Andalusian Protocol for Calculating the Carbon Footprint for Sustainable Events
About this good practice
The lack of a regulatory framework on how to measure the sustainability of events, coupled with a much higher level of public concern about the environmental impact of major events, provided an opportunity for the Andalusian Climate Change Office to develop this protocol. The aim of this good practice is therefore to promote sustainable events (focusing on the 3 components of sustainability: environmental, economic and social).
The Andalusian Office, manages the official registry of Andalusian Emissions Offset System (SACE) to measure, reduce and, if it is the case, offset CO2 emissions for organisations. For this reason, after years of developing tools to manage the registry, this experience offers the opportunity to apply all this knowledge to events.
According to the protocol, the carbon footprint of the event will be used as a key indicator to measure the sustainability of the event and it will make possible to stablish several measures in order to reduce the CO2 emissions in future events. The event is divided into 4 phases (Material, Staging, Development & Dismantling) and the different emissions sources are taken into consideration in each phase. The most important are Energy & Water, Mobility, Waste, Overnight Stages, Fuels, Catering, Environmental Protection and Communication.
As a second step in the implementation, a new section in the SACE registry will be created to allow promoter organizations to actively participate in the fight against climate change.
Resources needed
After the protocol was developed, it has been already tested in 3 selected events, whose carbon footprint has been measured. Consulting companies specialized in the offsetting of CO2 emissions have operated as external support for developping, designing and calculating. (approximately 36.000 €)
Evidence of success
1. Protocol tested in 3 events from April 2022 until now
2. Protocol officially approved by a Resolution of the Regional Government of Andalucia
on 16th March 2023
3. Publication of the Protocol in Andalusia Official Journal on 29th March 2023
4. Plantation of 9.000 trees in Doñana Park to offset the emissions of the “Spanish
Football King´s Cup Final” event.
5. Ongoing use of the protocol.
Potential for learning or transfer
This initiative is easy to transfer and allows to raise awareness among the actors involved, of the importance of designing events under a sustainable perspective, placing particular emphasis on mobility, as the source of greatest impact.
In our globalised world, different types of events, such as musical, sporting or cultural are usually held in Europe, often involving the mobility of the participants from different regions of Europe.
The Protocol is based on international standards, so there are no difficulties in adapting or implementing it, which guarantees its replicability at international level. An interesting example of learning is that the Protocol was successfully used in the meeting “ I Seminar of Exchange of the Interreg Europe Minev project". The way the protocol works:
Choosing calculation methodology->Designing map of event process->Defining limits of system-> Info compilation (activity & emission factors) -> Carbon footprint calculation->Reporting and reduction
Further information
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