GLASGOW — By the time U.N. Climate Change Conference COP26 wraps up on November 12, 30,000 delegates are expected to have taken part in this game-changing event. The news cycles have been monopolized by images of world leaders pledging to reduce emissions, protesters led by the 18-year-old Greta Thunberg, and Jeff Bezos taking the stage to announce that Amazon will power its entire operation with renewable energies by 2025.
The business events industry has its own significant announcement: the Net Zero Carbon Events pledge hosted by the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) — a roadmap toward net zero emissions by 2050 and more immediate reductions by 2030 in line with the Paris Climate Agreement.
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More than 150 industry organizations — venues, event organizers, exhibitors, convention bureaus and suppliers — have signed the pledge. Signers include many independent show organizers, including Questex, Tarsus Group, Clarion Events, Emerald and Informa.
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Leaders from the business events industry will present the pledge during a session at 10 a.m. EDT on Nov. 10. Among those taking part in the session are: Stephanie DuboisHead 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, Javits Center; Kathleen Warden, Director of Conference Sales, Scottish Events Campus; and Barbara Weizsäcker, Secretary General, European Major Exhibition Centres Association.
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The JMIC has called this effort, which is supported by the secretariat of the UNFCCC, the most inclusive global collaboration ever undertaken in the events sector. “The events industry has a special role to play in tackling climate change,” James Rees, Executive Director, ExCel London and JMIC President, said. “We provide the meeting places and marketplaces to work on solutions to the climate crisis. At the same time, we have a responsibility to minimize our impact on climate change.”
Organizations can continue to sign the pledge after COP26 at netzerocarbonevents.org.
Reach James Rees at +44-20-70694747
