5 Editor ’ s Letter
A LASTING LEGACY
ello and welcome to the sustainability issue of Conference News , inspired in no small part by the UNFCCC ’ s 26th Conference of the Parties , or COP26 as you may know it by .
Of course , this event was supposed to take place in 2020 , but for obvious reasons was pushed back . There is much global fanfare and media speculation , Hell , even Greta Thunberg has given the event ’ s purpose the thumbs-up .
The future of our planet is at stake , and a live event is required to get the world ’ s leaders to sign up to targets : that should make us all feel pretty darn special .
But let ’ s not get confused , sustainability isn ’ t just about environmental matters , it ’ s about creating businesses with sustainable models , which give back , that help society improve , create sustainable jobs and so much more . In the context of the events industry , it ’ s about providing a platform for legacy .
On p14 in this issue we speak to Michal Gietzen , MD at Identity , the agency tasked with delivering COP26 , which is something many of us will be unable to get our heads around , such is the scale of the task . Then , on p17 , we look at the Scottish Event Campus ’ ( SEC ) food strategy – after all , it is the host venue . We then speak to Neil Brownlee , head of business events at VisitScotland on p18 . While COP26 is a UK Government event , and not necessarily a Scottish event , the legacy of the event is something that will no doubt help at least Glasgow .
This lesson in legacy , however , is vital for all event organisers to learn from . In an age where the bottom line is fast becoming the top line , it will be increasingly difficult to justify an event without a lasting legacy .
Elsewhere in the issue we learn more about isla , the sustainability consortium which has produced a solid framework , sustainable merchandise , and take a tour of a platform about ePosters .
It ’ s going to be a big month for the world , and for our industry . I ’ d love to hear what you , as an event organiser , are doing to factor sustainability into your business strategies . Drop me a line .
Martin Fullard Editor Conference News www . conference-news . co . uk