Awareness and convenience are important in increasing conference sustainability

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-1-2011

Keywords

Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference, Scientific meetings, Sustainability awareness

Abstract

Conference organizers are increasingly making efforts to reduce resource use at conferences, yet few responsibilities are placed on attendees. We hosted an ecology conference and offered attendees a discount if they took a sustainability pledge agreeing to reduce their resource use at the conference. In a post-conference survey, 83% of respondents reported fulfilling the pledge, but 62% indicated that convenience was the biggest obstacle impeding their ability to continue the pledge during and after the conference. We found great willingness by attendees to reduce resource use at and beyond our conference, and facilitating their participation was an important part of our success. © 2011 Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science, United Nations University, and Springer.

Volume

6

Issue

2

First Page

253

Last Page

254

ISSN

18624065

E-ISSN

18624057

DOI

10.1007/s11625-011-0135-3

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS