CHICAGO — Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE) has released its guidance documents for work towards the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), outlining the initial standard measures, reporting systems and methodologies the initiative is developing to help it achieve its goal of reaching net zero by 2050.
NZCE’s workstreams have published seven guidance documents for the different areas it focuses on, including smart manufacturing and waste management, venue energy, logistics, food and waste and measurement, among others. The guidance documents include best practices, strategies and recommendations to help the events sector achieve net zero. The guidance documents are intended to serve as a follow-up to the NZCE roadmap and are open access.
“The seven guidance documents we published in December are the result of the hard work of over 100 industry volunteers. Working closely with the working groups that developed them, we saw strong debate and unity of purpose. This is what our industry and the world need to achieve net zero,” said Alex Alles, Executive Director of the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), which hosts the NZCE initiative.
The first edition of the NZCE measurement methodology includes the “Initial methodology for measuring direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions from the event at the event level, regardless of the event type”. It provides illustrative examples of emissions calculations for the nine categories of source emissions activities, which have been identified as production and materials; freight and logistics; food and beverage; travel to and from the destination; local transport; accommodation; energy; waste; and digital content and communication.
Launched at COP26 in 2021, the NZCE commits to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement, and reducing emissions by 50% by 2030.
Progress made at COP28
COP28 saw representatives from nearly 200 countries reach an agreement to reduce global consumption of fossil fuels. According to the World Resources Institute, this is the first time in 30 years that the term “fossil fuels” has appeared in the conference’s outcome document. It is also the first time that an international agreement has been reached to phase out fossil fuels.
According to a UN article, “the stocktake calls on Parties to take action to achieve, globally, a tripling of renewable energy capacity and a doubling of energy efficiency improvements by 2030. The list also includes accelerating efforts to phase down coal-fired electricity generation, phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies and taking other measures that promote the transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a fair, orderly and equitable manner, with developed countries continuing to lead the way.”
The agreement came after two weeks of negotiations in Dubai, where the conference was held, attracting around 85,000 participants.
“What struck me most about COP28, from our perspective, was the contrast in the relationship and debate between participants,” Alles said. “While the political leaders at COP28 struggled to find unity of purpose and direction, the NZCE was described last week by JMIC Chair James Rees as ‘the most inclusive collaboration ever in the events industry’.”
Contact Alex Alles at alex@themeetingsindustry.org