submitted by Chris Lewis, Clareville on behalf of AC Forum
Glasgow, UK – The AC Forum has proudly joined the global sustainability movement by officially signing the Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE) Pledge during a festive signing ceremony held at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow. This significant milestone was celebrated as part of the AC Forum Annual Meeting, hosted at a venue with deep historical ties to the NZCE initiative, which was launched during COP26 at the SEC.
The addition of AC Forum to the NZCE signatory ranks marks a important moment for the campaign, given AC Forum’s unique position as a collective of prominent international associations, many of which operate outside the traditional business events scope. NZCE anticipates that AC Forum’s involvement will inspire its member organisations to embrace the pledge, amplifying the reach and impact of this global effort to achieve net zero carbon emissions in events by 2050.
James Rees, President of the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), which hosts NZCE on behalf of the industry says: “Having AC Forum sign the Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge underscores the campaign’s growing influence beyond the immediate business events industry. We believe this will pave the way for further association members to engage and champion sustainability within their own communities”.
Alexander Alles, Executive Director of JMIC, adds: “The commitment of AC Forum to the Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge is a significant advancement for our industry. Their leadership sets a powerful example, encouraging associations worldwide to integrate sustainable practices into their event planning and execution.”
For AC Forum, signing the NZCE Pledge reflects its commitment to being part of a truly international movement dedicated to environmental sustainability. The NZCE initiative has become a key driver in bringing clarity, practical tools, and a unified approach to reducing environmental impact across the global events ecosystem.
Ben Hainsworth, President of AC Forum, expressed his enthusiasm about this milestone: “By joining the Net Zero Carbon Events Pledge, AC Forum is not only reinforcing its dedication to sustainability but also aligning itself with a collaborative, global effort, which is completely in line with the Paris Agreement. The pledge offers a clear framework for action, and I am confident it will resonate with AC Forum members and encourage wider participation in this crucial mission.”
The choice of the SEC as the venue for this important announcement further underscored the significance of the moment. As the birthplace of the NZCE initiative, the SEC embodies the spirit of innovation and commitment needed to drive meaningful change in addressing climate challenges.
Kathleen Warden, Director of Conference Sales at the SEC, remarks: “Hosting the signing ceremony at the SEC, the birthplace of the NZCE initiative during COP26, is a momentous occasion. We are proud to support AC Forum and all organisations dedicated to making impactful changes toward sustainability who are involved in the events sector.”
AC Forum’s decision to become a signatory of the NZCE Pledge represents a bold step forward in its sustainability journey, and the organisation looks forward to motivating its members to join the movement toward a greener future.
About the Net Zero Carbon Events Initiative
The Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE) initiative is a global industry effort, hosted by JMIC, aimed at uniting stakeholders across the events value chain to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The initiative was launched at COP26 in Glasgow in response to the urgent need for climate action within the events sector.
About AC Forum
AC Forum is the only association established exclusively for and by associations. Members are supranational, self-managed, not-for-profit associations. Through peer to peer sharing of good practice and expanding thinking, in a confidential environment, members are engaged to exchange knowledge to advance association leadership. Our mission is to be the pre-eminent platform for international associations, supporting a dynamic community and inspiring innovation and excellence in leadership and impact, and our vision is associations as driving forces of societal progress, envisioning and crafting a progressive future.
About Scottish Events Campus
Based by the river Clyde in Glasgow, the Scottish Events Campus (SEC) is a world-leading conferencing, exhibitions and live entertainment events campus. It includes the 14,200 capacity OVO Hydro – one of the busiest live entertainment arenas in the world – and the SEC Armadillo, both designed by world-renowned architects Foster + Partners. The Armadillo is a Glasgow landmark with a unique style and purpose-built conference and entertainment facilities for up to 3,000. The third and largest of the venues on campus, SEC Centre offers five interconnected exhibition and event halls, and additional conferencing suites, with a combined area of over 22,000sqm.
