Nurturing the present, preserving the future

Sophie Ndiaye, Event Director at ACCIONA Cultura Middle East, discusses how regenerative events will lead to the restoration of ecosystems, communities, and cultures.

In response to the urgent need for transformative action in the face of ecological and social challenges, the concept of regenerative events has gained momentum. Going beyond sustainability, regenerative events aim to actively contribute to the regeneration and restoration of ecosystems, communities, and cultures.

We have always had sustainability management as a priority and a cross-cutting aspect that applies to all the activities we develop. However, we are convinced that it is time to go one step further, to break down the barrier of net zero and moving towards regenerative projects: events, exhibitions and experiences that are connected to the local context in which they take place, that make people feel good and that help to improve the health of the planet.

Regenerative events go beyond minimizing negative impacts and seek to create positive outcomes for the environment, society, and economy. They prioritise practices that restore natural systems, enhance community well-being, and promote a regenerative mindset. Regenerative events aim to leave a lasting legacy by actively contributing to the renewal and resilience of the ecosystems and communities in which they are held.

Doing this in the event industry is a challenge. The key is innovation and creativity from the design phase. Daring to leave traditional models behind, not being afraid of change. For example, we work daily integrating circular economy solutions that bring us closer and closer to zero waste projects and we take advantage of synergies with other ACCIONA business units, such as sustainable mobility or renewable energy. We are also increasingly integrating the use of innovative materials and want to focus on minimising the consumption of resources during all the development phases of our projects. The objective: to design and produce events that not only minimise negative impacts but also leave a positive legacy on the planet.

need to meet sustainability criteria in three dimensions: always seeking a balance between social welfare, respect for the environment and economic growth.

To provide this transformation towards net zero events, it is essential to establish a solid and reliable methodology for periodic measurement. Having a scorecard of performance indicators allows us to make decisions, correct possible deviations and establish specific improvement objectives for our current situation. If we do not know where we are starting from, it is difficult to determine where we want to go.

For example, CO2 is a very valuable indicator that touches on many of the aspects that apply to the event. For us, measuring and offsetting CO2 is nothing more than being aware of the climatic consequences caused by our activity in the form of emissions, and measuring them allows us to establish reduction strategies. Knowing how many emissions are generated by transportation, catering, accommodations, etc. leads us to meet other objectives.

Our goal is to become NET ZERO, or in other words, to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions generated by our events to as close to zero as possible. To achieve this, we have developed a sustainable events guide that contemplates the guidelines to be followed by all the agents involved so that this objective becomes a reality in 2040.

In the organisation of such events, the local community plays a very important role. One of our purposes is to develop projects connected to local culture and traditions. At ACCIONA Cultura we analyze the environment in depth to try to reduce any local gaps, collaborating and supporting local groups and businesses that benefit the community and generate wealth and social welfare in the environment. We also try to integrate the communities as part of the program we offer at each event, highlighting the identity of each place through experiences that allow us to learn about and experience from the inside the tangible and intangible heritage of the places where we work.

Being sustainable is not about offsetting the emissions generated by an unsustainable business model. What is truly transformative is to make the whole process truly sustainable. In this sense, being ISO 20121 certified, which guarantees the sustainable management of all the event’s processes, leads us to continuous improvement in aspects that have an impact on the three dimensions: environmental, social and economic.

Moreover, due to the very ephemeral nature of many of our activities, it is a sector that must adapt quickly and evolve towards a more sustainable way of doing things. We reach a large number of people in a very direct way, and we have a responsibility to anticipate their expectations and take on the challenge of real change. In our case, we seek to leave a positive footprint through regenerative events, with measures that contribute to leaving a legacy in the community and in nature.

Regenerative events have emerged as a vital approach to address environmental concerns while fostering economic growth and social responsibility. By integrating key principles such as energy efficiency, waste management, and social equity, these events bring numerous benefits to society. Not only do they reduce the environmental impact of gatherings, but they also engage participants, enhance reputations, and create long-lasting legacies. As we strive for a sustainable future, the adoption of green practices in event management becomes increasingly essential. By hosting regenerative events, we can nurture the present while preserving the future for generations to come.