Within the event sector we will: Increase capacity to deliver actions to achieve the SDGs so the, at least, 1.5 billion people a year who attend events (source Event Industry Council: Global Meetings Significance) will acquire knowledge and skills to promote sustainable development (UN SDG 4). E.g. an event attendee may have their first experience of eating a plant based diet and learn how to incorporate this into their lifestyle. Our objectives are:
1-Mobilize resources amongst the private sector actors and leverage key private sector networks to enable at least 200 of the world’s global companies to start reporting on the impact of their events.
2-Convene key actors in the industry to collaboration and provide sector expertise to the United Nations to enable expansion of action and reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals.
3- Establish baseline data and disseminate to key actors for an new indicator to accelerate the achievement of target 4.7

Methodology:
1A- Secure private sector funding of at least $200,000, and leverage that with value in kind
1B- We will develop materials to educate the event supply chain to take action on SDGs and report on their impact, so at least 200 of the world’s largest global companies will have data on the impact of their events. For example we will leverage the impact of partner GES who deliver event solutions to over 4,000 clients annually.
1C- We will leverage existing partnerships with UNFCCC, UN Environment and others to utilise existing reporting methodology e.g. both UNFCCC and UN Environment are due to launch reporting frameworks to the event industry so we will promote and support the uptake of these materials
2A- We will establish a cross industry leadership group and provide opportunities to convene at industry events. For example Imex has an event twice a year which gathers over 12,000 event professionals representing 150 countries
2B- We will leverage existing expertise and communication channels to engage, collaborate, create and share education across the global event industry and their supply chain to increase capacity to deliver the SDGs. For example creating education to support the achievement of the over 7000 commitments made by event professionals from 58 countries recorded in the My World event survey, with a focus on commitments where respondents said ‘they would like to take action but do not know how
2C- We will use social media campaigns to communicate industry best practice and benchmarks (including ISO 20121)
3A-We will establish a cross industry leadership group to identify what data is required to report on 4.7, what methodology could be used, what the current baseline is and how annual data will be collected.
3B- We will engage with existing networks working to ensure SDG indicators are relevant for business and suggest an expanded scope for indicator 4.7.1
4A-We will create a board to govern the use of funds
4B- We will create an annual impact report and continue to use the My World events survey to monitor progress.

In August 2019, the event sector version of My World survey reached 1.7 million resulting in 7000 commitments for action. Using data from this survey we will demonstrate the impact of engaging the global event industry to take action to achieve the SDGs. 371 event professionals committed to providing incentives for event attendees to use public transport. Let’s assume that each of the 371 event professionals runs events for 500 people a year. Let’s assume 50% of the event attendees are inspired by incentives and use public transport. Let’s assume the average journey to an event is 20 miles.371x 500/ 2 x 20 = 1,855,000 miles of travel avoided by use of public transport. This data can be used as the baseline of action currently being taken by the event sector. Then lets take the same assumptions and expand this across the reach of 1.5 billion annual event participants (source: Event Industry Council Global Meetings Significance Report).1,500,000,000/2 x 20 =15,000,000,000 miles of travel avoided by use of public transport. This data can be used as the potential for action which could be taken by the event sector if supported by education and other resources. The average car produces 1.7kg of CO2 emissions per mile (Source: Vehicle Certification Agency). 15,000,000,000 x 1.7kg = 25,500,000,000kg of CO2 emissions will be avoided. We can assume that the % of people who stated ‘they would like to commit but they don’t know how’ is the % which could easily be leveraged to be in action within the next 12 months. We can assume that the % of people who stated ‘they would commit to this action forever’ are already taking this action and therefore this is our baseline. 371 event professionals committed to serving a plant based menu at an event. This data can be used as the baseline of action currently being taken by the event sector. 75 event professionals said they would like to commit but did not know how to do this. Let’s assume that each of the 75 event professionals runs events for 500 people a year. Let’s assume every person attending the event is served a meal with 75g of beef. (Average portion size for cooked meats source: The Association of UK Dieticians). Let’s assume the carbon footprint of 75g of beef is 7.7 CO2 kg eq. (Source: BBC News). 75x500 x7.7 =288,750 CO2 kg eq. We know these event professionals want to act so let’s assume they learn how to act from resources shared with them. It is realistic to think they could avoid 288,750 CO2 kg eq.in 2020. Lets take the same assumptions and expand this across the reach of 1.5 billion annual event participants (source: Event Industry Council Global Meetings Significance Report). Lets’ assume everyone commits to take this action because they have the resources they need. 1,500,000,000 x 7.7= 115 500 000 000 co2 kg eq. could be avoided. People who try actions at event may repeat this at home. Events are multipliers.

www.positiveimpactevents.com