Our Sustainability Actions

Calgary Climate Week was built on the belief that how we gather matters just as much as why we gather.

Climate action starts long before the first speaker takes the stage.

Calgary Climate Week was built on the belief that how we gather matters, which is why reducing our environmental footprint as an organization is baked into everything we do, not bolted on after the fact.

Guided by our commitment to model a city-wide approach to sustainable event design, we engaged Eco-Friendly Events to ensure our operational practices reflect the same climate leadership we’re here to champion.

From our digital infrastructure to our supplier decisions, every choice is an opportunity to walk the talk. Here’s how we are putting this into practice.

Digital

  • Selecting Web Hosting Canada as our website host as it is powered by renewable energy
  • Choosing Ticket Tailor our as registration platform because they’re a B-Corp

Event Suppliers

  • Carefully selecting sustainability focused vendors and engaging vendors who are not sustainability leaders, to encourage them to build this area out further
  • Including our sustainability goals in request for proposals and contracts
  • Selecting event suppliers who align with our sustainability values
  • Prioritizing reuse, upcycle and rentals
  • Working with local suppliers to reduce material transportation distances

Energy

  • We’ll be measuring and tracking our electric and gas usage at each venue when and where possible 
  • Prioritizing renewable energy sources where and when possible

Food and Beverage

  • Sourcing local, seasonal and certified foods as much as possible
  • Partnering with Leftovers for all food recovery
  • Eliminating single-use serveware when and where possible

Printed Materials 

  • Prioritizing digital signage and reducing as much printed materials as possible
  • Where printed signage is required, eliminating dates or logos so that it’s evergreen and can be reused at future events
  • Selecting materials that can be recycled at end of life when and where possible

Staff and Partner Events 

  • Creating a CCW Sustainable Event Guidelines that our internal team and events must follow but all partner and affiliate events are held accountable for as well 
  • Conducting pre-event sustainable training with all on-site staff and volunteers

Transportation

  • Avoid physically travelling to meetings where alternatives are available and practical, such as using teleconferencing, video conferencing and efficient timing of meetings to avoid multiple trips
  • Encouraging our attendees, speakers and volunteers to prioritize sustainable and active travel options such as walking, biking, taking public transit 
  • In exceptional circumstances where walking, cycling or public transit are impractical and/or cost prohibitive, we commit to taking national rail, carpooling, using Uber Green and direct flights
  • Offsetting any air travel with third-party certified projects

 Venue

  • Selecting venues for our flagship events that have sustainability initiatives built-in as well as centrally located so that it can be accessed by multiple modes of transportation:
      • The Ampersand
        • Walk Score: 97/100
        • Transit Score: 86/100
        • Bike Score: 88/100
      • The Brownstone
        • Walk Score: 97/100
        • Transit Score: 85/100
        • Bike Score: 91/100

Waste Management

  • Ensuring that there’s recycling and composting available in all event venues and complying with the rules and regulations set out by the municipality or waste management company
  • Sorting and weighing the results of organics/compostable materials, recycling and landfill waste created as a result of our events

 

Impact Measurement

For the inaugural Calgary Climate Week, we are committed to measuring and understanding our environmental footprint, not just minimizing it.

Our sustainability partner, Eco-Friendly Events, is guiding, consulting, and analyzing sustainability data across all official CCW events. We’re using two tools to do this rigorously: TRACE by isla, a leading event sustainability measurement platform, Klimato, to track and report on the carbon footprint of our catering and food programming and striving to be certified with the University of Calgary Sustainable Events Certification.

All community partner events are also accountable for data collection, contributing to a city-wide picture of Calgary Climate Week’s total impact. Results will be shared in a post-event impact report.

We will be tracking and measuring our event’s carbon footprint in the following areas: 

  • Energy Consumption
  • Production (Built Items) 
  • Graphics (Printed Items)
  • Food and Beverage 
  • Transportation (Attendee, Staff, Speakers, Volunteers and Materials)
  • Waste Management