Call for the promotion of a sustainable event industry

Call for the promotion of a sustainable event industry

(Berlin, 13 October 2020, last update 27.10.2020) The event industry is facing an existential threat and needs support. At the same time, the corona and climate crisis make it clear that there can be no simple "keep it up"! In order to secure the long-term existence of the events industry, we need two things now: the preservation of companies and self-employed people - as demanded by the #AlarmstufeRot alliance and submitted to the German government - and support for the industry's conversion to sustainability and climate neutrality by 2030 at the latest.

Targeted financial support is needed for the transition to a future-oriented and sustainable event industry that also uses the advantages of digitisation for climate protection. The announced economic stimulus packages of the German government and the initiatives of the European Parliament with the Climate Pact and Green Deal show the way. However, politics must become immediately active - before it's too late!

We therefore call for the immediate preparation of a targeted economic stimulus package to promote a sustainable event industry.

Our most important goals:

1. Promotion of the investment sums (70%) for research, restructuring, review of supply chains, introduction of recycling management, environmentally friendly mobility and logistics, digitalisation, tangible assets, sustainable event materials and technology, training, further training, certificates (e.g. ISO, EMAS, GWÖ, Ökoprofit, German Sustainability Code), which support a transformation of the event industry - in compliance with the criteria of a sustainable event organisation analogous to the BMU guidelines (Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety)
2. Long-term safeguarding of the event industry as an important economic sector while at the same time ensuring climate neutrality (by 2030 at the latest) and maximising sustainability, based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
3. Achievement of the Paris climate goals, among other things, through the event industry's voluntary commitment to climate neutrality of events by 2030 at the latest and compliance with the criteria of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) for sustainable event management.
4. Awarding of all public events at regional, state and federal level only under the condition of a sustainable tender and climate-neutral implementation.

The industry's voluntary commitment to conduct events in a climate-neutral manner by 2030 at the latest also includes CO2 emissions from travel (mobility) and overnight stays (hotel industry). This would create a pilot model for the sustainable orientation of an entire industry with great impact on society (through festivals, concerts) and other economic sectors (through trade fairs, B2B events, corporate events).

Massive energy saving,_{CO2 reduction} and resource efficiency

The event industry has an immense potential for saving_{CO2 emissions}, raw materials, resources and energy. The event industry should therefore become a fixed component in future public investment and funding programmes for climate protection and sustainability. Modern efficient technologies can and must finally be used or brought to market maturity (e.g. energy-efficient light/sound and control technology, sustainable theatre curtains on a rental basis, environmentally friendly generators, climate-friendly logistics, introduction of a closed-loop economy for event materials).

Investments in sustainable solutions must not become an incalculable risk.

Deadline for unsustainable events

The change towards a sustainable event industry needs political support at all levels. Ambitious sustainability criteria such as the planned eco-label for events must become a fixed part of all public tenders as soon as possible, so that best practice in environmental protection is no longer left out for cost reasons, but becomes a condition in fair competition.

After a transitional period based on the EU framework for climate and energy policy until 2030 and in view of the Paris agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the climate neutrality of professional events must become binding. A recycling rate of >90% must be a condition for all events. A responsible contact person* for environmental management should also be mandatory for professional events, as is already required for security concepts or data protection. This not only ensures the long-term existence of the event industry in times of climate change, but also gives the industry a role model for modern, sustainable and innovative business.

About us:

In order to achieve the above-mentioned goals, we want to send a strong signal to politicians and also explicitly to the event industry. That is why we have not only joined forces within the event industry, but also cooperate with associations and civil society.

Together, we form an alliance of contractors, contractors, public authorities, suppliers, creative people, associations, locations, politicians, influencers and other supporters.

Our society needs a sustainable and strong event industry. We therefore demand immediate and targeted promotion and support from politicians.

The initiators:

• Stefan Lohmann (Live entertainment concepts + founder of Sustainable Event Solutions)
• Fritz Lietsch (Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, Altop Verlag - forum Nachhaltig Wirtschaften)
• Marcus Stadler (Expert for Sustainability Management DIN ISO & EMAS)
• Association of Event Organisers (VDVO)
• UnternehmensGrün e.V.

First signatories*:

• Bernd Fritzges (Chairman of the Board VDVO)
• Doreen Biskup (Deputy Chairman of the Board VDVO)
• Dr. Katharina Reuter (Managing Director - UnternehmensGrün e.V.)
• Prof. Dr. Maximilian Gege (Chairman of the Board of B.A.U.M. e.V.)
• Martin Oldeland (Board of Directors B.A.U.M. e.V.)
• Frank Otto (Board of Directors of Hamburger Klimawoche e.V.)
• Frank Schweikert (Board of the German Marine Foundation, Board of the Federal Marine Waste Association)
• Stefan Schulze Hausmann (Lawyer, Initiator - German Sustainability Award)
• Sascha Müller-Kraenner (Federal Managing Director - German Environmental Aid)
• Dr. Gregor Hagedorf (Initiator Scientists for Future, speaker NABU BAG Sustainability)
• Nico Ubenauf (Member of the Board Satis&Fy, co-initiator of the Alliance Red Alert)
• Suzann Heinemann (Managing Director GreenSign / The sustainability seal for hotels)
• Jan Pechmann (Initiator - Marketing for Future)
• Norbert R. Lux (Managing Director - Green Brands Organisation)
• Martin Erhardt (Project Manager Sustainable Management - Steinbeis Foundation for Economic Development)
• Prof. Dr. Ulrich Holzbaur (Sustainability Officer - Aalen University)
• Prof. Karin-Simone Fuhs (Director ecosign/Academy of Design)
• Louisa Dellert (influencer for sustainability, environmental protection and politics)
• Mike Keller (GF Markthalle, lecturer at the Fresenius University of Applied Sciences - sustainable event and festival management)
• Robert Hansemann (Managing Director Upstairs Event GmbH)
• Stefan Rössle (Managing Director Kontrapunkt - Agency for Communication GmbH)
• Rüdiger Maeßen (CEO Europe, Uniplan - Agency for brand experiences)
• Sören Gütschow (Marketing Manager Sani GmbH, temporary space and sanitary solutions)
• Michael Stober, Landgut Stober (public interest balancing company)
• Gerd Hofielen, (AK Unternehmen, Gemeinwohl-Ökonomie e.V.)
• Maarten Arkenbout (Pieter Smit Group - Event Logistics)
• Alexandra Wandel (Chairperson of the World Future Council)
• Sascha Lafeld (Managing Director Planetgood GmbH - Climate Neutral Now)
• Thomas Udesen (Co-Founder SSP - Sustainable Procurement Pledge with 1800 buyers)
• Julien Figur (Managing Director Hanse Mondial - bus rental and logistics)
• Anke Stopperich (Managing Director BESONDERE ORTE Umweltforum Berlin GmbH)
• Evelyn Bodenmeier (Managing Director GermanZero e.V.)
• Green Events Hamburg - Green Economic Council e.V.
• Jürgen May (Owner 2bdifferent)
• Michael Hosang (Managing Director, Studieninstitut für Kommunikation GmbH)
• Janine Steeger - Green Janine (author, presenter, speaker, media trainer)
• Tanja Schramm (CEO, Meet Germany)

Do you want to join the initiative and support the call? Then please register here.