In an era defined by growing environmental concerns and the urgent need to mitigate climate change, the events industry has a critical role to play in creating a sustainable future. Ovation Global DMC recently launched a survey to further understand our industry standing on the matter of Net Zero Carbon Events.
The Significance of Net Zero Carbon in the Events Industry
Events, from conferences and festivals to exhibitions and trade shows, have traditionally had a substantial carbon footprint due to various factors such as energy consumption, transportation, waste generation, and venue operations. However, in the face of escalating global warming, it is crucial to embrace the goal of net carbon zero to ensure a sustainable future for the industry and the planet.
Our respondents for the survey were truly global, which gives a great insight on what we are looking at internationally. Also of interest is that more than 2/3 of the respondents were event planner versus suppliers.
Creating More Sustainable Events
Achieving net carbon zero requires a comprehensive approach that addresses emissions from all stages of event planning and execution.
Measuring Carbon Footprint:
Conducting a thorough carbon footprint assessment to identify the major sources of emissions throughout the event lifecycle is key. Yet according to our recent survey, only 38% of participants claim their company measures the footprint of the overall organization while 33% measure the carbon footprints of the events they organize.
Using Sustainable Vendors:
Furthermore, choosing vendors that have implemented sustainable practices, including energy-efficient infrastructure, waste management systems, and renewable energy integration are important steps to take while planning a carbon net zero event. Our survey reveals that only 14% of participating companies mandate contracting vendors that actively work towards sustainable events.
However, 52% revealed that they occasionally mandate contracting sustainable vendors which indicates a gradual shift towards carbon net zero events.
Net carbon zero is a crucial objective for the events industry. It helps to mitigate climate change, meet consumer expectations, and comply with evolving regulations. By measuring and reducing emissions, transitioning to renewable energy, selecting sustainable venues, and offsetting unavoidable emissions companies can lead the way in creating more sustainable events.
Despite the importance, our recent survey reveals that less than 15% of current events taking place across the globe focus actively on lowering carbon emissions.
Although our survey indicates that we still have a long way to go to achieve carbon zero net events, it also highlights that companies are slowly working towards a more sustainable future. We strive to do better every day, and we should always have that in mind.
Want to know how Ovation Global DMC is working towards a more sustainable future? Contact Us!