Sustainability Through the Lens of Event Management
Dewangi K.
Sustainability Community Driver II Project Coordinator II Innovator II Always Open to Collaborations, Conversations, Connections
In Episode 2 of the Median SustainCast, we dive into the topic of Sustainability through the Lens of Event Management, and explore a few case studies from Leor's new book, How We Gather Matters.
Sustainability Through the Lens of Event Management: How Small Changes Lead to Big Impact
Events are powerful vehicles for community bonding, embracing traditions, celebrating milestones, and spreading large-scale intentions. Whether the event is for a birthday, festival, religious ritual, or community culture; they leave a footprint. Sometimes the most celebrated events and customs leave a massive carbon footprint, render resource exhaustion, local community disruptions, and in many cases generate tremendous waste.?
Transforming Events into Purposeful Gatherings
Leor emphasizes that every gathering offers an opportunity to align with the deeper values of organizations, communities and individuals. Rather than focusing solely on logistics, corporate/fiscal benefits or entertainment, event organizers should ask why the event matters and how it can create a lasting impact.
Research suggests that events contribute to liveability, viability, and equity, which are key to community well-being and ongoing sustainable development. These pillars ensure that sustainability is embedded in environmental factors and the social and economic dimensions of the communities that host events. By incorporating sustainability and thoughtful planning, events can catalyze environmental and social change.
In Part 1 of Leor’s Stampede Special Podcast interview, we uncovered that incorporating sustainability into events can sometimes be challenging. However, when an event is intentional, and everyone involved is open-minded, hidden opportunities often emerge. One such example is how the lack of a waste management team led Leor and the Stampede team to collaborate with the Centre for Newcomers. This partnership allowed the Calgary Stampede organizers to fulfill its sustainability goals while helping the Calgary Centre for Newcomers achieve its mission by providing refugees and newcomers with their first work experience.
Leor’s example showcases how events can become more purposeful when aligned with broader social goals. By addressing sustainability challenges creatively, event organizers can turn obstacles into opportunities that serve both environmental and community needs. This collaboration not only reduced waste at the Stampede but also supported the integration of newcomers into the workforce, demonstrating how sustainability can drive meaningful social impact.
Events can be instrumental in our Sustainable Future
A key aspect of sustainable event management is not merely changing practices but preserving impactful rituals and transforming them into tools for necessary change. It involves understanding and respecting deeply rooted cultural traditions while implementing small, incremental shifts for better sustainability outcomes.
In this podcast, we discuss Leor’s collaboration with the Ismaili community’s Partnership Walk, where we uncover the immense potential of community-driven events. This large-scale volunteer-led event, which raises funds for the Aga Khan Foundation, exemplifies how even small actions—such as switching from disposable stir sticks to reusable alternatives—can significantly reduce waste while maintaining the integrity and purpose of the gathering.
Sustainable Event Management is Rooted in Effective Change Management
Leor’s work with Stampede and many local Calgary organizations for the past two decades emphasize that sustainable events start with the people, not the programs. It's essential to engage stakeholders who can influence change within their communities. For example, youth from the Ismaili community had the potential to approach older generations, aligning new sustainable practices with the community’s values, and ensuring changes are embraced without disrupting the event’s experience.
·??????? Sustainable event management practises require a multi-step approach where stakeholders are involved at all stages of development.
·??????? Careful planning before the event is crucial, taking intentional responsibility in every procurement & collaboration opportunity is a key to achieving overall sustainability.
·??????? Also, offering education and raising awareness among eventgoers are essential to putting sustainability into practice worldwide.
Change in event management is incremental and often driven by micro-moments. The bright side of large range impact and high visibility of an event can offer great opportunities to spread the environmental message across the world. While the event itself has a short lifespan the legacy of sustainable practices can live on.
Conclusion
Recent research shows that Loneliness and isolation are connected to health issues like cardiovascular disease, depression, anxiety, and stress. Sustainable Events can be a powerful platform for tackling this by creating spaces for social interaction while being mindful of their environmental footprint.
A sustainable approach to event management requires deep reflection on both an organization's and individuals’ purpose and values. These core elements should shape how events are planned and executed. Leor emphasizes the importance of addressing sustainability within areas of greatest resistance and co-creating solutions.
Although sustainability in event management is an evolving subject with Leor’s book 'How We Gather Matters' and his stories of sustainable events, the lesson is clear: no change is too small. From minimizing waste to rethinking procurement, every event provides an opportunity to positively impact the world. By making conscious choices, event organizers can help their communities gather with purpose, leaving a lasting legacy of sustainability.
Share your views on the topic Taura Fox Walker Stephen Monk Carol Hartwick Megan Andre Geetha Nicodemus Hasmik Asmaryan Dinara Millington Anna Vypovska, P.Biol. Jishnu Soni Giao N. Saleha Maqsood Jessica Lajoie, P.Eng. Nileshh Joisar, MSc Dr. Hemal Naik ?? ???? ??? ??
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Consultant | Speaker | Best Selling Author
2 个月Great job with this Dee. Thank you for profiling my writing.