Prioritizing Climate Action at the ISPAH Congress 2024

Climate change poses a direct threat to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being. As temperatures rise and extreme weather events become more frequent, access to safe and healthy environments for physical activity will be increasingly compromised. As a society, the impacts of climate change directly undermine our mission of promoting physical activity. As the leading global society in our field, we have a responsibility to act on climate change. That’s why we’re taking proactive steps to reduce the carbon footprint of our upcoming 2024 Congress in Paris: 

1. A carpet-free venue. Carpets are commonplace at events. However, carpets are heavy to transport, have a high carbon footprint as they are predominantly made from plastic, and they commonly end up in landfills following an event.  

2. Serving plant-based meals. Meat based meal options generate significantly more greenhouse gas emissions than plant-based meals. By serving delicious vegetarian meals (inclusive of eggs and dairy) we’ll dramatically cut emissions while still providing satisfying and nutritious meal options. We understand that adopting a vegetarian-only meal policy may be a shift from the norm. However, we firmly believe that this step is necessary to align our actions with our commitment to environmental sustainability. 

3. Encouraging reusable containers. Say goodbye to wasteful single-use cups. We encourage all delegates to bring reusable water bottles and coffee mugs. Water stations will be available for refilling. 

As we continue planning for the ISPAH Congress 2024, we’ll explore further opportunities to make climate conscious decisions. But our efforts don’t stop there. In partnership with ClimatePartner, we’ll be closely monitoring and calculating the carbon emissions associated with the Paris  event. We’ll be asking delegates to track their travel and accommodation to help us conduct comprehensive emissions calculations and set reduction targets for future events. We hope you’ll join us in this collective effort to reduce our environmental footprint and safeguard the planet for generations to come. Together, we can demonstrate that scientific conferences can be both cutting-edge and environmentally responsible. 

Stay tuned for more details on tracking your carbon footprint during the congress. We appreciate your understanding and support as we strive to make the ISPAH Congress 2024 a truly sustainable event.