Amid a rapidly growing African population, projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, the demand for sustainable development intensifies. Aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and Africa’s Agenda 2063, sustainability is crucial for the continent’s progress. Celebrating Earth Day, the Association of African Exhibition Organisers (AAXO) announces a partnership with the Event Greening Forum (EGF), a leader in sustainable event management. This collaboration highlights the commitment to fostering sustainable practices within Africa’s exhibition sector.
AAXO and EGF chairs emphasise sustainability in event management
Devi Paulsen-Abbott, AAXO’s Chairperson, emphasised the alliance’s role in driving growth and sustainability across Africa’s exhibition industry. Similarly, John Arvanitakis, EGF’s Chairperson, underlined the urgency of integrating sustainability into every aspect of event management, especially given the industry’s significant environmental impact.
The partnership aims to raise sustainability standards through several key initiatives: promoting sustainable event-organising, engaging in knowledge exchanges as well as conducting training sessions. These efforts are bolstered by EGF’s focus on Net Zero Carbon Events, which was spotlighted at COP26. This global initiative seeks to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint by developing common emission measurement methodologies, establishing a roadmap for achieving net zero by 2050, and enhancing industry-wide collaboration.
This strategic alliance not only reinforces AAXO’s commitment to environmental stewardship but also aims to transform the events industry into a model of sustainability, helping members navigate the complexities of sustainable event planning and contributing to global environmental goals.
