EVENT GREENING FORUM

The Event Greening Forum remains steadfast in Net Zero Carbon Events Future

In a recent workshop titled ‘Bridging the Divide from Here to a Net Events Future’, the Event Greening Forum (EGF) brought together industry professionals and enthusiasts to explore the critical steps toward achieving a sustainable conscious events industry.

Distinguished speakers Grace Stead and Morwesi Ramonyai, both renowned experts in sustainable event management, led an interactive session that underscored the urgency of addressing climate change impacts and the pivotal role of the events industry in driving positive change.

Urgent stats on climate change impact

1. Biodiversity loss in the Amazon

The global demand for meat has led to alarming biodiversity loss in the Amazon. Clearing land for grain production to feed animals has significant environmental consequences.

2. Water supply challenges in South Africa

By 2030, South Africa anticipates a 17 per cent deficit in water supply against rising demand, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable practices to secure water resources.

3. Extreme weather events and displacement

Recent extreme weather events in Mozambique and KZN resulted in 170,000 people displaced in 2013 and damages amounting to R17-billion, with 435 lives lost in 2022.

4. South Africa’s accelerated warming

South Africa is warming at twice the global rate, being a severely climate-stressed country.

The workshop emphasised the pressing need for collaboration, innovation, and persistence in addressing these challenges. Ms Ramonyai’s poignant words encapsulated the urgency: “We must journey towards net zero. It’s not as far as we think. It might feel like it’s far, but it’s not as far as we think. So, the whole idea here is to give you that support.”

Ms Stead and Ms Ramonyai shared insights into the strategies and practices necessary for transitioning towards a net-zero carbon future. Ms Ramonyai encouraged attendees to start where they are and emphasised the importance of perseverance: “Start where you are and do what you can. And if you fail, start over again. Just carry on one thing at a time, and that is it.”

The workshop, designed for NZCE signatories and supporters, remains relevant to all individuals interested in contributing to a sustainable future or working towards net-zero objectives. A central theme was the global commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, aligned with the Joint Meetings Industry Council’s Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE) initiative. Given its profound environmental impact, the events industry is pivotal in this global initiative.

For those who missed the live event, the workshop is available for viewing online. Grace Stead and Morwesi Ramonyai are set to release a comprehensive document summarising key insights and takeaways on the Event Greening

Forum website in the coming weeks.

The EGF thanks the event sponsors — the Forum, Scan Display, Chat’r, The Solutions Company, Inspire Rentals, and Wrap Zero. The event sponsors played a vital role in making the workshop a resounding success, highlighting the importance of collective action in steering the events industry toward a net-zero carbon future.

The Event Greening Forum remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering a sustainable events industry. The urgent call to action reverberates beyond the workshop, inviting stakeholders from all backgrounds to join the ongoing conversation and contribute to the shared goal of a net-zero carbon future. The time to act is now, and the events industry holds the key to a more sustainable and resilient future.