Sustainability Concept

A) Principles and Objectives

B) Fields of action and Measures

1. Nutrition/Food

2. Mobility/Transportations

3. Waste/Resource Management

4. Accompanying measures (communication, participation)
    4.1 Intended measures before the conference
    4.2 Intended measures during the conference
    4.3 Intended measures after the conference

A) Principles and Objectives

• Conference organisation is based on principles of sustainability. This concept foregrounds the dimensions of health, ecology and equity/fairness/justice.
• The organisers are committed to considering aspects of sustainability , health und justice not only for themselves, but also for any third party or parties involved. 
• As far as possible within the system boundaries, the organisers will quantify expected environmental impacts (conference organisation / holding and participant mobility levels), using  CO2-equivalents as indicator. 
• Conference organisers provide information to participants during and after the conference about measures and their impact (communication, transparency).
• The organisers actively involve participants in achieving a sustainable conference and sustainability targets; the conference is used to raise participants' awareness of contributions they can make towards improved sustainability and health in their own homes and at work (participation).
• Sustainability is primarily taken into account at three levels:
  
  1. minimising environmental impacts: ecological footprint ; specific measures with regard to Nutrition/Food, Mobility/Transport and Waste/Resource Management ;
  2. considering health aspects: healthy food; transport to and from conference venue; short "health breaks" in the course of the conference: stretching, movement, meditation;
  3. considering equity-aspects (balanced participation and representation of gender; minorities; representatives from low and middle-income countries; cultural and linguistic groups; young professionals; fairtrade products).
     

The unavoidable greenhouse-gas emissions due to the conference being held in Geneva, such as emissions due to operating the conference centre, catering for and accommodation of participants – will be offset by CDM and Gold Standard emission reduction certificates .

The emissions of the conference itself (without mobility) have been estimated at 77 tons of CO2-equivalents. This corresponds to a compensation of EUR 1920. This amount shall be covered by the conference budget upon agreement by the Conference Organising Committee.


B) Fields of action and Measures

With regard to environmental impacts, the sustainability concept comprises three fields of action as well as accompanying measures in Communication/Participation. The fields of action were defined in the presence of various members of the Conference Organising Committee, during a workshop held by Organise This.

As far as possible and affordable the conference organisers intend to implement the following measures:

1. Nutrition/Food

Nutrition/Food affects all dimensions of sustainability. Any behavioural changes here have immediate relevance on a personal level (health) as well as political repercussions (ecological and social impacts of food production).
The conference organizers intend to provide the following at the event:

• healthy, low-impact food: well balanced low-fat meals; wide range of vegetarian dishes; restricted choice of meat (preference of poultry, pork over veal/beef; any saltwater fish must be MSC certified);
• locally-sourced and seasonal: fresh, regional products;
• product quality: preference of organically-produced, animal-friendly food and ingredients;
• Fairtrade label : minimum standards for socially responsible production and trade with developing countries.
  

This applies to

• catering (incl. Breakfast Meetings, bars) at the conference centre,
• official social events (Welcome Reception, Swiss Night),
• snacks (e.g. fresh, regional fruit à discretion; no vending machines selling junk food at the conference centre).

2. Mobility/Transportation

Mobility and transport will cause the largest part of the conference's environmental impact. While behavioural change is a challenge, carbon-offset is the second-best solution.
Objectives/measures:

• to reduce environmental impact caused by conference participants' travel/mobility, by informing participants of and motivating them to use more environmentally friendly modes of travel (via the conference website and newsletter), integrating a mobility package into the conference fee, including free use of public transport in Geneva for the duration of the conference.
• to provideparticipants with the opportunity to voluntarily compensate for their greenhouse-gas emissions through effective (Gold Standard) carbon-offset projects.

3. Waste/Resource Management

Many opportunities exist at individual and conference organisation levels to manage waste/resources. Any measures in this area will have high visibility and will make an important contribution towards the credibility of a 'Sustainable Conference'.
Intended objectives/measures:

• to avoid and reduce waste: using every opportunity to provide paper-free information, (e.g. downloads, CD/memory stick, PC stations for participants at the conference centre); restrict paper hand-outs of conference documents,
• to separate waste for recycling: paper, plastic (cups, PET containers), organic food waste,
• to encourage re-use: and consistent use of recycled paper at the conference centre.
  

4. Accompanying measures (communication, participation)

4.1 Intended measures before the conference:

Objective: to raise awareness for the issue in general, for objectives and measures at the conference, and for participants' own potential contributions:

• information on the conference website,
• information in the conference newsletter,
• participants are invited to exchange their views in their own Conference User Group on an internet platform Quint-Essenz, and to initiate or support joint sustainability projects.

4.2 Intended measures during the conference:

Objective: to support implementation of measures at the venue; greater in-depth information.

• staffed Sustainability Desk (panels with information on sustainability/health; information on Ecological/Carbon Footprint and how to offset CO2 emissions, etc.),
• PC stations on Ecological Footprint,
• displays on "Sustainable Conferences",
• displays on sustainability at home/at work.

4.3 Intended measures after the conference:

Objective: to motivate participants beyond the actual conference and  implement lessons learnt and good practice in follow-up events:

• evaluate implemented measures and identify lessons learned;
• document outcomes on conference website;
• keep participants informed via post-conference mailing;
• make recommendations to organisers of follow-up conference.