Discussion: What does producing a climate neutral event look like?

Here you can find two examples of events we produced, and the considerations taken to realize them in a climate-neutral way.

To achieve climate neutrality for our research assembly at nGbK in Berlin in November 2023, we took the following measures:

- Travel: We invited guests who could travel to the assembly by train or public transport, prioritizing participants from Berlin and surrounding areas.

- Accommodation: We arranged accommodations at a certified climate-neutral hotel and encouraged guests to stay with friends when possible.

- Catering: We sourced organic products for catering and collaborated with Pepe Dayaw (Nowhere Kitchen) to provide lunch through his performative cooking practice, which utilizes leftovers.

Research display: For the curatorial research display, we used existing materials. We sourced items from the previous nGbK exhibition, from storage resources, and from materials we borrowed from other Berlin institutions.

Reusable design elements: Our graphic designer created textile objects inspired by her research on nuclear symbology. These pieces were designed to be reused as scenographic elements for future events during the project.

And in Hungary:

In the summer of 2024, Csilla Nagy & Rita Süveges coorganized a gathering, conversation, and clay firing, entitled Overcoming Time Artist-led Field Trip and Community Pit-Firing, in the rural town of Boda in Hungary. The event was hosted in a field dominated by signs on local geology, mining, and radioactive storage, next to the small town’s park. In addition to the ceramic firing, it featured a conversation with local and regional figures, including a former uranium miner, the village’s mayor, an environmental activist, and an expert from the research institute investigating the long-term safety of the nuclear repository envisioned in Boda.

From a climate-neutral perspective, what were the things we had to consider when organizing this event?

First of all, the materials. Whether purchased or found, clay is considered a renewable resource; greenhouse gases are only released if the clay is excavated using heavy machinery—this was not the case here. After considering the use of on-site clay, the artists decided to purchase clay instead, in order to ensure the sculptures would turn out fine.

We were able to travel to the town with a hybrid car, and from Berlin by train, which lessened our travel footprint. However, many of the event attendees—as well as the videographer and the sculptures—arrived by car. In the end as their trajectories could not be reconstructed, we had not to account for their travel.

In addition to the clay, the wood used to firing it needs to be considered. We have received locally-harvested wood from the mayor, a sustainable resource and as present had zero impact on our climate-budget.

We were feeding our guests, which also gave us the opportunity to consider the climate footprint of the food we served. The food was prepared by women from the village.

Here is the end result of their clay firing: ceramic blocks modeled after nuclear fuel rod cases.