Case Study

Sustainable Event Management certification for COP21 Climate Change conference

ISO describes their Sustainable Events management system standard by stating that ‘ISO 20121 offers guidance and best practice to help you manage your event and control its social, economic and environmental impact. Every action counts, from relying on tap water instead of plastic bottles to encouraging use of public transport. You might find that it also helps you cut unnecessary costs.’

It has a diverse use, as seen by its use at the London 2012 Olympics and the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest and most recently the COP21 Climate Change conference in Paris.

As well as implementing the ISO standard, COP21 also choose to seek certification to the standard, to give a very clear message that their commitment to climate change could itself be aided by running the COP21 conference according to this standard.

Further details on ISO 20121 and COP21 from ISO can be seen here, and from Bureau Veritas here, demonstrating ISO 20121 as part of the circular economy.