Committed to a greener future: We’ve signed the Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge
At the EAIE, our dedication to advancing international education is closely tied to our deep-rooted commitment to sustainability. Along with our community, we have embarked on a multi-year journey to reduce our environmental impact, especially when it comes to our Annual EAIE Conference and Exhibition. By encouraging conscious choices and creating a meaningful, centralised conference that limits the need for additional travel, we aim to lead by example. This year marks a pivotal step in this journey: our pledge to become a net-zero event by 2050. This milestone reflects both our long-term vision and our commitment to transparency as we begin to share our progress toward a more sustainable future.
Net Zero Carbon Events: An industry initiative to address climate change
Launched in late 2021, the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative was developed in collaboration with key industry stakeholders and supported by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Its mission is to unite the events sector around a common goal: achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. As a newly designated signatory, we are now part of a global community of over 700 organisations across 64 countries, all committed to climate action. This makes NZCE the most inclusive and international sustainability initiative ever undertaken in the events industry. Notably, more than 30 supporting organisations have contributed funding, further accelerating the initiative’s impact and reach. By joining NZCE, we’re not just pledging, we’re joining forces with peers in the events industry to create measurable change for a greener future.
Our sustainability benchmarks & net-zero
At the Annual EAIE Conference and Exhibition, our sustainability efforts are guided by three core benchmarks. The first, reducing our carbon footprint and openly sharing our progress, includes actions such as minimising paper use by going digital and serving a 100% vegetarian, locally sourced menu. The second, encouraging climate action by inspiring and involving all partners and participants, consists of supporting exhibitors with sustainable practice guidelines and encouraging participants to stand with us by signing the sustainability pledge at the conference. The third, participating in the circular economy and reducing waste, is reflected in practical steps like recycling coffee grounds in partnership with our venues and using eco-certified paper badges. While these initiatives represent just a glimpse of our broader sustainability strategy, it’s worth highlighting that benchmarks 1 and 3 are particularly pivotal in driving our commitment toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Strengthening our commitment: Partnership with Life Terra
In addition to our benchmarks, we’re proud to announce a new partnership to help us offset our carbon emissions. We’ve joined forces with Life Terra, a Dutch foundation dedicated to reconnecting people with the earth through impactful climate action. Their work focuses on large-scale tree planting, environmental education and the development of innovative tree monitoring technologies. Active across 25 European countries, with over 8 million trees planted and more than 87,000 citizens engaged, their reach and impact are already significant. With education-focused initiatives such as the ‘Graduation Tree’, which empowers universities to make a tangible impact through tree planting, and 'Terra Mission', an interactive environmental education programme for students aged 8-14, we’re proud to embark on this meaningful partnership. Through it, we plan to directly offset our conference emissions, buying each participant a unique tree voucher which will allow them to geo-locate their tree. In addition to this, we also host tree planting events for our community. We’re excited to take these meaningful steps and engage our community in climate action.
Join us on our journey to net zero carbon events
Our pledge to become a net zero conference by 2050 is not just a goal; it’s a responsibility. As an organisation rooted in positive impact and community, we recognise the vital role we play in shaping a more sustainable future for the events and education sectors. Through targeted actions guided by our sustainability benchmarks and impactful partnerships, such as the one with Life Terra, we are turning ambition into action in the best way we can. We know that real change is only possible when it’s collective, and we invite our partners, participants and peers to join us on our journey to becoming a net zero carbon event. Curious to know how? Dive into all our sustainability initiatives at the conference and discover how you can make a direct impact. From helping us recycle at the conference to travelling green via public transport, every action (big or small) counts.
