Sustainable development: Esch2022 adopts a charter

Esch2022 – this means thousands of visitors, 19 municipalities across two countries, and several months during which Esch-Alzette and the South of Luxembourg will be one of the cultural hotspots of Europe. It also means a rare opportunity to firmly establish good practices at a regional scale. 

In line with the 2030 Agenda and the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Esch2022 has established a Sustainable Development Charter with the support of the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Sustainable Development, that sets a framework for its projects and events. The result of a common reflection of numerous actors in the field, this document is structured around the three core areas of sustainable development, namely, environment, society and economy. 

The Charter is divided into two parts, the first relating to the commitments of project developers, the second part concerning Esch2022 on the whole. Indeed, the objective is to accompany, support and encourage project leaders, but also to set an example. The European Capital of Culture Esch2022 is committed to apply the same standards to its own events and operations, while providing developers with a toolbox for the implementation of the principles of the Charter. 

More specifically, the Charter revolves around six main concepts: tourism and accommodation, food and restaurants, local economy and sharing, waste management, accessibility and mobility, and, finally, communication and merchandising. 

Each part includes a guideline and a list of actions to be taken, but also ready-to-use solutions and synergies. In the chapter devoted to food, for example, three key ideas are emphasised. First of all, we want to work with local producers who respect the environment and the principles of fair trade. Secondly, we want to fight food waste by informing and familiarising the public at large with this issue, but also by identifying possible outlets for surplus foodstuffs. Finally, we want to highlight the culinary specificities of the Esch2022 region so as to enable tourists and visitors to identify the local specialties. 

The charter, which was presented to the press on 17 December and will be sent to the various partners of Esch2022 in January 2021, is now an integral part of the Esch2022 strategy.