Understanding what sustainability strategy looks like for the event industry and how you can take action

This informal CPD article, 'Understanding what sustainability strategy looks like for the event industry and how you can take action,' was provided by Positive Impact Events, a not-for-profit organisation, working towards the development of new resources and initiatives for a more sustainable event industry.

Creating a sustainable event strategy can seem like a daunting task and there is a lot of information out there to try to digest. There are so many measurement tools and checklists, but which ones can you trust and are they right for your organisation? In this article we will explore the industry standard ISO 20121 and initiatives such as the UNFCCC Race to Zero, as well as exploring the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how events can address issues such as Human and Child Rights and Safeguarding.

ISO 20121: the Sustainability Management System for events

Originally inspired by British standard BS 8901 and developed to support the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games with the standard due to be launched for Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, ISO 20121 is a standard to enable sustainability to be considered at every decision point in the planning of an event. ISO 20121 specifies requirements for an event sustainability management system for any type of event or event-related activity and provides guidance on conforming to those requirements.

The ISO 20121 standard is an event management system. Simply explained, it is a framework for your organisation to consider sustainability at each decision point according to what is within your control. A simple overview of the requirements of the standard include:

• identifying your issues and setting targets to reach them.
• sharing your journey with your stakeholders.
• engaging with your supply chain to help your reach your goals.
• measuring and reporting your actions.
• creating an ongoing plan to review and improve year on year.

Currently the standard is going through a systematic review and comments period. A systematic review is an opportunity to suggest changes to a standard. To understand what changes may be needed it is important to ask if the standard is fit for use and to consider what has changed or could change since the launch of the standard. This is an opportunity for any event professional to contact their national standards body to ask to be involved.

The Race to Zero

One of the most important issues facing every industry including events, is the reduction of carbon emissions. Race to Zero is the UN-backed global campaign to take rigorous and immediate action to halve global emissions by 2030 and deliver a healthier, fairer zero carbon world in time. 

All members are committed to the same overarching goal: reducing emissions across all scopes swiftly and fairly in line with the Paris Agreement, with transparent action plans and robust near-term targets Led by the High Level Climate Champions for Climate Action, Race To Zero mobilizes actors outside of national governments to join the Climate Ambition Alliance, which was launched at the UNSG’s Climate Action Summit 2019 by the President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera.

It mobilizes a coalition of leading net zero initiatives, representing 52 regions, 1103 cities, 7126 companies, 1103 educational institutions, 541 financial institutions, over 3,000 hospitals from 60 healthcare institutions and 24 other institutions. There are free resources available from the SME Climate Hub and the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) tailored to the event sector which will take you through the key steps to help you to meet your Race to Zero commitment.

Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations have created 17 Sustainable Development Goals with targets and indicators which are a roadmap to a world we all want to live in. Human connection and interaction are vital to achieve every one of these goals because we need collaboration, idea exchange, knowledge transfer, innovation and inspiration.

In 2019, Positive Impact began a collaboration with the UK Committee for UNICEF (Unicef UK) to produce resources to support an event to be planned with the consideration of Human Rights and Child Rights. This guidance is a consultation draft that will be able to be used as part of an event organiser’s implementation of ISO 20121. In 2022, the guidance was completed and can be used to implement the consideration of Human and Child Rights and Safeguarding when planning an event whether it is a conference, sales meeting, festival or sporting event.

It is safe to say that sustainability is now a core issue for all organisations no matter the size, and we know that stakeholders are demanding to see action. By starting to with one or all of the above, your organisation will be implementing internationally recognised frameworks and initiatives which will provide your organisation with a sustainable way of working, making a difference not only to you and your employees but to the future of the world.

We hope you found this article helpful. For more information from Positive Impact Events, please visit their CPD Member Directory page. Alternatively, you can go to the CPD Industry Hubs for more articles, courses and events relevant to your Continuing Professional Development requirements.