AC Forum, the
association for association executives, has become the latest signatory of Net Zero Carbon Events, the meeting
industry’s attempt to eliminate its emissions by 2050.
The Austrian-based organisation, which has 50 members
– most belonging to the field of healthcare – signed the NCZE pledge at the start
of its annual meeting at SEC, in Glasgow.
The pledge itself was launched at COP 26, which took place
at the same venue in 2021.
While the move doesn’t commit AC Forum’s individual members
to the pledge, it will be seen as a significant step forward in NZCE’s attempts
to woo the international association community.
Ben Hainsworth, AC Forum president, said NZCE was now a ‘global
phenomenon’.
“It’s important to recognise that, one way or another, we associations,
as organisers of major events, contribute to a global industry and that’s the
events industry – and we need to assume and be aware of those responsibilities
and embrace the opportunities that they represent.”
Alexander Alles, executive director of the Joint Meetings Industry
Council, said: “AC Forum signing the Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge is of very
great significance. They have a lot of members who are not necessarily from our
own industry bubble. This is the beauty of collaboration because we absolutely
need to involve associations and stakeholders who are part of the ecosystem but
who are not part of the ‘business events industry’ as such.”
Alles said he was hopeful that AC Forum members would now
sign the pledge themselves.
This year will see the first reporting cycle for NCZE, which
will give a glimpse into how far the industry has come in reducing its carbon
emissions.
Said Alles: “In the first three months of this year we will
build a benchmark picture and hopefully with the next reporting cycle we will
see the progress for decarbonization of our industry.
"We understand that quite a lot of our stakeholders lack
training, lack education, and this is something we aim to build up upon. We
launched a webinar series last year focussing on subjects including logistics,
roadmap development, and we intend to roll out additional educational products
in the future.”
Last year NZCE, along with the AI-powered event technology company
Gevme and the Strategic Alliance of
National Convention Bureaux of Europe, launched the Sustainability
Hub for Events, or SHE, which provides tools, guidelines, and AI-driven
resources to reduce carbon footprints, manage resources, and create lasting
environmental and community impacts.
*Look out for a full video interview with our partners at The Iceberg coming shortly.
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
