Collaboration,
commitment and consistency were the key themes when the Net Zero Carbon
Events initiative launched its Roadmap at the United Nations Climate Change Conference,
COP27, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
Hundreds
of events professionals around the world tuned in for the presentations
and panel sessions that highlighted the progress of the initiative since its
launch in 2021, how the industry can move forward effectively using the roadmap
and how action areas and workstreams on topics such as travel, accommodation,
energy, waste and measurement are the next steps. The roadmap is available as a full report with comprehensive information on how to implement action to
achieve Net Zero, and as an executive summary.
In panel
discussions about implementation, the need for structure, standardised
measurement and to ‘start now’ figured prominently. Kai Hattendorf, CEO of UFI
and JMIC board member said “Measurement
is key – without it, you can’t track progress. The challenge in our sector is
that every event is different. It’s essential to take a united approach.”
Edwin
Van der Vennet of the Sustainability Committees of IFES, EDPA and UFI said “It’s essential to start now – and start
simple. There are no secrets, it’s simply about getting started.”
The roadmap creates a common framework for all event industry stakeholders to meet
the net zero goal. It provides a pathway for individual organisations as well
as industry-wide action areas. The action areas have been identified where
collaborative effort is needed along with a framework for measuring and
evaluating progress.
Helen Sheppard, head of sustainability at RX said the roadmap “prompts us to question how we do business from the big – such as delegate
travel to the small – such as badging. Education is key to supporting the
changes we need to implement.”
Gift to the industry
Several
of the panel members, including Derar Al Manaseer, director - strategy &
investment ADNEC and Senthil Gopinath, CEO ICCA agreed that “the Roadmap is a
gift to the industry.”
The
event opened with Miguel Alejandro Naranjo Gonzalez and Ina Parvanova of United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) congratulating the
industry on developing the roadmap, particularly that such a wide range of
stakeholders had been involved. After James Rees, JMIC president, expressed how
JMIC was proud to be a unifying body for the industry in taking on the
challenge of climate change. Kai Hattendorf reported that more than 400 organisations had signed the pledge launched at COP26.
During a
series of contributions by leaders of organisations committed to supporting the initiative,
Monica Lee Muller, managing director of Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition
Centre said: “Sustainability is the company’s guiding principle, and the concept
is now deep rooted in our process and daily routines. Being part of NZCE is a
natural step for us.”
Bob
Priest-Heck, CEO of Freeman, added: “Our eco system is complex and we
need to work together to make real change happen. We need to reach outside our
industry and connect with aligned sectors such as travel.”
Charlie
McCurdy, CEO of Informa Markets, said: “Collectively, we bring together
one and a half billion business decision-makers every year across virtually all
industries around the world. Our events have an estimated total economic impact
per year of 1.5 trillion US dollars. The exhibition industry is a catalyst for
change.”
Most inclusive action ever
On
progress so far and looking ahead to next year, Kai Hattendorf commented; “This
is the biggest, most inclusive action ever from our industry. At COP26 we just
got started, with our pledge, and a huge amount of momentum. Now, at COP27, we’re
launching the roadmap.
"By
COP28, we will have models for implementation, successful pilots to announce
and share, and we will have companies beginning to report their progress into
the framework."
In
conclusion, James Rees said: “Addressing this fundamental sustainability
challenge is a global and united effort - and we need to drive consistency
across our industry. Net Zero Carbon Events is here to bring people together
and affect real change.
“The roadmap will support and guide organisations through this process of achieving
Net Zero linked to our target, and it is an ambitious target but it is one we
really must meet. We have no choice. We have to act and we have to do so now.
So, sign up to the initiative, become part of the roadmap.
“I’m
very positive about the future.”
