Climate neutrality - what does it really mean?

What actually is climate neutrality? Are we allowed to call our events climate neutral and if so, when? As players in the culture and events industry, we play an important role in our society and offer many people unique live experiences, exchange and entertainment. In view of the climate crisis, it is essential that our actions also become more sustainable - our events.

The demand for climate neutrality has increased in recent years and has become an important topic in the event industry. In this blog article, we will explain what is behind the concept of carbon neutrality. We will examine it in relation to events and compare it to the Net Zero strategy. In addition, we'll take a look at the pros and cons - especially with a view to greenwashing and the scandals of offsetting agencies.

That is climate neutrality

Climate neutrality does not equal CO2-free. Rather, it refers to the state in which net emissions of greenhouse gases are arithmetically reduced to zero. This means that the amount of greenhouse gases emitted is offset by measures such as energy efficiency, renewable energies and compensation techniques. This can be done by planting trees, for example. The idea is that unavoidable emissions are offset by investing in projects that either reduce or sequester emissions to achieve a balance of zero.

Climate neutrality at events

Events are known for their high energy and resource consumption as well as their significant greenhouse gas emissions.

To counteract these challenges, many players in the industry have increasingly committed themselves to the goal of climate neutrality. As an event organizer, you can make your events climate neutral by taking various measures to avoid or reduce CO2 emissions. These include, for example, the use of renewable energies, the reduction of mobility, resources, waste and the compensation of unavoidable emissions by investing in sustainable projects.

Climate neutrality versus net zero strategy

The Net Zero strategy goes one step further than climate neutrality. It aims to completely eliminate net emissions of greenhouse gases.

While carbon neutrality aims to offset emissions to achieve a balance of zero, the Net Zero strategy aims to directly address the sources of greenhouse gas emissions and find alternative solutions.

Aiming for climate neutrality including compensation is a good start. However, you should not rest on your laurels and should always communicate clearly that you are aiming for climate neutrality including compensation.

However, the complete decarbonization of events should remain our common goal. That is why we should favor the Net Zero strategy. This aims to eliminate 90 to 95 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and only compensate for those emissions that are currently technically impossible to prevent.

In doing so, we can use the Science Based Targets as a guide. This is because the targets are considered to be scientifically sound. They are consistent with what is needed according to the latest climate science to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. That means limiting global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and continuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.

The advantages of climate neutrality and climate-neutral events

Carbon neutrality or Net Zero events offer a number of benefits.

By switching to renewable energies and reducing emissions, you as an event organizer can minimize your ecological footprint and make a positive contribution to climate protection. In addition, climate-neutral events can have a positive effect on an organizer's image and credibility. They can attract the attention of environmentally conscious visitors and partners. Government subsidies will also be made dependent on the sustainability strategy in the future.

Greenwashing and climate neutrality

A danger of climate neutrality. Although climate neutrality is an important goal, there is a danger of greenwashing.

What do we mean by greenwashing? Greenwashing means concealing environmental impacts or falsifying sustainability claims to create a positive image without actually taking substantive action. It is critical that you, as an event organizer, support your climate neutrality claims with credible data and transparency. This is the only way you can avoid greenwashing and gain stakeholder trust. It is important that when looking at your carbon footprint, you include all impacts, including Sopes 1 to 3, and have them assessed by independent third parties.

Compensation agency scandals

If you want to reduce your footprint and achieve climate neutrality, you can work with offset agencies to compensate for unavoidable emissions.

But beware. Look closely! Some offset agencies have been involved in scandals where their offset projects did not deliver the promised environmental benefits or even had negative impacts. It is important that you work with reputable and credible offset agencies and ensure that their projects are proven to be effective.

Frequently asked questions about climate neutrality

The term "climate neutrality" raises questions for many event planners. We have compiled the most important and at the same time most frequent ones for you here.

How can I save the most CO2?

These are the areas with which you save the most CO2 at events:

• Mobility,
• Logistics,
• Energy,
• Catering,
• Waste

What's impressive is that, especially at international events or events with a high volume of travel, mobility can make up a huge proportion - for better or for worse. I.e. if you can reduce something here, you have gained an enormous amount.

Example: In the hybrid BOCOM 2020, almost 61 percent of emissions were generated in the mobility sector. Whereas overnight stays came in second place in terms of emissions, with a share of just under 18 percent. As you can see, travel to and from the site makes a big difference.

