What is Event Carbon Footprint?
The total emissions from organising and hosting an event, including venue energy, attendee travel, catering, materials, and accommodation. Event organisers increasingly offset or reduce these emissions.
Why it matters
Sponsors, delegates, and venue owners are asking for carbon data on events. Calculating and publishing an event carbon footprint demonstrates responsibility and can inform decisions on venue choice, catering, and travel policies that lower the impact of future events.
Example
A conference organiser calculates that a 500-delegate event produces 85 tCO₂e, with 70% from attendee travel. For the following year, the organiser adds a virtual attendance option, reducing the in-person headcount by 40% and cutting total event emissions by 45%.
Related terms
Business Travel Emissions
Carbon emissions from employee travel for business purposes, including flights, trains, car journeys, and hotels. Business travel is typically a significant Scope 3 category for professional services firms.
Carbon Offsets
Credits purchased to compensate for emissions by funding projects that reduce, avoid, or remove greenhouse gases elsewhere. Examples include reforestation, renewable energy projects, and methane capture. One offset typically equals one tonne of CO₂e.
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