How do you calculate your event's carbon footprint?

2 How to use a formula to estimate your event's carbon footprint

One way to estimate your event's carbon footprint is to use a formula that multiplies the activity data by the emission factor. The activity data is the quantity of the event activity, such as the number of kilometers traveled by attendees or the amount of electricity consumed by the venue. The emission factor is the average amount of emissions per unit of activity, such as the grams of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per kilometer or per kilowatt-hour. You can find emission factors for different activities and regions from sources like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) or the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. For example, if you want to estimate the carbon footprint of the air travel of your attendees, you can use this formula:

Carbon footprint of air travel = Number of attendees x Average distance traveled x Emission factor for air travel

You can repeat this formula for each activity category and then add up the results to get the total carbon footprint of your event.

3 How to use online tools to calculate your event's carbon footprint

Calculating your event's carbon footprint can be made easier with the use of online tools. There are many of these tools available, tailored to different types of events and scopes, such as meetings, conferences, festivals, or exhibitions. For example, the Carbon Footprint Calculator by the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) covers transportation, accommodation, venue, catering, and materials. MeetGreen's Event Carbon Calculator covers transportation, venue, food and beverage, materials, and waste. Positive Impact Events' Sustainable Event Tool covers transportation, energy, water, waste and procurement. To use these tools you must input information about your event such as the location, duration, number of attendees and mode of transportation. The tool will then calculate your event's carbon footprint and provide you with a summary and recommendations.

4 How to reduce your event's carbon footprint

Once you have calculated your event's carbon footprint, you can use the results to identify the areas where you can reduce your emissions. To reduce your event's carbon footprint, consider selecting a location that is accessible by public or low-emission transportation, and encourage your attendees to use them. Additionally, choose a venue that is energy-efficient, uses renewable energy sources, and has a green certification. When it comes to catering, opt for local, seasonal, organic, and plant-based options and avoid single-use packaging and utensils. Furthermore, minimize the use of printed materials and use digital or reusable alternatives. Lastly, implement a waste management plan that promotes recycling, composting, and donating.

5 How to offset your event's carbon footprint

If you cannot reduce your event's carbon footprint to zero, you can consider offsetting the remaining emissions by investing in projects that prevent or remove greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere, such as planting trees, protecting forests, generating renewable energy, or improving energy efficiency. There are online platforms, such as Gold Standard, Carbon Footprint, and ClimateCare, that help you find and fund verified offset projects. Offsetting your event's carbon footprint can also demonstrate your commitment to your stakeholders and social responsibility.