Harpa’s Sustainability Steering Group, also known as the Environmental Council, has been active for over four years. The council has worked diligently to improve sustainability practices, set ambitious goals, and implement action plans.
Regular meetings are held to review progress, identify areas for improvement, and reassess priorities and objectives. A strong emphasis is placed on staff education, with frequent presentations at staff meetings, as well as close collaboration with residents and building operators to provide information and encouragement on sustainability.
In addition, the Environmental Council, in consultation with Harpa’s Marketing Manager, ensures that both staff and guests are kept informed about the milestones and achievements reached along the way.
Climate Action
In November 2015, Harpa’s CEO signed the Festa and City of Reykjavík Climate Declaration, which was presented at the UN Climate Conference in Paris that same year.
In 2021, Harpa published its Environmental and Climate Policy, committing to becoming a sustainability role model and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from its operations. The following year, Harpa launched its Climate Action Plan 2022–2024, which set out clear, measurable, and time-bound goals to systematically reduce the organisation’s emissions.
Climate Oversight
The Environmental Council also oversees the management of climate-related risks at Harpa. Climate issues and related topics are on the agenda at the council’s monthly meetings, where progress on risk management plans is monitored, the current situation assessed, and mitigation measures proposed where necessary.
At these meetings, climate risks and opportunities are also evaluated, ensuring Harpa not only reduces risks but also makes the most of potential benefits.
In line with the Government’s Climate Policy, all public institutions in Iceland were required to complete all five steps of the Green Steps (Grænu skrefin) programme by the end of 2021 — a requirement Harpa has fulfilled.