Over the years the events industry has agreed upon several versions of steps it should take to reduce the environmental impact of events. On December 11 at ExCeL London, the Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE) initiative published seven best practice guidance and methodology documents to aid the global events industry in reducing carbon emissions and achieving net-zero goals. The documents range from 12 to 93 pages in length and include links to many helpful resources. Be sure to review these documents and support the efforts behind them.
The seven documents include:
Smart Production & Waste Management Guidance—This document is divided into three sections: Smart Production, Waste Management (Key Principles and Best Practices), and Waste Management (Relevant Terms to Familiarize Yourself With). One example of a waste reduction tip: Avoid printed marketing and favor electronic communications as much as possible.
Venue Energy Guidance—This document provides helpful tips on how to reduce a facility and event’s energy impact. Topics ranging from energy usage tracking to LED lighting to sustainable information technology are addressed. “Tracking energy usage is the very start of any energy strategy of a venue,” the document says. “Overall, tracking energy usage in an event venue is crucial for cost management, environmental responsibility, and regulatory compliance, benchmarking, stakeholder communication, and driving continuous improvement toward energy efficiency goals.”
Logistics Guidance—Topics include Sustainable Logistics, Remote and Last Mile Logistics, On-site Logistics, and Traffic Management & Smart Cities. “We have defined a joint vision and roadmap as the overall events industry and now we need to develop a systematic approach to track and share sustainability and specifically emissions related data,” the document says. “A digital platform would be very useful for stakeholders to collaborate seamlessly. With most countries in the world declaring net zero plans, it is likely that at one point, legislation will require the events industry to decarbonize quickly. By starting this work on the grassroots level within the industry, we can make sure that we are prepared to adhere to legislative changes and that our unique context as the events industry is accurately reflected in solutions.”
Food & Food Waste Guidance—This document includes sections on Sustainable Sourcing and Purchasing, and Sustainable Food Strategies & Waste Management. There is also a helpful checklist, additional resources, and a glossary. “With the world’s population set to increase to about ten billion by 2050, a shift in food production and consumption toward a more sustainable system is crucial,” the document begins. “Animal-based foods, especially red meat, dairy, and farmed shrimp, are generally associated with the highest greenhouse gas emissions. Opt for more plant-based food.”
Travel & Accommodation Guidance—Just getting to an event can pack a huge environmental wallop. For most events, the largest single contributor to carbon emissions is travel to and from the event. “The events industry has a responsibility to address these emissions, through working with partners in the travel industry, communicating sustainable travel options to participants, and making planning decisions which result in more efficient or reduced travel,” the document says. “Event organizers and other stakeholders should look out for sustainability certifications when choosing accommodation.”
Carbon Offsetting Guidance—Ever wonder what carbon offsetting is exactly? Or the difference between “carbon neutral” and “net zero?” You should read this document. “Carbon neutrality refers to the balance of emitted CO2 with avoided or removed emissions,” the document says. “Net zero is a more ambitious goal than carbon neutrality. It requires that all abatable emissions (GHG emissions that can be eliminated) be eliminated, rather than just offset.”
Measurement Guidance—This document addresses measurement methodology—measuring the impact of everything from production and materials to food and beverage to accommodation. For accommodation, the methodology aims to build on the existing hotel industry’s methodologies and initiatives such as the HCMI, the Cornell Hotel Sustainability Benchmarking Index (CHSB) and the Hotel Footprinting Tool (HFT) to quantify emissions from attendees’ stays during events.
Any organization involved in events can sign the NZCE pledge for free. Financial contributions are also important to continuing the campaign. Go to www.netzerocarbonevents.org and www.netzerocarbonevents.org/funding-opportunities.
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