Greener meetings in Germany: environmental protection and hence green events are gaining importance

Green and clean!

Do you want your next meeting to be environmentally friendly? In this case Germany is the right location for you. In the field of environmental policy Germany has been one of the global opinion leaders for years, and for green meetings German providers are number one in Europe.

Germany is the export world champion for green products with a world market share of 16% in 2006. Over 1.8 million people already work in the field of environmental protection in Germany. During the last few years over 250,000 new jobs with a secure future have been created in the field of renewable energies alone.

Technologically, Germany is a pioneer in air-conditioning and energy technology, wastewater and waste technologies and in efficiency technologies.

In 2009 the German government is investing over €5.5bn in nature conservation and environmental protection.

Germany has set itself climate protection goals that are among the most ambitious world-wide. And it has already achieved its Kyoto goal: Greenhouse gas emissions in 2008 dropped to the lowest level since 1990.

Sustainable planning - from invitations to travel

Sending Invitations by e-mail instead of post; a venue that is easy to reach for all attendees - if possible by rail; low-emission social programmes, convention centres and hotels with green management principles. Planning a "green meeting" comprises many different aspects.   The following pages will help you go green when planning your own event.  

In the mobility section you will find out all about travelling to and from the event and of course mobility at the venue.  

Under the heading "Best Practice" we will present outstanding green initiatives of GCB members.  

ISO 140001, EMAS, Green Globe. If you want to find out more about what these names mean, go to the Standards section for explanations on the most common environmental protection certificates in Germany.

Finally, in the Guidelines section, we have selected some guidelines on how to organise green events.