GECOP
GECOP PILOT IS FLYING
Vision 2025 is leading a UK Green Events Code of Practice ( GECOP ) pilot project coordinated by its chair Chris Johnson , alongside Julie ’ s Bicycle ’ s climate change specialist Richard Phillips and Cheltenham Festivals ’ Andrew Lansley . Here , Lansley provides his insights on the project
This project is an exemplary example of innovative best practice , through a creative , collaborative crosseconomy approach between organisations to create a framework of best practice that is designed to be transferable across the events , tourism , leisure and hospitality business sectors .
The scale of the outdoor event industry ’ s contribution to the development of the code is significant itself as demonstrable evidence there is an appetite for sector progression . The development of the code was supported by the Event Industry Forum , the Association of Independent Festival ’ s ( AIF ), Festival Republic and Superstruct , and is supported by LIVE ; the trade body for the UK music industry and the Local Authority Event Organisers Association ( LAEOG ). It is also co-funded by Arts Council England and participating local authorities . As such it represents the collated experience and interests of multiple stakeholders , informed by community generated standards within a scientifically aligned framework .
In the UK local authorities are committed to the government net zero targets , with many declaring a climate emergency , and beginning to develop policy and expectations relating to live events . It was recognised that there is a lack of national consistency or guidance about how this can be best achieved . GECOP aims to achieve consistency with
Andrew Lansley
“ GECOP HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO REPRESENT A SCIENCE- BASED APPROACH THAT ALIGNS WITH EXISTING INITIATIVES .”
a set of clear , open and accessible best practices , the assessment of which is now being tested .
The development of GECOP began
with extensive consultation across the outdoor live events industry during 2022 . It was launched in October 2022 and has been designed to establish best practice , provide clear and robust minimum standards , and shared targets for sustainability , understood and adopted by all stakeholders across the outdoor festival and events industry – event organisers , local authorities and supply chain .
The code was developed as a direct response to recommendations made in the DCMS Select Committee report on The Future of UK Music Festivals ( May 2021 ), that “ the Government , the Local Government Association and representatives from across the festival sector develop standardised environmental objectives that local
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