In this age of environmental awareness those organising and staging events, business conferences, trade and consumer exhibitions need to prove that their event is sustainable and appropriate steps have been taken to minimise carbon emissions thereby reducing its carbon footprint.
Events, exhibitions and conventions are by nature large emitters of carbon. Delegates travel to and from the event utilising a variety of transport options (air, sea, land), are primarily accommodated in hotels which may or may not have their own sustainability plan in operation and the logistics involved in delivering the event to delegates, all contribute to a large carbon footprint. Ensuring your event is 'green' is becoming more and more important as the world looks at ways in which to counter the impacts of climate change.
Increasingly, conference organisers expect that destinations and conference facilities have some form of sustainability plan in place. The same applies to special events where again organisers and customers are looking for evidence that suggests all is being done to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.
Tourism Australia in their fact sheet on green events provides tips to event and conference organisers on practical ways to minimise the effects of their event on the environment. Strategies include, the use of recyclable and bio-degradable packaging, waste management, use of public transport wherever possible, carbon offsetting events, evaluation of the impact of the event and responsible marketing.
The Perth Convention Bureau is the first bureau in Australia to be recognised as a Green Globe Benchmarked Administrative Office and is committed to reducing the environmental impact of the business events industry in Perth and Western Australia.
The Perth Convention Exhibition Centre (PCEC) is Western Australia's largest event and exhibition facility and is very cognisant of its responsibility to protect the environment from the impacts associated with the staging of events and exhibitions. In response the PCEC has developed an environmental policy (PDF 137KB) to manage all impacts both internally and externally with their suppliers.
A number of major events held in Western Australia set in place strategies to reduce their carbon emissions, most notably, the Telstra Drug Aware Pro Margaret River surfing event and the Perth Fashion Festival. Both events utilised the services of a professional consultancy to ensure minimal carbon output, thereby minimising the impact of their event on the environment.