England takes centre stage at G7 in Cornwall, demonstrating its sustainability commitment & action

by helena.adkins@visitbritain.org

Category: General
June 10 2021

Beach in St. Ives, Cornwall, England.

The United Nations General Assembly declared 2021to 2030 as the UN’s Decade on Ecosystem Restoration - a proven measure to fight  the climate crisis and enhance food security, water supply and biodiversity. This decade long project will begin on Saturday 5 June, otherwise known as World Environment Day

This rallying cry highlights the drastic action we must take to restore our precious planet, not just as citizens but as an industry. So what is the business events industry in England doing to play its part? 

At a national government level, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged to protect and restore the natural environment by planting 30,000 hectares of trees every year, as part of a £12 billion ten-point plan for a green industrial revolution. 

And, as an industry, we have seen suppliers from across England step up to do their part. From destinations that are tackling social transformation to venues improving their environmental and CSR credentials, England and its business events sector is changing to ensure the industry is a leader in sustainability. 

On 11-13 June 2021 the coastal destination of Cornwall, located in the South of England, will host the international G7 Summit, welcoming leading democracies from across the world to help in the global fight against climate change and aid in covid recovery. Taking place in Carbis Bay Hotel, this three-day conference will be one of the first international events to take place since covid. 

The venue itself has a long-standing reputation with sustainability. The four-star hotel forms part of 724 kilometres of stunning Cornish coastline, which features nine marine conservation areas and almost 500 County Wildlife Sites. In 2019, the hotel won the Eco Hotel of the Year at the AA Hospitality Awards in recognition of its ongoing work to become more sustainable - this includes energy efficient systems, use of environmentally friendly chemicals in cleaning processes and its dedication to ecosystem restoration with the planting of trees to encourage wildlife conservation. 

On a wider scale, the destination of Cornwall is battling climate change with sea levels at Newlyn (10 miles from Carbis Bay) rising by almost 20 cms in the last 100 years. Cornwall’s Environmental Growth Strategy is encouraging pond construction, forest schools, marram grass planting, tree planting and habitat restoration as part of its 50-year vision to create a naturally diverse, beautiful and healthy environment by 2065 that supports a thriving local society, prosperous economy and abundance of wildlife. 

Whilst, the environmental work being carried out by Cornwall is just a fraction of the activity going on in destinations and venues across England, the entire industry is committed to becoming an environmentally friendly sector. As we host some of the world’s major leaders, the importance of World Environment Day seems even greater. Through commitments demonstrated at the G7 Summit and actions from the MICE industry, we can expect global change that will aim to restore ecosystems and build a greener, more wildlife friendly landscape for delegates to enjoy for years to come.

 

helena.adkins@visitbritain.org

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