The document discusses sustainability in the meetings industry in Scandinavia. It summarizes that a survey found 100% of large clients want more sustainable elements in meetings but lack knowledge or high costs prevent it. The ICCA Scandinavia Sustainable Meetings Index was launched in 2012 to provide sustainability performance indicators for destinations. All 20 cities in the index have climate plans and emissions reduction targets. Many convention centers and hotels in the region are eco-certified. A case study found the Danish EU presidency cut costs by 2/3 by using sustainable meetings practices. Collaboration and competition were found to improve sustainability results.

1. ICCA Scandinavia Sustainable
Meetings Region
Jonas Wilstrup
Wonderful Copenhagen Convention Director
@JonasWilstrup

2. “The question of reaching sustainability is
not about if we will have enough energy,
enough food, or other tangible resources
…

3. The question is:
will there be enough leaders
in time?”
Dr. Karl Henrik Robèrt, Founder The Natural Step

4. A survey of MCI's largest 50 clients
revealed that 100% wanted to implement
more sustainable elements.
They were stopped by either a lack of
knowledge, a failure of the suppliers to
communicate their sustainability offering,
or the perception/reality of the
sustainable option being more expensive.
But it is both responsible and economically
viable to make your destination more
sustainable!

5. 2012:
• Launched the ICCA Scandinavia
Sustainable Meetings Index
• Launched a common set of
performance indicators
• 16 destinations participated

6. Hardware:
City infrastructure
RE-CYCLING
CARBON
EMISSIONS
PUBLIC
TRANSPORT

7. Software:
Industry commitment

8. All 20 Cities in the Index are Climate Leaders
• 100% cities have climate plan
• 5.48 t/co2 average per capita emissions
• 33% Average 2020 co2 Reduction Target
• 49% Average Renewable Energy Mix
• 65% Average Waste Diversion rate for the City

9. MORE THAN GREEN:
FOCUS ON ETHICAL BUSINESS
All 20 cities are located in countries
that are among the top-15 least corrupt
and most transparent in the world.
Average score is 9.2

10. 64% of Congress and
Exhibition Centers are
eco-certified
100% Copenhagen, Oslo, Gothenburg,
Helsinki, Stavanger, Uppsala
59% of all
hotels are
eco-certified
Trondheim 95%
Gothenburg 87%
Stockholm 83%
Stavanger 80%
Malmo 81%

12. Collaboration
Real success is driven by public
private partnerships

13. Case study: Danish European Union Presidency
Mission: to inspire greater collaboration, innovation and sustainable development of the
meetings industry.
The Danish EU presidency
cuts costs by 2/3 by using
sustainable meetings
management

14. Lessons learned on the
journey
1. Competition propels change
2. Collaboration improves
results, reduces work and
lowers cost
3. Sustainability strengthens
community

15. 15
Vision for the Future: Going Global