How green is your conference?

Green morning, everyone!

This is Dr. Shivakiran, a passionate advocate for Sustainable Development Goals and practitioner of green ways. Recently, I delivered a talk at a conference on sustainability. As I was preparing, I had an epiphany: we often give wonderful talks, great presentations, and share inspiring stories at such events, but how many of these conferences are actually ecologically sustainable or eco-friendly?

One thing I’ve noticed is that most of these conferences are energy and carbon-intensive, yet we continue to lecture about saving the world. My guru has a saying in Telugu: "Cheppinattu chesthara?" which means, "Will you do what you say?" Does our practice precede our preaching? Well, I have a few suggestions taken from the pages of my diary—let’s say, some "green" thoughts!

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1. Set the Temperature to 24°C and Above

This is one of the cooler ways to offset your carbon footprint—literally! I’ve often witnessed conference halls set to temperatures that could freeze a penguin. I never understood the logic of it! The Bureau of Energy Efficiency recommends setting air conditioning to 24°C. It’s comfortable for human physiology and reduces energy consumption. Plus, it might just save your attendees from turning into popsicles or spending more time in restrooms (You understand the human physiology!).

?https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1598508

2. Neat Thoughts and Wrinkled Clothes

Recently, a premier research institute in India, Central Leather Research Institute, woke up to a crazy experiment. They advised their staff to come to the office with wrinkled clothes (yes, you heard that right—no ironing!) every Monday as part of their campaign, “Wrinkles Acha Hain” (Wrinkles Are Good). We iron clothes to look neat, classy, and decent—but who defines what’s classy? These standards are subjective, right? We can collectively redefine what’s acceptable for workwear.

?I venture one step further and say we need to de-taboo wearing T-shirts and casuals to conferences and workshops. Suits and blazers in an Indian context? Really? Let’s save electricity and resources while keeping it cool and casual!

?https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/research-body-csir-asks-staff-to-wear-wrinkled-clothes-on-mondays-heres-why-5606565

3. Burden of the Bottles

Most conferences have bottled water, but here’s the catch: in India, people are really worried about the safety of drinking water. And how many of us really know the standards of these water bottling industries? Instead, we could have water dispensers with disposable paper cups. Most airports already have dispensers, so conferences can easily adopt this solution. Encourage participants to carry their own bottles. I know water bottling companies might be annoyed with this suggestion, but the wrath of Mother Earth is far more dangerous!

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4. Brighter Ideas on Darker Slides

I’ve noticed that many conferences use large, power-hungry displays. Often, presentations are designed with a white background and dark letters. But here’s a tip I learned from a senior scientist at DRDO over a decade ago: darker slides consume less energy. It’s a simple switch, but it can make a significant difference in reducing electricity consumption. This trick works well with OLED screens which quite popular recently. Tamasoma Jyothirgamaya!

?https://www.scienceabc.com/innovation/does-the-dark-mode-on-the-computer-actually-save-electricity.html

5. Food for the Good of Earth

Food! The unmissable and key part of any event or conference. Can we consciously design a menu with a smaller carbon footprint? A bit of Internet browsing, and you can find delicious recipes that are local, low on water usage, and less carbon-intensive. How about food prepared by self-help groups, farmer producer organizations, or women’s clusters? And when it comes to cooking, opt for methods that require less fuel—like steaming. It’s good for both the consumer and the environment.

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6. Vocal for Local

Conferences and events spend a lot on decoration, florals, and display boards. Why not make these eco-friendly, locally procured, and easily recyclable? We could even collaborate with startups or NGOs to design the entire disposal process, ensuring we leave no trace behind.

7. Green Logistics

The travel arrangements for speakers and guests can definitely be greener. We could advise participants to use public transport like trains or buses whenever possible. Prefer metros, buses, electric vehicles, or carpooling to travel to the venue. Heck, the organizers could even incentivize such travel! And while we're at it, why not provide accommodation near the venue? That way, participants don’t have to burn extra fuel just to get to the event.

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8. Practice What You Preach

All the steps I’ve described here, and many similar initiatives, should be the norm for any event, public or private. The true measure of a conference's success is in the follow-up outcomes. I’d be thrilled if all conferences, especially those that start with "Eco," "Sustainable," and similar keywords, actually lived up to those promises.

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9. Parting Thoughts

Let me recall a mantra by Major General Chibber from his book, Sai Baba's Mahavakya on Leadership: “To be, to do, to see, to tell.” First, we need to be green, be eco-friendly, be sustainable. Then, we perform our activities in a sustainable way. Next, we see those possibilities in others. And finally, we tell the stories, share our playbooks, frameworks, and simple tips like the ones I’ve shared today so others can follow and celebrate sustainability.

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Thank you for sticking with me this far! These are my pointers. Feel free to use them generously! And feel free to design your own. Happy Ganesh Chaturthi to all of you! May Lord Ganesha bless us with freedom from choking on carbon dioxide. Let’s all breathe fresh air, drink pure water, and celebrate this festival with green thoughts and actions. Jai Green!

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