Fiona Pelham, managing director of Sustainable Events (www.sustainableeventsltd.com), a consultancy that supports sustainability in the UK, considers the challenges faced by the organisers and events teams involved in making COP15 a sustainable event model.

What is the first thing to consider when making an event of this size more sustainable?
The supply chain working with such a large event is an important consideration. What support can the supply chain give the event organisers? Do you need to give the suppliers any education on the content of the event and its overall aims?

It is also essential to think about the actual design of the event. Start early and look at what can be taken out of the programme to make it easier to prioritise sustainability.

How do you raise delegates’ awareness of the issue?
Make it easier by giving them a number of sustainable choices. At large events, delegates are often given a sustainable option alongside the non-sustainable one and it’s not always easy to make such a big impact. So take away some of the options.

At COP15 the decision to stop all delegate gifts in favour of scholarships is definitely something to be applauded. With an event of this size, there is the opportunity to educate and let delegates see sustainability in action.

What is the biggest challenge?
We haven’t changed ‘people behaviour’ yet so paper consumption and energy usage remain the biggest hurdles.