Sustainability in 2024? It’s all about measurement.

That’s according to our resident expert in all things planet-friendly, Roger Lehner .

He’s part of the ‘Green Squad’, a team of committed individuals from across our organisation who have chosen, in addition to their day jobs, to work on our sustainability performance. What they have in common is this: they’re all caring, passionate and knowledgeable, with their fingers on the pulse of issues such as climate change, food waste and materials science.

In this MPI article , Roger’s part of a global roster of sustainability experts sharing their predictions for this year. He champions the importance of measurement when it comes to making – and sharing – progress.

Why? Roger explains: “Our No. 1?sustainability?trend for 2024 is measurement. This is less of a trend and more of a fundamental practice.

“As we edge ever closer to the target of net zero 2050, consistent and standardized ways to measure?sustainability?efforts are essential in order to benchmark progress and share success in a way that’s meaningful for all.

“We may all be at different stages of the?sustainability?journey, but it’s essential to measure—only by doing so can we identify areas to focus on where we can make the biggest impact.”

The team at Net Zero Caron Events (NZCE) also agree. They identified the creation of a common measurement methodology for all stakeholders (currently 600+ supporters in 60+ countries) as a priority action and recently published ?best-practice and methodology documents , one of which focuses on measurement.

The NZCE team explains: “A standardised methodology provides consistency and comparability across various events, sectors, and geographic locations. Such uniformity allows for the aggregation and analysis of data at a global scale, enabling policymakers and researchers to identify trends, patterns, and hotspots of emissions. It also encourages accountability and transparency among event organisers.”

Collaboration and consistency are the watchwords here. It’s only by working together and sharing best practice that we can make meaningful progress. At IMEX, we’re firm believers in sharing what we learn. We work closely with our partners on significant sustainability initiatives across both of our shows and aren’t afraid to try new things if we think they’ll make an impact. We’re set to share our learnings and the results of our efforts in the IMEX Frankfurt 2023 sustainability report, due to be published soon.