Power of Partnerships – Mitigate climate risks with green event venues
Climate change is not just another news headline. We are witnessing the cascading impact it has across society, with more devastating natural disasters and extreme weather patterns causing costly disruptions to our daily lives. Individuals, corporates, industries and governments across the world are rallying to tackle climate change. And it’s about time.
In a special report conducted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) about global warming, the earth’s temperature is expected to increase by 1.5 degrees Celsius within the next 20 years, or even earlier if countries fail to act now[1]. While there haven’t been any studies to show how events are contributing to the situation, the events industry is known to overprepare. Think of the excess of brochures, printed signage, food and packaging produced to accommodate the influx of delegates at every event.
Event organisers spend about US$48 billion on food and beverages in the United States annually. About 40 per cent of that is left unconsumed[2]. Compounded by thousands of events happening globally, coupled with the energy used to power the lights and air conditioning, an uninhabitable earth might come sooner than we think.
It is high time that the industry acknowledges the scale at which it operates, rises to the occasion and plays a bigger role in reducing carbon emissions. Sustainable events will become our generation’s next big challenge, but the good news is that action is already being taken. Today, venue partners such as Marina Bay Sands see sustainability and events as an inseparable duo, and have multi-faceted sustainability strategies that can help organisers achieve their green goals.
Sustainability was built into the design and construction phases of Marina Bay Sands.
At Marina Bay Sands, sustainability is an approach that began even before our opening in 2010. The building was designed, built and operated to ensure that the venue itself was green. We invested S$50 million on an Intelligent Building Management System that helps to monitor lighting, heating, air-conditioning, and more. Since 2012, it has helped save over 7.4 million kWh of energy annually, alongside other efficiency measures.
In 2020, Sands Expo and Convention Centre also became Singapore’s first carbon neutral MICE venue, made possible by its energy efficiency measures, investments in local Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and carbon offsets, allowing organisers to conduct events that are 100 per cent carbon neutral at no additional cost.
Our sustainability strategy stretches far beyond the infrastructure. As an integrated resort with a luxury hotel, state-of-the-art MICE facilities, entertainment, a theatre, world-class entertainment, shopping and dining, we pair luxurious experiences with sustainability throughout the property.
Since 2017, Marina Bay Sands has been working on improving responsible seafood sourcing in Asia Pacific. In 2020, 49.3 per cent of its seafood was responsibly sourced.
Organisers can opt for a sustainable culinary experience and curate Earth-friendly menus, featuring responsibly produced or locally sourced ingredients. In 2020, 49.3 per cent of our seafood was responsibly sourced, while our produce comes from local producers and farmers.
Our team is also able to generate a post-Event Impact Statement, consolidating an event’s impact data and highlights to help clients better understand and communicate its environmental footprint.
Marina Bay Sands’ state-of-the-art Hybrid Broadcast Studio
Organisers who are more cautious about the waste produced from physical events can explore the digital realm. By leveraging on the Hybrid Broadcast Studio’s industry-grade broadcasting equipment, organisers can engage their audiences virtually, reducing their events’ overall carbon footprint on travel, lodging, food and promotional items.
Event organisers should not underestimate the power they have to evoke change and make a real difference in mitigating climate risks. Finding the right venue partner with common values can pave the way for greater sustainability in the events industry in the years to come.
[1] Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 8 October 2018, Special Report, “Global Warming of 1.5 Degrees Celsius”, https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15
[2] PCMA, 18 June 2019, “Figuring Out Food Waste at Events”, https://www.pcma.org/food-waste-efforts-howto-sustainability-events
