Leaders from the meetings and events industry will present the sector’s Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge at the COP26 summit, in Glasgow, which opens later this week (October 31st).
Ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference, the events industry has committed to reach targets aligned with the Paris Climate Accord to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The pledge has wide-ranging industry support, with members of the entire events industry supply chain involved in developing and executing the plans. On November 10th, leaders from across different parts of the industry will be live at COP26 to introduce the pledge and the broad industry commitment.
This session will also include an address from the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, who sees the pledge as in alignment with his “5 Rays of Hope.”
Facilitated by the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), an industry trade body, and with the support of the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), this joint industry action has been the most inclusive global collaboration ever undertaken in the events sector.
More than 150 businesses from across the sector, and all regions of the world, have signed up to it.
Signatories to the pledge commit to:
- Before the end of 2023, publish their organisation’s pathway to achieve net zero by 2050 at the latest, with an interim target in line with the Paris Agreement’s requirement to reduce global GHG emissions by 50% by 2030
- Collaborate with partners, suppliers and customers to drive change across the value chain
- Measure and track Scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions according to industry best practice
- Report on progress at least every two years
This pledge is the starting point for practical work to be done afterwards, with the participation of all interested industry stakeholders.
The events industry covers a wide variety of businesses and stakeholders, from international event organisers to local supplies, and from destinations to international institutions.
Events industry leaders taking part in the COP26 session:
- Stephanie Dubois | Head of Event Operations, SAP
- Kai Hattendorf | CEO, UFI
- Monica Lee-Müller | Managing Director, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
- Charlie McCurdy | CEO, Informa Markets
- Miguel Alejandro Naranjo Gonzalez | Programme Officer, UNFCCC secretariat
- Cristina Pace | Chair of the Sustainability Working Group, eSkootr Championship (eSC)
- Bob Priest-Heck | CEO, Freeman
- Mike Seaman | CEO, Raccoon Events
- Alan Steel | President & CEO, New York Convention Center Operating Corporation (Javits Center)
- Kathleen Warden | Director of Conference Sales, Scottish Events Campus
- Barbara Weizsäcker | Secretary General, European Major Exhibition Centres Association
Access details for the live COP26 session 10 November at 15:00, will be available here:
https://unfccc.int/climate-action/global-climate-action-at-cop-26
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.
