As a meeting planner, you have many options to help minimize and offset the negative environmental impact of your event. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

1. Use the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) to learn about a country’s environmental sustainability. The EPI uses 16 environmental policy targets to measure a country’s commitment and efforts towards protecting our Earth. Canada ranks number one in the Americas. 

2. Once you’ve decided on a country, you can take a closer look at its cities. Use this city questionnaire to determine how well each city is fulfilling their duty to protect our environment (check out Toronto's). Ask the local CVB or municipality to fill it out.

3. Choose a city that is closest to the majority of your delegates in order to cut pollution produced by travel. Toronto is just a 90 minute flight for 60% of the US population.

4. When putting together your RFP, include a “Sustainability Preference” clause. Ask Tourism Toronto to help put one together for you.

5. Ask the CVB to recommend green venues and suppliers within your chosen city. We will be happy to supply you with a list of such venues for Toronto.

6. Give your delegates a chance to feel like they’re doing their part to help sustain the environment. Here are a few options:

• Have a tree planted for each of your delegates,
• Make one of your convention activities a community clean-up,
• Donate to an environmental charity on behalf of your client,
• Organize a trip to a local nature preserve to educate your delegates on environmental issues.
  

Source: Green Meeting Industry Council


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