A shorter format in this Olympic year, but no less effective: for its annual event See You There (SYT), after Nancy and Deauville, UNIMEV chose the Palais des Congrès in Versailles to bring together more than 300 players in the events industry to discuss professional exchanges and conferences on themes closely related to their issues. These include the conditions conducive to innovation within a company with consultant Fred Calantonio, crowd behaviour with Max Planck Institute researcher Mehdi Moussaïd and the future of artificial intelligence with entrepreneur and consultant Morgane Soulier.
Another subject, extremely topical today and even more so tomorrow, took centre stage: the impact of the ecological transition on the future of major global gatherings and the events industry. The session was moderated by François Gemenne, researcher in political science at the University of Liège and professor at HEC, Sciences Po. On his CV, another line draws attention, that of lead author of the latest IPCC report. This specialist in environmental issues took the opportunity to pass on a number of messages that resonate with developments in the events industry. These included the need to make climate policies not acceptable, but desirable, and the importance of every little action rather than being discouraged by the enormity of the problem.
" While 85% of French people say they are concerned about the consequences of climate change, this does not necessarily translate into a willingness to take action. Even more so if climate action is presented as a constraint, as is often the case, notes François Gemenne. Every decision we make, every action we take can have a significant impact on the future of our society. enormous importance and will cause the temperature to rise by two, three or even four degrees" .
Another observation made by this specialist in issues relating to the impact of climate change is the perverse effects of very long-term objectives, between procrastination and less involvement, since few of today's leaders and heads of government will still be around when it comes to achieving carbon neutrality in 2050. " On the contrary, with annual reduction targets, it's a much more credible trajectory and realistic, which will enable me to set out my course of action and make any necessary adjustments." continues the author of the IPCC report. "That's why companies' carbon footprints are so important, not just as a tool for comparison, but as a way of highlighting the progress that needs to be made from year to year." adds François Gemmenne, who is convinced that " those who embark on a decarbonisation path as soon as possible will be the winners in tomorrow's economy" .
Measurement tools and a policy of small steps
This statement obviously adds weight to the arguments of UNIMEV, which last April unveiled its Cleo Carbone tool for measuring the sustainable performance of events. " When you hear him talk about trajectory, it makes you feel more confident about having launched it.says Béatrice Cuif-Mathieu, co-president of UNIMEV and general manager of Destination Nancy. If we set ourselves goals that are too distant, too burdensome, we won't achieve them, whereas the policy of small steps is very important" . Philippe Pasquet, also co-chairman of UNIMEV and chairman of GL Events Exhibitions, echoed this sentiment: "As a professional organisation, by promoting a tool such as this, at a shared rate that allows each operator, even the smallest, to take as many measurements as they want, we are offering the possibility of analysing the carbon footprint of an event today, then for the next edition, and so on. As well as the footprint of each player or of the industry as a whole." .
" In the past, those who embarked on CSR initiatives did so on their own initiative, winning tenders because they were ahead of the game. Now it's a prerequisite" continues Béatrice Cuif-Mathieu. This point has become essential in the eyes of customers, listed companies, public authorities and others. " Multinationals taking part in trade fairs are now asking their service providers to assess the impact of the event and their stands. This something new and extremely powerful" says Philippe Pasquet, who also points out that more than half of the companies with ISO 20121 certification are French.
The events industry is a rather good pupil when it comes to CSR, but it is also a good pupil when it comes to its activity. According to the management of UNIMEV, 2024 looks promising With the Paris Olympics on the horizon, even if certain events have to be postponed, this will boost the overall activity of the industry and enhance the image of France as a destination. " We will fight to ensure that the legacy of the Olympic Games, the experience gained and the new skills acquired, as well as the services put in place, can be used for other major events." added Béatrice Cuif-Mathieu.
The usefulness of meetings according to UNIMEV
A positive corollary of covid is that the industry was able to gain the support of the public authorities on this occasion. " The profession has come together. It has a stronger presence in the political arena, having demonstrated its ability to act as a lever in relation to the regions and economic verticals." says Philippe Pasquet. " Our role as a professional organisation is to extend our network to show that the event industry is an influential mediaa creator of multiple economic, social and environmental values" says Béatrice Cuif-Mathieu.
The sharp upturn in events, once the health constraints had been lifted, meant that ". the shining example the usefulness of meetings" emphasises Philippe Pasquet. François Gemenne illustrates this point in his own way, using the example of the IPCC report drawn up during the pandemic. On that occasion, rather than meeting regularly for 15 days in a hotel or conference centre to discuss the correct wording or the inclusion or non-inclusion of this or that result, the scientists found themselves, like everyone else, behind their screens.
" The scientific quality of the last report was considerably diminished by the fact that we were no longer able to get together, with colleagues for whom English is not their mother tongue and for whom it is more complicated to participate in a videoconference than in a traditional meeting, a poor quality Internet network in southern countries, significant time differences, and so on." says the author of the report. With a concluding credo: " You need to be able to maintain these opportunities for exchange not only for the human richness of these meetings, but also for what they enable us to achieve together" .
