SUSTAINABILITY UNPACKED
NOW OR NEVER WE ANSWER THE 20 MOST PRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS FACING ASSOCIATIONS AND MEETING PLANNERS… According to the latest IPCC report, carbon emissions must peak by 2025 and then start coming down rapidly if we are to have any chance of avoiding ‘catastrophic’ temperature rises. International conferences are the most carbon intensive activity linked to associations. Here ve sustainability experts cut to the heart of the matter answering the fundamental questions to help associations start their journey towards net zero and assess their progress along the way.
I N T E R V I E W S H O L LY PAT R I C K
Should I pledge net zero or carbon neutral – what’s the difference? EAM: Carbon neutral means not increasing the current carbon emissions that you’re producing from your activities but achieving reductions through o setting your activities. So that’s investing in o setting schemes and having a policy in place not to increase your emissions. Net zero is better because you’re making a conscious e ort to make reductions in the carbon emissions of your activities. With net zero, you’re reducing your carbon emissions to the lowest possible amount before you consider o setting. You can’t claim to be net zero if you’re not making reductions. I’ve heard the meetings industry has various sustainability schemes: should our association opt into one of those? SM: First look at your own sector because there are multiple net zero pledges for di erent sectors. You want to be tying into pledges that are relevant to your association’s members who may not be in the business of events. Net zero pledges within the event industry are helpful for event people and can get you on the path within your association, but don’t necessarily re ect what’s going on in your sector. One of the big claims that most companies and associations are tracking is the Race to Zero. e Race to Zero is essentially the business world’s response to the Paris Agreement on climate change. What the Race to Zero provides is a framework for anyone in any sector to get on the path to be contributing towards targets that are aligned with that agreement.
If I join the Race to Zero, will someone tell me what I need to do? SM: Race to Zero is like the umbrella and there are partners that focus on pledges that translate Race to Zero into the more speci c ways it’s applied. If you’re a small to medium size organisation, there’s the SMA climate hub (SMAclimatehub. org), where you can get help. But it’s important to underline that everyone’s pathway is di erent. If you’re going into these initiatives expecting that they’re going to give you the silver bullet of exactly what you need to do, you’re not going to nd it. Who’s going to check we’re doing all the things we’re supposed to be doing? SM: e net zero police turn up! No, they’re not real. Each partner must conform with pledge criteria. ey must put a plan in place within a speci c timeframe, act on that plan within a speci c timeframe, and publicly report their progress as they continue to improve. You must meet those criteria to be a member in good standing of these communities. And if we don’t? SM: Right now, the priority is to get as many people participating as possible. It remains to be seen how the quality of pledges, and the extent of action, will be assessed and whether that leads to anyone being kicked out of the agreements.
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