Martin Fullard , editorial director , Conference News , says the quest for a sustainable industry must not ignore people ’ s livelihoods

efore the pandemic , sustainability was something of a fringe subject . There were occasional panel discussions and well-meaning motives , but as a mainstream agenda point it never quite broke through .

Now , though , it feels like it ’ s all we talk about . That ’ s no bad thing , such is the scale of the matter at hand .

However , it is vital that we don ’ t forget what sustainability actually means . Clearly defined , sustainability refers to the ability to maintain or support a process continuously over time . In a business context , sustainability seeks to prevent the depletion of natural or physical resources , so that they will remain available for the long term . “ Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs ,” according to the Brundtland Commission , the internet tells me .

Sustainability breaks down into three areas : environmental , social , and economic . It is the former – environmental – that gets the most attention , perhaps because it is the easiest to tackle and understand .

However , I do often worry that by encouraging fewer people to travel

Martin Fullard

to events – often cited as a big carbon contributor – that we deprive destinations and their citizens of their livelihoods .

For context , pre-pandemic , Liverpool welcomed £ 3.3bn annually in direct spend from people attending events . This , in turn , accounted for 42 % of business rates paid to the council and , most importantly , supported 38,000 jobs . It is a city which has been regenerated over the past couple of decades through events ; just look at Liverpool Waterfront .

It ’ s packed full of restaurants , hotels , museums , galleries , and of course , ACC Liverpool .

Fewer people travelling to events , or fewer in-person events happening in favour of virtual alternatives , might sound like an easy win in reducing impact , but it flies in the face of true sustainability if thousands of people are put out of work as a result .

Many destinations around the UK rely on event business for their local economies , but they are also agents of change . Knowledge exchange through association conferences and congresses are vital towards social betterment .

We hear often from those who believe that virtual events will become the main medium for conference delivery . They say virtual events are the true key to becoming a sustainable industry . Well , without the physical infrastructure of hotels , venues , suppliers and delegates , there isn ’ t an industry at all . I find this disregard for people ’ s livelihoods concerning , frankly .

The next time you are reviewing your sustainability policy , or deciding on how to run your event , double check how you stack up against the UN ’ s 17 Sustainable Development Goals . Goal 13 , which is Climate Action , must feature prominently , but don ’ t ignore Goals 8 and 11 : Decent Work and Economic Growth , and Sustainable Cities and Communities . How will your decision affect people ’ s lives ? It ’ s all about balance . CN

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