PARIS – The Net Zero Carbon Events initiative, organized by the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), connects the global events industry to the growing movement to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. It builds on the work of a cross-sector working group, initially formed by UFI, the Global Association of Exhibition Industry, AIPC, the International Association of Convention Centres, ICCA and the International Congress and Convention Association.
“UFI is committed to promoting and supporting sustainability among its members around the world and the exhibition industry as a whole,” said Anbu Varathan, UFI President. “This collaborative and inclusive initiative spanning the entire events industry is an important next step and we look forward to identifying the commitments needed to reduce and neutralize GHG emissions from events.”
According to Kai Hattendorf, Managing Director/CEO of UFI, the events industry will meet the challenge of combating climate change by effectively bringing people together in a sustainable way to work and trade, which is the most energy-efficient way of doing business.
“One of the most important topics for our industry, if not the most important, is to get across the idea that bringing people together in an event is the most energy efficient and climate friendly way, versus having everyone be separated and having to travel individually to meet in small groups where you can’t have quality conversations when all the leaders are together,” Hattendorf said. “We need to get across the idea that we can and will need to continue to get better at producing and delivering events sustainably to reduce the carbon footprint on-site.”
The Net Zero Carbon Events initiative will feed into the COP26 meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, in November, where world leaders will share strategies on how their countries will achieve a 50% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 to meet the Paris Agreement. To achieve this, for-profit and non-profit organizations across sectors are creating specific pathways toward the ultimate goal of net zero emissions by 2050. Through this initiative, JMIC aims to connect all stakeholders from the business, professional, academic and destination communities around the world who are committed to addressing these shared challenges, and invite others to join them.
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The Net Zero Carbon Events initiative aims to bring together a broad range of industry players to:
▪ Jointly communicate the industry’s commitment to combating climate change and moving towards net zero by 2050
▪ Develop common methodologies for measuring direct, indirect and supply chain greenhouse gas emissions from industry
▪ Develop a sectoral roadmap to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and reduce emissions by 2030 in line with the Paris Agreement, with support and advice on key issues
▪ Foster collaboration with suppliers and customers to ensure alignment and common approaches
▪ Establish common mechanisms to report progress and share best practices.
The initiative is the result of a working group established by JMIC members UFI, AIPC and ICCA, joined by representatives from Emerald Expositions (USA), Freeman (USA), HKCEC (China), Informa (UK), Javits Center (USA), MCI (Switzerland), Messe München (Germany), RX (UK) and Scottish Event Campus (UK). The strategic foundations were laid in a discussion with the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which also supports the initiative.
For more information, visit: or email info@netzerocarbonevents.org
Contact Kai Hattendorf at +40 171 5441198 or kh@ufi.org