Green conventions
Green conventions or green meetings are conventions which are conducted in ways which minimize the environmental burdens imposed by such activities. Green event planners apply environmentally preferred practices to waste management, resource and energy use, travel and local transportation, facilities selection, siting and construction, food provision and disposal, hotels and accommodations, and management and purchasing decisions.
Green event and convention planning is now an established trend within the global tourism and convention industry. Several cities in the United States and Europe now sport green convention centers designed using green building principles and practices.
Several high visibility events including the Olympic Games in Italy, Sydney, Utah, and Greece; the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, and the 2004 Democratic and Republican National Conventions have implemented green practices with varied success. Such efforts aim to conserve resources, protect air and water quality, habitat and human health, and showcase sustainability practices and concerns.
Parts of the tourism and convention industry now promote green meetings, conferences, and convention planning as demand for sustainability measures increases. Industry associations have produced standards and guides for green meetings. Government agencies and non-profit organizations also promote these practices with research, recommendations, grants and technical support. Some private consultants in the meeting planning industry specialize in mounting green events, and industry groups and governments now sponsor awards to recognize achievements.
Green conventions, meetings, conferencing and events are part of an international movement to achieve a sustainable world economy and livable planet.
See also
- Agenda 21
- Environmental protection
- Green building
- Resource depletion
- Sustainable business
- Sustainable development
- Sustainable tourism
References and external links
Green meeting guides and standards
- Environment Canada’s Green Meeting Guide 2007
- Convention Industry Council’s Green Meetings Report (English or German)
- Carbon Neutral Conferencing
- Green Globe 21: Benchmarking & Certification for Travel & Tourism
- Greenpeace Olympic Environmental Guidelines
- Sustainable Hotels Siting, Design and Construction
- More guide links - BlueGreen Meetings
- Resources related to environmentally conscious meeting planning and trends-MeetingsNet.com
Government agencies & non-profit organizations
- BlueGreen Meetings
- Ceres Green Hotel Initiative
- Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Conventions
- Green Globe 21
- Green Meetings Industry Council
- Portland, Oregon
- US Environmental Protection Agency: Green Meetings
Green convention centers
- Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR
- Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA (also more information)
- Greening Pittsburgh’s Convention Center: Lessons in Market Transformation
Awards & Recognition
Major green events
- 'Greening' major public events
- 2004 Democratic & Republican National Conventions
- International Olympic Committee Sport and Environment Commission
- The Johannesburg Climate Legacy
Other
- A how-to guide to staging a 'green' meeting from Sustainable Industries Journal
- Green Meetings from the Convention Industry Council
- Agenda 21, United Nations Development Programme
- Greenhotelier
- No green medals for Athens Games (MSNBC)
- Greening Olympics Reaches New Peak at the 2006 Winter Games in Italy
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