BRUSSELS —The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) has joined Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE), the worldwide events industry initiative, to address climate change. The goal of NZCE is to move towards net zero by 2050.
GBTA is a business travel and meetings trade organization serving stakeholders across six continents. GBTA and its more than 8,000 members represent and advocate for the $1,357 trillion global business travel and meetings industry.
Sustainability is a focus of the trade show industry. In the 2023 American Express Global Business Travel Global Meetings and Events Forecast, 80% of survey respondents said their organizations take sustainability into account when planning its gatherings, with three-fourths of this group reporting that they already have sustainable program strategies in place. Predictions indicate that this focus will become more intense with the increase in climate reporting metrics, as planners look to choose destinations and venues that promote sustainability. This is what makes NZCE so valuable.
Since its launch at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, NZCE has developed resources to help those in the events industry on their journeys to net zero carbon emissions. These include a roadmap and advisory reports on venue energy; smart production and waste management; logistics; travel and accommodations; food and food waste; offsetting and measurement.
GBTA joins an organizing task force initiated by the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), the group that represents the global business events industry. Initiating members include UFI, AIPC and ICCA. Additional initial members include Emerald, Freeman, HKCEC, Informa, Javits Center, MCI, Messe München, RX and the Scottish Event Campus. Today, more than 30 major meetings and events industry organizations from across the globe are financial contributors to NZCE. In addition, more than 650 organizations have signed the pledge or support the initiative which is led by JMIC.
“Travel to an exhibition, whether that is stand builders, service suppliers, exhibitors and visitors, is one of the producers of carbon emissions within the totality of an event. By partnering with GBTA, we are gaining the support for our work on business travel and how do it in the most sustainable manner,” Alex Alles, Executive Director of the Joint Meetings Industry Council, said. “With the number of signatories and supporters of the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative from all across the world now more than 650, sustainability in the trade show industry is generating strong engagement and making good progress. Every day more organizations pledge to develop and implement their road map to net zero, which gives us stimulus to continue our work.”
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With the campaign now focused on implementation in each of these areas, GBTA and NZCE will be working together with the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) on implementing the travel and accommodation element.
“GBTA has unparalleled expertise and experience in the technical aspects of business travel and sustainability, especially through the Sustainability Initiative of the GBTA Foundation. We are delighted to be working with both GBTA and ICCA on this and looking forward to aligning our work and developing common ground for all stakeholders in future,” James Rees, President of the JMIC, said.
GBTA is Committed
“For our members, industry and for the work we do as an association, GBTA is deeply committed and active in helping to create a more sustainable future for global business travel. We are pleased to be part of the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative and working with the JMIC and other key organizations to bring the power of our collective efforts to ensure more net zero-focused approaches to the very significant sector of meetings and events,” Suzanne Neufang, CEO of GBTA, said.
ICCA is a founding member of NZCE. “We’re thrilled to have the Global Business Travel Association on board with this incredibly important initiative. One of our pillars as an organization is sustainability, and ICCA is committed to working with our partners in the industry to promote the overall goal of reducing carbon emissions,” Senthil Gopinath, CEO of ICCA said. “It’s crucial that the meetings and events community as a whole joins forces to advance sustainable practices and policies around the globe, and as more organizations come on board, we get closer to our goal of Net Zero by the year 2050.”
Net Zero Carbon Events is open to all organizations involved in events and trade shows. Go to www.netzerocarbonevents.org/funding-opportunities
