Loading...
- About
- Exhibit
- Attend
- What's on
- Exhibitor Directory
- Help
- Infos auf Deutsch
- Show more
FRANKFURT, GERMANY – At a pivotal moment for the global business events industry, where ambition alone is no longer enough, the Sustainable Event Goals (SEGs) are launching as the first globally aligned roadmap to embed sustainability across the entire event lifecycle.
The Sustainable Event Goals are 13 interlinked goals designed to minimize negative environmental and social impacts while maximizing positive economic outcomes. The SEGs translate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into clear, actionable, event-specific guidance for organizers, suppliers, destinations, and partners, across the global Business Events ecosystem.
The framework was developed following Destination Canada’s inaugural Business Events Sustainability Roundtable, held in Montréal in April 2025. Bringing together sustainability leaders from across the events industry, the roundtable identified a shared industry challenge: high sustainability ambition, but limited alignment and practical execution.
One of four strategic outcomes of the roundtable was the development of the Sustainable Event Goals, a shared operating framework designed to close the gap between commitment and implementation.
Developed by a global, volunteer-led, cross‑sector working group, the SEGs are now endorsed by leading industry organizations including Destination Canada, PCMA, Convene 4 Climate, the Events Industry Council (EIC), Kenes Group and Amex GBT Meetings & Events, with further industry engagement ongoing.
The SEGs are a practical, industry-aligned framework that complements existing standards, offering a shared language and decision-making tool that can be embedded into current sustainability strategies without duplication.
Structured around three interdependent pillars Environmental, Social, and Economic Governance, the SEGs are intended to influence real operational decisions, from venue selection and travel to food and beverage, supplier engagement and community impact.
To mark the launch, industry leaders and partners will gather at a dedicated press conference and SEGs luncheon during IMEX Frankfurt to explore how the framework will be implemented in practice and the next steps beyond the launch.
With the introduction of the Sustainable Event Goals, the business events industry now has a practical, shared framework to move sustainability forward with clarity and confidence. Stakeholders across the sector are invited to engage with the SEGs and play an active role in embedding sustainability into every stage of event planning and delivery.
“What began in Montréal as an open and honest conversation about the future of sustainable events has evolved into a global framework the industry can rally around. The Sustainable Event Goals reflect what’s possible when destinations, organizers and industry partners work together to create practical solutions that move beyond intention and into action. Destination Canada is proud to have helped convene the conversations that sparked this collaboration and excited to see the SEGs support more sustainable decision making across the global business events community.”
- Virginie De Visscher, Executive Director, Business Events, Destination Canada
“The SEGs align with PCMA’s continued commitment to advancing sustainability as a core principle of how we design and deliver experiences for the global business events industry. The 13 interlinked goals represent a phenomenal example of what’s possible when the global industry comes together to lead with intention, accountability and a shared vision for a more sustainable future.”
- Sherrif Karamat, CAE, President & CEO, PCMA and CEMA
“Sustainability only delivers real impact when it is embedded into everyday decisions. The Sustainable Event Goals respond to a clear need within our industry for greater alignment and practical direction, helping organizations move from ambition to action in a consistent and credible way. At Kenes, we see the SEGs as an important step forward for our industry, offering event planners worldwide clear direction and a practical way to integrate sustainability into planning and delivery.”
- Ori Lahav, CEO, Kenes Group
“The launch of the Sustainable Event Goals marks an important evolution in our industry’s shared sustainability journey. We see the SEGs as a unifying resource that supports the EIC Sustainability Journey and the momentum of the industry wide effort underway to refine the EIC Sustainable Event Standards, the Sustainable Event Professional Certificate (SEPC) as well as the broader work underway across our global business events community to turn ambition into measurable action. We are deeply grateful to the subject matter experts and volunteer leaders whose insight, time and commitment helped shape the SEGs. Their work reflects the collaborative spirit our industry needs as we move forward with greater alignment, clarity and accountability.”
- Amy Calvert, President and CEO, Events Industry Council
# # #
Contact:
Steve Dobbins
Events Industry Council
