Exhibition Place on Track to Achieve Net Zero Carbon Events by 2050: Roadmap Highlights Milestones and Sustainability Initiatives

October 25, 2024

Exhibition Place on Track to Achieve Net Zero Carbon Events by 2050: Roadmap Highlights Milestones and Sustainability Initiatives

Exhibition Place is deeply committed to sustainability and reducing its environmental impact and has taken substantial steps to align with the Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE) Pledge. On January 25, 2022, Exhibition Place was an early adopter in signing the NZCE Pledge in conjunction with UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry and the Joint Meetings Industry Council initiative.

Measuring progress towards Exhibition Place’s NZCE Pledge involves defining clear indicators for each action area, collecting relevant data, and establishing baselines. The Exhibition Place NZCE Roadmap includes current and planned actions in the following five action areas:

• Power venues efficiently with clean, renewable energy.
• Utilize sustainable materials and divert waste from landfill.
• Source food sustainably and eliminate food waste.
• Move goods and equipment efficiently and transition to zero emissions logistics.
• Work with and influence partners in the travel sector to reduce and mitigate the emissions of travel to events.

“Future initiatives include transitioning from natural gas-burning equipment to electrical units, replacing old lighting fixtures with high efficiency LED lights and the complete electrification of all vehicles in our fleet,” said Exhibition Place General Manager of Operations Mark Goss.  “Notably in 2023, Exhibition Place achieved a remarkable reduction in natural gas usage by 295,319 m3 compared to our base year in 2019, marking significant progress towards our commitment of achieving net zero by 2050.”   

The Net Zero Carbon Events initiative brings together a wide range of event industry stakeholders to:

• Jointly communicate the industry’s commitment to tackling climate change and driving towards net zero by 2050
• Develop common methodologies for measuring the industry’s direct, indirect and supply chain greenhouse gas emissions
• Construct an industry-wide Roadmap towards net-zero by 2050, and emissions reductions by 2030 in line with the Paris Agreement and climate science, with support and guidance on key issues
• Foster collaboration with suppliers and customers to ensure alignment and common approaches
• Establish common mechanisms for reporting progress and sharing best practice.

For more information about the initiative at www.netzerocarbonevents.org

For more information about Exhibition Place’s green initiatives please visit: https://www.explace.on.ca/about/green-initiatives/ 

CONTACT: Brandon Pickard, Exhibition Place, Manager, Marketing and Communications, bpickard@explace.on.ca.

About Exhibition Place

Exhibition Place is Canada’s largest entertainment and convention site; hosting 1,761 events, attracting 5.5 million visitors a year, and generating an economic impact of $594.5 million to the regional and national economy. The 192-acre location is an integral component of Toronto and Ontario’s economy, particularly with respect to conventions, sport, festivals, recreation, culture, and tourism. Exhibition Place boasts the award-winning, LEED® Gold Enercare Centre, Canada’s largest exhibition and convention centre, and the Beanfield Centre LEED® Silver conference venue. Since 2004, Exhibition Place has undertaken an environmental stewardship initiative, entitled GREENSmart, which promotes sustainable development, environmental initiatives, and leading-edge green technologies and practices.