We can and do talk about this. Last year, CEBDS held more than 40 events of varying sizes. And participated in dozens more. For 2020, we had the same number of events planned, and one in particular, the tenth edition of the International Sustainable Congress, which has been held every two years for 20 years, and we had to cancel it.
More than a topic on the agenda due to COVID-19, the concern about holding events online, mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reducing air and road transportation costs, has always been a concern for CEBDS. Over the years, we have been concerned with increasing our reach and visibility, seeking to broadcast online, when possible, or even reproducing videos of events on social media after they have taken place.
Due to the pandemic, we are all having to adapt to a new reality. While we embrace philanthropic causes to act quickly and locally, we cannot let our agenda stop. We are already fully aware that we will not emerge the same after this crisis, and our issues have never been so highlighted. Sustainable development will be one of the pillars that will move us out of this crisis.
Will we learn during the quarantine the costs of externalities, not computed over the years of unbridled exploitation of natural resources? Will we be able to absorb the lesson? We will finally implement new modus operandi in our lives and our businesses.
I can particularly talk about the events industry, which I have dedicated myself to for over 20 years. It is an industry that, like culture in general, has been suffering the side effects on its income. Many suppliers work on demand and are in the spotlight with the complete shutdown of in-person events. They are generally self-employed professionals, without employment contracts. And now their contracts have been terminated, suspended, postponed, and their commitments – housing, transportation, health, food, etc. – are not being met.
Faced with this challenge, the time has come to gather opportunities and strengthen partnerships. The role of companies is invaluable, because, post-COVID-19, these suppliers will need to capitalize, just as companies will need to envision (sustainable) alternatives to carry out their in-person events. Isn't it time to honor contracts and plan future events?
It is also important to consider that holding virtual events will open up a new front of work. Networking is being reprogrammed. Large conferences were already adapting to take place on virtual fronts and this moment contributes to this intention of having less travel and a greater commitment to reducing emissions.
It is likely that our event logic will change, adapt to a new reality, and bring us lessons. As a result, opportunities will certainly arise, such as the reduction of operational and logistical costs, a greater audience reach through online broadcasting, positive impacts arising from the reduction in the use of devices and urban mobility infrastructure, improvements in local atmospheric quality, and reduction of the impacts of climate change at a global level, just to name a few.
However, although holding an online event may seem at first to require fewer resources, there are challenges and precautions to be taken, such as planning the agenda and content, selecting speakers/debaters and segmenting the target audience, correct and surgical dissemination for the good understanding of the content presented, among other points.
Although virtual, the rational and practical dynamics of the event continue with the same concern, however, other digital and technological knowledge will be added, such as technical issues of network availability, security, audio and video editing, etc. Those who know how to adapt will come out ahead. Virtual events emerge in this context bringing a series of benefits in terms of collaborating, aggregating and exploring a new scenario that will come. A tip? Embrace the cause, open yourself to the new. We all have something to gain.
