Event Carbon Footprint
The total greenhouse gas emissions produced by all aspects of an event from planning through execution.
Definition
Event carbon footprint encompasses attendee travel, venue energy, catering, materials, and waste. Measurement enables informed decisions about reduction and offsetting strategies.
Calculation considers both direct emissions (venue power) and indirect emissions (attendee flights, supply chain). Comprehensive measurement reveals that travel typically represents 70-80% of event emissions.
Why It Matters
Corporate sustainability commitments increasingly require event carbon accounting. Stakeholders expect transparency about environmental impact, particularly for large conferences and annual meetings.
For event planners, understanding carbon drivers enables meaningful reduction strategies rather than superficial greenwashing.
Examples in Practice
A tech conference calculated 2,500 tons CO2 emissions, with 78% from attendee travel. They implemented virtual attendance options and regional satellite locations, reducing emissions by 45%.
Event carbon calculators help planners model different scenarios—venue selection, catering choices, and hybrid formats—to minimize impact.