Other statistics and studies also come to similar conclusions and speak of 70, 80 or even 85 percent CO2 consumption due to mobility. By the way, this also includes everything you transport from A to B for the events.

What CO2 calculators are available?

The free calculators are valuable for you as a newcomer to the topic because they help you get a feel for which measures or which areas cause how much CO2.

If, on the other hand, you want to create a carbon footprint for an event, we recommend a detailed analysis and creation via professional providers, e.g. 2bdifferent or ClimatePartner. Only in this way can you be sure that the figures have been collected and evaluated seriously and as completely as possible. They are therefore reliable for you as an organizer and you can adhere to the specifications and recommendations for action.

General CO2 Calculator 

• CO2 calculator of the EnergyAgency.NRW
• CO2 calculator of the Association for Sustainability and Environmental Management
• Carbon Footprint Calculator
• WWF Footprint Calculator
• Global Footprint Network
• Carbon Calculator from myclimate
• CoolClimate Network
• Global Calculator
• Footprint Calculator from Earth Day Network
• Ecoscore - for cars to calculate and alternative vehicle options
• Carbon Independent

CO2 calculators specialized in events

• CO2 calculator for events - from the Federal Environment Agency
• CO2 calculator for events - by KlimAktiv
• MeetGreen Carbon Calculator
• Event Sustainability Calculator
• Julie's Bicycle IG Tools
• Digital Event Carbon Calculator
• Positive Impact Events' Sustainability Calculator
• Eventbrite Sustainable Events Calculator
• myclimate CO2 calculator for events
• CO2 Calculator for Events of the Association for Sustainable Business (VnW)

What is compensation, how does it work and which projects are trustworthy?

Carbon offsetting is an approach to reduce or offset the negative impact of greenhouse gas emissions. This is done by funding projects that either avoid CO2 emissions or remove CO2 from the atmosphere. This is done by supporting projects that promote renewable energy, improve energy efficiency, reforest, or use other methods to reduce or remove CO2.

There are various mechanisms and standards to assess the trustworthiness of carbon offset projects. Some of the well-known standards are:

Gold Standard: The Gold Standard is a standard developed by a non-profit organization that sets strict criteria for climate protection projects. It ensures that projects make a verifiable and sustainable contribution to reducing emissions and also meet social and environmental criteria.

Verified Carbon Standard (VCS): The VCS is a leading international standard for voluntary carbon offsetting. It ensures that projects reduce or remove CO2 emissions in a transparent and verifiable way.

Climate Action Reserve (CAR): CAR is a leading standard in the U.S. for voluntary offsets of greenhouse gas emissions. It reviews and validates projects according to strict guidelines.

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): The CDM is a mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol that supports projects in developing countries to achieve emissions reductions. It involves rigorous project verification and certification methodologies.

When selecting trusted carbon offset projects, it is important that you look for transparency, verifiability, certifications and compliance with internationally recognized standards. It is advisable to choose projects that provide comprehensive information about their activities, CO2 reductions, social impacts, and monitoring and reporting systems. Look twice before transferring funds. There are offset projects that deliberately clear forest beforehand, only to reforest it with funding. This is absurd and harmful to the climate. And if it comes to light that you have supported something like this, it will also damage your image.

It doesn't have to be so dramatic. But there are countless projects that are only half-heartedly designed and thus benefit no one. For example, it is not enough to plant just any trees. They have to be the right ones. The ones that suit the location and they must also be watered and cared for, especially in the first few years. Otherwise, in today's times, they often don't even survive the first year. Seek expert advice when choosing compensation projects. Feel free to ask me or also Dr. Frauke Fischer from Agentur Auf.

Conclusion

The demand for climate neutrality and Net Zero strategies is becoming louder and louder - also in all areas of the event industry. Because the effects of climate change are becoming more and more noticeable. If you plan and execute climate-neutral events, you can minimize the ecological footprint of your event and thus also that of your participants. In this way, you make an important contribution to global climate protection. Avoid greenwashing at all costs. Work only with trustworthy offset agencies and implement credible and effective measures.

The future and sustainability of events lies in climate neutrality or greenhouse gas-free and consistent implementation of sustainable, environmentally friendly and circular events. Be an active part of it!

Do you want to hold climate-neutral events? But don't know where and how to start? Then get the practical guide: