Take a closer look at the Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs for short. Integrating the SDGs into events is an important step on the road to sustainability. With conscious event planning and thanks to sustainable practices, your events can also make an important contribution to solving global problems and at the same time become a role model for sustainability. That is why we are presenting "SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being" to you today.

SDG 3 - Good health and well-being

This is what SDG 3 is all about: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

SDG 3 specifies the goal of maintaining and restoring human health and preventing premature death. As important sub-goals, this SDG aims in particular to significantly reduce deaths and illnesses caused by hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution.

What SDG 3 means for events

For your events, this means that the health and safety of participants and employees should be a top priority.

How can you as an event planner or service provider contribute to achieving this goal?

Design your events in such a way that they promote the well-being of participants - both physically and mentally. Reduce air, water and soil pollution. Prevent the use of hazardous chemicals. In addition, you should integrate health-promoting measures such as healthy food and exercise options into your event planning. Also consider accessibility and inclusion to ensure that all participants have equal access.

These immediate measures at events contribute to SDG 3

With these immediate measures, you as event professionals can actively support SDG 3 and ensure that your events offer a healthy and inclusive environment.

Reduction of CO₂ emissions

... because climate change can have a direct and indirect impact on health. Integrate environmentally friendly measures into your event, such as the use of renewable energies, sustainable transportation and recycling.

The focus of preventive healthcare is on protection against:

• Heat,
• Noise,
• the formation of ground-level ozone,
• traffic-related air pollution,
• increased UV radiation and
• the possible spread of heat-loving harmful organisms.

New pathogens and exotic disease vectors are also a focus. These in particular are taking on a whole new significance in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Climate adaptation

Pay attention to increased safety measures when securing structures. Protect your visitors as well as possible from increasingly frequent and severe weather disasters. Provide shade. Also make sure that people have sufficient water and shelter areas available. Ensure good communication - even in the event of a disaster. Make sure you have good signage and train your staff to avoid panic in the event of an emergency and give participants a strong sense of security.

Sustainable cleaning agents

Use sustainable cleaning agents. This will prevent harmful substances from entering the environment and polluting the air, waste water and soil.

Inclusion and accessibility

Make sure that your event is accessible for people with different abilities. This could include providing ramps, accessible toilets and buildings, as well as easy-to-understand information for all participants.

Health-promoting measures

Offer your employees stress reduction measures, sports and mental health programs. You can also make walking, jogging, other physical activities and relaxation before events important. As well as healthy catering options that support a balanced diet. Offer vegetarian or vegan options, fresh fruit and vegetables and drinks without added sugar.

First aid and medical care

Make sure that well-equipped first aid stations are available and that medical personnel are easily accessible so that they can respond quickly in an emergency.

Supporting mental health

Offer quiet areas where participants can retreat and relax. Possibly organize workshops or lectures on stress management and mental health.

Health checks and vaccinations

In times of health crises such as pandemics, it is important to support and promote measures such as health checks and vaccinations. Prevention through hygiene measures, social distancing rules and early communication of appropriate precautionary and behavioral rules is also important here.

Raising awareness and education

Organize information stands or workshops on health topics to raise participants' awareness and encourage them to make healthy choices.

Working conditions of employees

Ensure that your employees' health is protected, e.g. with regard to compliance with working hours and occupational and production safety.

Obtain feedback from participants

After your event, ask participants for their feedback on their health and well-being during the event. Use this to improve future events.

Events that lead by example

These events are just a few examples of how presence events actively contribute to the implementation of SDG 3 and promote the health and well-being of participants:

Paralympic Games

The Paralympic Games are an outstanding example of an event that promotes SDG 3. How? They enable the participation of athletes with different abilities and emphasize the importance of inclusion and accessibility.

Invictus Games

The aim of the sixth Invictus Games in Düsseldorf is to give soldiers who are wounded, injured or ill in body and soul greater visibility and recognition in society and to support their rehabilitation. Under the motto "A HOME FOR RESPECT", the city of Düsseldorf, together with the Bundeswehr, welcomes around 500 competitors from 21 nations as well as around 1,000 family members and friends to compete in ten disciplines.

Greenfestivals

Greenfestivals are sustainable events that focus on environmental awareness, health and well-being. They offer healthy food options, eco-friendly products and workshops on topics such as sustainable living.

Walk for Life

This is a worldwide series of events where people come together to walk for HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention and support. The focus is on promoting health and well-being.

Mental Health Awareness Events

Various events and campaigns focus on promoting mental health, such as awareness walks, seminars and events focusing on stress management and mindfulness.

Conclusion

If sustainable events become the standard, their high reach and variety create enormous potential to change the world in a positive way! This is how - also your? - Events become part of the solution - be an active part of it.

More information

Sabine Böhling, consultant, trainer and lecturer for sustainability and CSR, and Stefan Lohmann, expert for live entertainment concepts and founder of Sustainable Event Solutions, present the 17 SDGs and apply them to events. This series first appeared on tw-media, the meetings industry.

• more about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals
• more about the 16 Steps Initiative