Events industry must accelerate actions against climate change, says UNFCCC programme officer

A representative from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has called on the events industry to urgently accelerate its response to climate change. Miguel Naranjo, programme officer at the UNFCCC secretariat, warned that there “would be no events industry” if society fails in facing this challenge. Event professionals, he said, had a responsibility to contribute by changing the way they address sustainability. Naranjo was speaking ahead of an event, focusing on sustainability in the events industry, which takes place in Helsinki, Finland, 2 September, as part of a joint initiative between the British Embassy in Helsinki, and not-for-profit think tank Positive Impact. He added, “Time is running out to respond to the climate challenge. Most companies have already realised that action on climate is not just about social and environmental issues, but about their business’s bottom line and business continuity. An adequate response includes developing the required skills, education and training to take effective action, so that event professionals can become climate action champions.” The Helsinki event will be available to access digitally, and UK event professionals are invited to join the interactive workshop with their Finnish peers to understand the processes and practices which could create a sustainable event industry and create a new narrative for the sector. Tom Dodd, British Ambassador to Finland, added: “This sustainable event management workstream provides a means by which event professionals can connect, collaborate and communicate, while meeting some of the urgent environmental challenges we face.” Naranjo concluded: “Those that do not start implementing serious action right now will be left behind. We encourage the events industry to use all opportunities to look at sustainability, skills and jobs under the same strategy for positive change, and to act with utmost urgency.” Event professionals, trade bodies or associations who wish to attend the event can register here. And those who wish to be involved with future ISO 20121 developments can email standardsmakers@bsigroup.com and request to join the mirror committee.