context of environmental impacts and points to the factors driving those impacts; it describes useful environmental impact indicators and provides research tools that can be used to collect data and measure impacts. We are also an ambassador to the Resource Ef- ficiency Pledge, which encourages events to demonstrate commit- ment to business efficiency and the environment through a simple and effective pledge process. Scotland’s Year of Coasts and


Waters 2020 is also encouraging responsible engagement from the events and festivals sector through the dedicated YCW2020 events programme, as well as from the tourism industry and beyond. Trough collaborative partnerships with organisations such as the Marine Conservation Society, Keep Scotland Beautiful and Green Tour- ism, the themed year is providing a platform to help turn the tide and encourage everyone to take action to help protect our country for years to come.


namic events industry that delivers sustainable impact and international profile for the country, we have a re- sponsibility to provide the industry with the necessary guidance and support to help them contribute towards net zero ambitions. We have a number of resources


to help event organisers do this, including our work with Zero Waste Scotland and Resource Efficient Scotland on the practical guide ‘How to plan and deliver envi- ronmentally sustainable events’. Tere is also the eventIMPACTS toolkit, which includes a section on measuring environmental impacts. It explains the key questions that event organisers need to ask in the


KO: Can you give our readers a bit of background on the partnerships with your fellow government agen- cies and what has been the impact of that work? PB: First published in 2015, the sustainability guide built on the learnings from the successful de- livery of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the 2014 Ryder Cup and Homecoming Scotland 2014. We were delighted to work with Zero Waste Scotland and Resource Ef- ficient Scotland to help produce the guide and again last year to update it with new learnings and the latest guidance. Te industry’s response to delivering sustainable events has also been very positive. Take for ex- ample the pioneering partnership between the Aberdeen Standard In- vestments Scottish Open and Scot- tish Water at last year’s tournament at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick. Players, caddies, staff and volunteers were all given reusable water bottles as part of the aim to reduce single-use plastic consump- tion by 80%. Water fountains were then provided across the tees, practice areas and facilities. At last year’s Solheim Cup the


Caddy’s bibs were made from a 100% recycled ocean plastic while Highland Spring supplied all bot- tled water in their 100% recycled and recyclable plastic eco bottles


“ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FACING THE EVENTS AND FESTIVALS SECTOR. ALONGSIDE THE DESIRE TO ACT RESPONSIBLY, EVENT ORGANISERS FACE THE CHALLENGE FROM ALL SIDES TO DELIVER EVENTS THAT ARE SUSTAINABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE.”


Paul Bush, Director of Events at VisitScotland


and guaranteed 100% recycling of all bottles used at Solheim Cup. Temporary solar powered genera- tors were also used and placed near the spectator entrances to raise awareness of and promote clean energy.


KO: How do we build sustainability into our everyday processes when it comes to events? What role can technology play in that regard, the so-called ‘art of the possible’? PB: Sustainability should be part of an event organisers planning from the very outset and ISO 20121, the International Standard on Sustain- able Event Management was devel- oped to help the event industry put sustainability first when planning and staging events. Te advances in technology, from the reduction in cost of renewable energies like solar power to vegware com- postable cups, are already making it easier for event organisers to build sustainability into their everyday processes while still managing the budget. Looking even further into the fu-


ture, technology such as augmented reality is likely to play a central role


in the delivery of events. Te Tour- ism Futures 2069 paper prepared by our VisitScotland Insights Depart- ment examined a vision of what Scottish tourism might be like in the year 2069. It suggested events and conferences would be utilising augmented reality to enhance expe- riences and improve connectivity. For example, sporting events could include competitors on different continents competing against one another in real time. Likewise, music festivals could occur in multiple locations with bands, band members playing live with holo- grams of themselves or their living or deceased bandmates around the world.


KO: Can you explain how co-hosting events in different countries, which is a relatively new industry delivery model, can contribute to sustain- ability goals. PB: I’ve said before that co-hosting events across cities, regions or coun- tries can allow for more sustainable impacts by using existing infra- structure as well as developing those social and cultural benefits across a much greater geographical area. We saw this in 2018 when we co-hosted the European Championships with Berlin, taking advantage of existing infrastructure in both cities. We will also see it again this year with UEFA EURO 2020, which sees 12 cities, including Glasgow, host the 60th anniversary of the tournament, and again in 2022 when Birmingham and India host the Commonwealth Games. It is definitely a trend we will continue to see.


KO: What will be the benefits for Scotland of hosting the COP 26 cli- mate change summit at the Scottish Event Campus in November? PB: While it is too early to estimate the full extent of the impact of COP 26 on Scotland, given the huge number of delegates expected to be in attendance, there will inevitably be a positive impact on Scotland’s visitor economy from an event of this scale. We will be working with col- leagues across partner organisations, including the Scottish Government, to ensure Scotland plays a full part in the successful delivery of this very important global event. Te event will be an opportunity for Scotland to put its best foot forward not only on event sustainability but to show- case what the country is doing across the board to tackle climate change. n


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