Conference & Meetings World Issue 115 | Page 3

We often bang on about the legacy of conferences ; with COP26 this has never been more necessary

Leader

M any analysts were predicting that the climate and Green challenge would be an issue likely to temporarily drop down the order of priorities as societies concentrated on putting their battered economies back together post-pandemic . If anything , the reverse is true and there is now a huge moment to seize the opportunity to build back better and ‘ rewire ’ our businesses and sectors in a far more sustainable way .

The COP26 climate change conference , which is taking place as I write these lines , is a lodestar for us and also a barometer for change . I fear that it will not be pointing to ‘ Set Fair ’, however , and our industry must join the leaders not the followers and up its game , as our feature on pages 21-22 explores .

Rise to the challenge of COP

Managing editor , Paul Colston
Our industry leaders often bang on about the legacy of conferences being vital to societies and economies , never has this been more necessary , perhaps , than Glasgow ’ s COP26 .
ICCA president James Rees put it well recently : “ We provide the meeting places and marketplaces to work out solutions to the climate crisis . We have a responsibility to minimise our impact on climate change .” ICCA is one of the industry associations driving the industry Net Zero Carbon Events pledge . Not enough for some , maybe , but for those that haven ’ t really started to move in the right direction , it offers guidance and a rallying point .
Let us be in the vanguard for change and not among the straggling ranks of followers .
With our beloved industry acronyms / shows and congresses IMEX , UFI , ICCA and IBTM just some of the events returning in person over the coming weeks , there are plenty of forums where you can be inspired and reconnect with your industry peers , and not just on sustainability issues . CMW will be alongside and always eager to hear your views , news and experiences and share the best of them more widely .
MANAGING EDITOR PAUL COLSTON pcolston @ mashmedia . net
INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR IAIN STIRLING istirling @ mashmedia . net
PORTFOLIO DIRECTOR MARIA BADAKH mbadakh @ mashmedia . net
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER ROBERT FLETCHER rfletcher @ mashmedia . net
INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR MERCEDES ALONSO malonso @ mashmedia . net
INTERNATIONAL REPORTER OLIVER THOMAS othomas @ mashmedia . net
PRODUCTION CONTROLLER SABRINA BOUCHER
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ISSUE 115 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / 3