Our national conference is an important event for the Canadian international education community, and we are continuously working to identify and implement measures to minimize negative environmental and social impacts in its planning and execution. Specifically, at CBIE2024, we’ll be implementing the following initiatives.
Championing Meatless Mondays
By promoting vegetarian meals on Mondays, we are underscoring the powerful role that plant-based diets play in slowing climate change and reducing our collective carbon footprint.
Embracing
Recycling
We actively foster a culture of recycling. Attendees are encouraged to recycle their lanyards, and we’ve eliminated plastic water bottles, reducing our reliance on single-use waste.
Offsetting Our Carbon Footprint
Through our partnership with Carbone boréal, attendees and exhibitors can voluntarily offset their travel emissions when registering. This initiative, while optional today, is a stepping stone toward our goal of making carbon offsetting a standard practice at future CBIE conferences.
Reducing
Waste
We do not provide printed programs, flyers, or tote bags. Instead, we rely on our conference app. We are also encouraging exhibitors to offer experiences, not swag, making for a more engaging and sustainable event.
Driving
Climate Action Conversations
At CBIE2024, we are sharing knowledge. Sessions on climate action and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will spark vital conversations and inspire collaborative solutions. By encouraging discussions and sharing insights on these critical issues, we’re equipping participants to take meaningful action in their own institutions and organizations.
Measuring Carbon Emissions for Greater Accountability
With the help of Aletha Global Cooperative, we’re tracking the carbon emissions generated by attendee travel. This critical data informs our efforts to minimize the environmental impact of our conference. Our analysis shows that travel emissions for CBIE2023 in Vancouver were 217% higher than for CBIE2022 in Toronto, motivating us to continue improving year after year.
Partnering for Sustainability
Our venue choices consider sustainability credentials. We prioritize cities and venues that uphold strong environmental practices, ensuring that our event is hosted in spaces that align with our vision for a greener future. Read about the sustainability commitments of this year’s venues – the Shaw Centre and the Westin Ottawa.
Promoting
Low-Emission
Travel Options
This year, we’re encouraging attendees to opt for travel options like the ‘EcoEd Express’, train travel from Toronto to Ottawa. Unlike in Vancouver, where 76% of attendees flew to the conference, which accounted for 99.8% of the conference’s travel emissions, Ottawa’s location makes train travel a viable, low-emission option for many attendees.
