Having hosted the UN ’ s COP26 climate conference in November last year , the Scottish Event Campus ( SEC ) said it aims to achieve carbon net zero by 2030 , in line with Glasgow ’ s commitment to do the same across the city . Ahead of a busy events schedule at the SEC , not least at its 14,300-capacity OVO Hydro arena , director of live entertainment Debbie McWilliams shares her views

From ongoing projects to targets and objectives , our sustainability strategy has evolved to include every element of what we do as a team and as a venue , from waste and energy management to client and team engagement , procurement , and green travel .

The strategy ’ s publication has largely coincided with our hosting of COP26 , the largest physical gathering to be held in the world in 2021 and recognised as the most important conversation of our century .

The event urgently addressed environmental change and resulted in the Glasgow Climate Pact , which will turn the 2020s into a decade of climate action and support .

COP26 brought sustainability and the environment sharply

into focus and provided us with the chance to learn , adapt , and build new partnerships . It also provided the opportunity to test our strategies and demonstrate that we can create a truly green and sustainable environment at the SEC .

The event had the highest number of in-person delegates attending any COP in history , with 38,000 badged attendees , and was the largest and most complex conference ever staged in the UK in terms of delegate numbers and footprint .

From a buildings point of view , the event was certified to ISO20121 Sustainable Management System and , with that standard now established , we have a strong foundation upon which we can

Debbie McWilliams

build our site and operations going forward .

At the event we were also among the primary signatories and a driving force behind the net zero carbon events pledge , which has been signed by over 100 parties , including venues and partners from across the events sector , creating a network where best practise and practical solutions can be shared across the industry .

We ’ re very proud that the UN expressed that COP26 was the best COP ever , of the highest quality and the most accessible .

We have a lot of exciting projects and initiatives in the pipeline to support our key targets . For example , one priority is the removal of single use plastic cups from

live events . We also introduced digital ticketing when fans returned to in-person shows last year , reducing paper usage by removing the need to print tickets at home .

We are currently working with A Greener Festival towards achieving Greener Arena certification , demonstrating that carbon reduction and transition strategies are at the heart of our operations .

Our partners will play a key role in our sustainability journey and our naming partner , OVO Energy , has a shared passion and commitment to green and sustainable practices . OVO ’ s goal is to make zero carbon living a reality in everything we do , including attending events , and they will support us in strengthening our existing sustainability credentials and help fund newer initiatives to make the OVO Hydro as low impact as possible .

The coming year is a very exciting one for the OVO Hydro and we look forward to welcoming both artists and fans back to Scotland ’ s home of live entertainment .

As any artist takes to the stage at the OVO Hydro they pass a large clock carrying the message ‘ time to meet the best fans in the world ’.

That clock is always ticking and will help us countdown to building a truly sustainable future for live events .