ECO-CONFERENCING IN GLASGOW
Aileen Crawford , head of tourism and conventions , Glasgow Convention Bureau , tells CN how the city is equipped to host sustainable conferences
lasgow , proud host of COP26 , currently ranks fourth on the Global Destination Sustainability Index of sustainable tourism and event cities . In 2016 , Glasgow was the first UK city to join the GDS Index and has been championing sustainable conference experiences since the launch in 2017 of the People Make Glasgow Greener initiative .
During COP26 , the city joined EarthCheck , the sustainable city benchmarking scheme , a UK first for Glasgow to further bolster the city ’ s tangible commitment to addressing environmental regeneration and improvement .
Glasgow in old Scots means ‘ Dear Green Place ’ and it ’ s where James Watt in 1765 , when walking on Glasgow Green , came up with the idea of the steam condenser and prompted the start of the Industrial Revolution . Today , on the outskirts of
“ The meetings industry has an important part to play in acknowledging and tackling the climate emergency with , and for , our conference clients and delegates .”
Aileen Crawford , head of tourism and conventions , Glasgow Convention Bureau
Glasgow , is Europe ’ s largest windfarm at Whitelee ; low carbon and energy-related conferences are the third largest sector hosted in the city , after medical and engineering meetings . The city also has the largest number of employees working in renewables than anywhere else in the country .
Sustainable conferences In 2021 , the Glasgow Convention Bureau launched the Go Greener toolkit to help conference organisers and delegates be as sustainable at conferences as they are at home . The toolkit aligns to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and offers meeting planners an opportunity to look at all aspects of conference delivery in the destination to target key areas to reduce carbon emissions and , in doing so , limit the conference footprint .
This matters to the conference world . In research recently published by the International Conference and Convention Association ( ICCA ), the Global Associations Meeting Protocol found that sustainability , equity , and inclusion came out as most important for association leaders who responded to the survey . The meetings industry has an important part to play in acknowledging and tackling the climate emergency with , and for , our conference clients and delegates .
In this context , looking at sustainability and legacy together , hosting COP26 has left a positive and lasting legacy for Glasgow . Chosen as host city by the UK Government in recognition of both its consistent track record of delivering large events and conventions and its plans for a low carbon and climate resilient future , COP26 was a complex event for the delivery teams to manage , but it was also similar to other conferences ; with content , meaning , mission and intention . For Glasgow , that meant leaving a legacy that aligned with existing ambitions to help the city make a just transition to net zero carbon by 2030 .
For associations and conference industry partners , delivering a clear vision , mission , meaning , and intention are all attributes of the conference experience .
To do this in a sustainable and responsible manner is the best future for our meetings industry . CN www . conference-news . co . uk