“As co-organisers of the world’s largest environmental event, IUCN and France have been determined from the start to set an example of sustainability and equity,” said Enrique Lahmann, Global Director, IUCN Union Development Group. “The certifications the IUCN Congress has achieved demonstrate that our joint efforts have been successful.”
The ISO 20121 certification is an international standard aimed at minimising the environmental and social impacts of events, including waste, energy, carbon and water use.
For the IUCN Congress 2020, IUCN and the host nation, France, developed and implemented a Congress Sustainability Policy with four strategic goals:
- Environmental Goal – minimise the carbon footprint of the event
- Economic & Social Goal – maximise the engagement and benefits for the local territories
- Legacy Goal – reinforce and value local sustainable practices
- Inclusion Goal – Host all audiences, in total security and with respect to each one
The strategy was implemented through all aspects of the event, including eco-friendly design of all spaces and rooms; 100% local renewable energy; and offsetting of all carbon emissions, including participants’ travel. Additionally, use of public transport was facilitated in partnership with Marseille’s transportation operators.
The IUCN Congress 2016 in Hawai’i, USA, had also achieved ISO 20121 certification.
Gender equality certification confirmed
Building on their active gender equity policies, IUCN and France worked to promote and strive for equal participation of all women and men in the 2020 IUCN World Conservation Congress. Specific goals also included equitable speaking time and gender parity in selecting speakers and the composition of panels, as well as measures that allow all attendees to experience an event free from harassment, sexism or gender stereotypes.
Thanks to these measures, the Congress organisation was granted the Large Event Gender Equity label by the French reference certification organisation AFNOR on 12 August, certifying that the event was prepared with respect for equality between women and men. A verification visit on site by AFNOR has now confirmed that these principles were also observed during the event.
