Academic institutions are increasingly imposing CO₂ emission budgets—limits on how much carbon dioxide their travel and events-related operations can generate. One example comes from the University of Amsterdam, which aims by 2026 to reduce emissions from official travel by 25% relative to 2019 levels.
Because travel—especially air travel—is a major contributor to emissions, these budgets force organisers to rethink who travels, how often, and what format is used. Researchers are now prioritising which conferences deliver the strongest academic, policy, or networking return. Regional or closer-to-home meetings are becoming more attractive, and hybrid or virtual attendance options are increasingly seen as essential.
In many cases, institutions are reallocating funds from in-person travel to cover virtual participation or offering support/training for remote networking.
From the event organiser’s side, compliance with institutional CO₂ budgets means designing events with sustainability at the core: reducing waste, utilising local resources, choosing venues closer to attendees, offering flexible participation modes, and clearly communicating eco-credentials. High-quality content and meaningful outcomes become more critical than sheer size—every session, travel decision, or accommodation choice is weighed for environmental impact.
For associations, these shifts mean two things: risk and opportunity. There’s risk that failure to adapt (e.g. organising large in-person events without sustainable practices) may lead to lower institutional engagement, pushback from members, or reputational damage. There is opportunity for those who lead: by integrating CO₂-aware planning, associations can improve appeal (especially to sustainability-minded members), open access to funding or institutional partners, differentiate themselves via sustainable credentials, and produce events that are more resilient, inclusive, and future-oriented.
In short, the rising practice of CO₂ emission budgets isn’t a trend—it signals a structural change in expectations. Events planned today must balance content, format, and carbon cost. Organisations that embed these trade-offs into their strategy will be better positioned in a future where environmental accountability is non-negotiable.
