHME Helsinki environmental pledge
IHME Helsinki
combines art, science and climate work in commissioned artworks that promote the cultural change needed in this time of environmental crisis
promotes ecosocial learning through participatory artworks, events, and communications
monitors and reduces the greenhouse gas emissions from its own operations, and compensates for their effects on the climate and biodiversity
develops ecologically sustainable operating models and shares information about its environmental work
