COLUMN International Focus: AIPC
The Pledge By Alex Alles, Executive Director, JMIC and Sven Bossu, CEO, AIPC
T
he Net Zero Carbon Events initiative brings together the global event industry with the objective to have a clear roadmap to become carbon-neutral by 2050. In December 2023, the outcomes of the different workstreams will be presented, after having presented the pledge at COP26 and the roadmap at COP27, demonstrating the progress made. Some venues are already way ahead, leading by example, as shown by the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle. The Net Zero Carbon Events initiative (NZCE), on behalf of the industry by the Joint Meeting Industry Council (JMIC), has taken considerable steps forward in the last 9 months. The event industry roadmap, presented at COP27 in Egypt, provided a clear overview of the overall direction and priorities for the industry to become carbon-neutral by 2050. This was then broken up into 8 workstreams, each addressing one of those priorities, with the purpose of transforming the roadmap into action plans at the level of each stakeholder involved. These results will be presented in December 2023. Supported by the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), the initiative guarantees inclusiveness and welcomes all stakeholders involved in the organization of events. It now has over 400 signatories and more than 24 Oct/Nov/Dec 2023 Exhibit City News
150 supporters from across the world. This does not come without obligations, as signatories need to commit to having a plan in place by the end of 2023 to become net carbon-neutral by 2050. Therefore, it is great to see that some of the largest players in the industry are indeed supporters, leading by example, while an increasing number of SMEs from the industry are joining the campaign. A first set of best practices is now available and published on the NZCE website (https:// www.netzerocarbonevents. org/resources/). This document, providing very tangible and actionable information, will continue to evolve as more and more supporters use them and/or add their own best practices. Equally important is the reporting element: by collecting data from the entire event industry, it will be possible to demonstrate progress made in a fact-based manner. A measurement methodology is being developed to help stakeholders measure their carbon footprint on the events level. A data collection initia-
tive has been launched across the industry to gather information, with the goal of creating a methodology that accurately represents the realities of the meetings and events sector. While the overall target date is 2050, some organizations are moving towards carbon neutrality at a far higher speed. Located in the heart of Georgetown, Seattle, the Climate Pledge Arena is a great example of how a venue can engage with the local community and demonstrate its commitment to core values, such as sustainability. The building – which dates back to 1962 and is a true landmark – was completely recycled and reopened in October 2022. The goals are both simple and ambitious: become zero carbon by moving 100% to renewable energy and banning the use of fossil fuels, zero use of single plastics, zero waste, and finally demonstrate leadership in water quality and water use wherever possible. An example of the latter is the “Rain to Rink” system, which harvests water off the roof, collects it into a 15,000-gallon cistern,
and turns it into green ice. It is a journey for all involved, including the NHL’s Seattle Kraken fans, but by being fully transparent and very ambitious, the Arena is now much more than an event space – it is a demonstration of what carbon neutrality can bring to a community. The Arena is just one example, of course, and many more can be found across the globe. For both JMIC and AIPC, it is important to give visibility to these initiatives, as they demonstrate what can be achieved. This is not only of importance for the event industry but also for the communities in which events take place and all the stakeholders involved, including local authorities. Obtaining their support is a key success factor. The strength of the NZCE initiative is its global scale and the fact that stakeholders from the entire value chain are actively involved. Therefore, we call upon all organizations that have not done so yet, to sign up for the pledge and join the journey towards carbon neutrality.