The Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) has announced its pledge to Net Zero Carbon Events, a promise to produce net-zero carbon footprint events by 2050 as it creates and supports a greener future for the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) industry.
This pledge is part of a new global initiative raised from the work of an organizing task force initiated by leading events industry stakeholders through global industry trade associations.
These include the Global Association of The Exhibition Industry (UFI), International Association of Convention Centers (AIPC) and International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), in addition to representatives from global key stakeholders in the events industry.
ADNEC is committed to ensuring the sustainable development of the MICE industry in the UAE and world, and is leading the industry by actively promoting and advocating for environmentally-friendly industry efforts throughout the value chain. It was one of the first UAE entities to make a Net Zero Carbon Events pledge.
Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri MD & Group CEO ADNEC
“As the global hub for major events, entities have the opportunity to follow in the inspirational example of our wise leaders, who have made climate change action a much-needed priority. Through our Net Zero commitment, we aspire to bring about meaningful change for the entire value chain of the MICE industry. The signing of this pledge is augmented by our long-term partnership with the UFI, who play a key role in shaping important conversations in our business.”
ADNEC’s pledge backs UAE’s Net-Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative to reduce carbon emissions, which will see the country invest more than $163.3 billion on renewable energy during this period. This proactive strategy is in line with UAE’s leadership role in the region in terms of climate change action, having been the first country in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to declare a Net Zero pledge.
ADNEC also contributes to global efforts to combat climate change. The announcement follows the signing of the Net Zero Carbon Events pledge, a new industry initiative to fight climate change that takes place at the same time as the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).
COP26 aims to bring the world together to accelerate progress toward the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change goals. ADNEC will be able to support the Paris Agreement targets of limiting global warming to 1.5°C and reducing total global GHG emissions by 50 percent by 2030 as a result of its commitment.
ADNEC Net Zero pledge will take the form of strategic planning and action to ensure its operations achieve the target or net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, while also influencing the entire value chain to take sustainable and measurable actions.
Its plans include identifying and prioritizing actions to reduce emissions such as energy management, water conservation, materials management, food and beverage waste reduction, housekeeping initiatives, sustainable procurement, stakeholder management and employee engagement and setting goals accordingly.
Additionally, ADNEC will address residual emissions, once minimized, through the purchase of credible carbon offsets, while looking at transitioning towards carbon removal and carbon capture.
It will also contribute resources to develop a collective low carbon roadmap for the events industry and collaborate with partners, suppliers, and customers to drive change across the value chain. Lastly, ADNEC will share best practices with the industry to help influence a wider impact of its green initiatives.
