What the G7 and COP26 summits can teach us about putting on sustainable events
Arup acted as sustainability manager for the G7 Summit in Cornwall in 2021, and the firm’s sustainability and climate specialist Natasha Connolly argues holding a sustainable COP26 can be a catalyst for wider change
The UK has played host for two of the world’s largest geopolitical meetings of the year. In June, world leaders gathered on the beaches of Cornwall to discuss global issues at the G7 Summit. In a little over a month, they will meet again at COP26 in Glasgow with an objective to move the dial on climate change action.
Whenever meetings of this scale happen, the carbon footprint of such events is inevitably scrutinised. However, the attendees’ carbon emissions from a single event can pale in comparison to the prize of tangible progress and decisive action on climate change agreed.
When Arup was appointed sustainability advisor of the G7 Summit, we were in a critical role to help influence how sustainability is being embedded into these major events. Throughout the process, it was encouraging to see signs of how it was beginning to shape procurement practices, both in government and the private sector.
In addition, as part of our role, we helped ensure that the Summit met the international standard for sustainable events (known as ISO 20121), which involved a series of constructive additions to the procurement ethos. This experience has influenced the approach we are currently taking as sustainability consultants for COP26 in November.
These sometimes subtle but significant shifts in procurement processes represent a valuable way for government and the private sector to accelerate the wider sustainable development agenda.
A clear definition of sustainability
One of our first major tasks was to define the event’s overall sustainability ambitions and then establish how the supply chain could achieve those goals. For the G7 Summit, this meant a renewed focus on procurement strategy, drafting tenders based on rigorous sustainability and carbon criteria, and assessing their ability to deliver benefits for the local environment, economy and society.
Collective action is central to the sustainability agenda and defining what ‘excellent’ means is a crucial first step, setting the right example for wider stakeholders. Our hope is that by defining sustainability ambitions from the beginning, the case for investing in net zero and other sustainable practices becomes easier to make for procurement and commercial leads.
Working towards a collective goal
By establishing clear ambitions and putting environmental and social value front and centre of the procurement process, we ensured that all suppliers involved in the event were truly committed to its sustainability goals.
This also helped suppliers consider how they could improve the sustainability credentials of their own operations in different ways. For example, some trialled innovative approaches such as using hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) in the generators in place of diesel, while others sourced local Cornish food produce closer to the event, to reduce emissions from transportation and support local businesses.
We can already see that suppliers are using these contracts as an opportunity to build on their existing sustainability strategy, in turn helping improve their position in the industry as a whole. These experiences have proved to be a catalyst for many of these companies to develop new ways of working and show leadership, which will ultimately strengthen the appeal for others to follow in their footsteps.
Setting ambitious ratings and assessments
Another trend we have begun to see is the value in embracing a more comprehensive approach to ratings and assessments for carbon neutrality. Essentially, this means organisers need to be ambitious by picking the most rigorous carbon measurement system to support the project’s goals. We encouraged the government to use the PAS 2060 methodology for calculating the G7’s carbon footprint which hasn’t previously been applied to UK government events.
This widened the scope of emissions included in the Summit’s calculated carbon footprint. Factors such as tankers moored offshore, military vehicles and policing were accounted for and guided our carbon reduction focus and carbon offset strategy. Using this PAS 2060 framework set a new standard for everyone involved, driving up transparency and accountability. It also enables the government to demonstrate a robust methodology and compliance with independent verification.
We anticipate that for future events such as the upcoming COP26 Summit, the public will rightly ask: “What definition of ‘carbon neutral’ are you using?”. A similar embrace of data is vital here. We foresee growing pressure for detailed sustainability performance data and reporting, which will become increasingly essential if companies are to stay competitive, relevant and accountable.
From definition to contribution
Defining the parameters for a sustainable procurement strategy will – of course – only be part of the solution. However, it’s a concrete way to begin shaping the decision-making landscape and accelerating new thinking and solutions.
Ultimately, the 2021 G7 summit in Cornwall was a single event, as is the COP26 Summit, and the issues we want to address require long-term and systemic change. But it demonstrates powerfully how a public event can be a catalyst for change, and how rapidly industries can embrace new thinking and new solutions. Ultimately, we can achieve more sustainable forms of economic behaviour and activity by using every event as a chance to learn, pivot and improve.
Natasha Connolly is sustainability, carbon and climate change specialist at Arup.
