January 2026

From Global Commitment to Local Action: Advancing Net Zero Carbon Events

When world leaders gathered at 26th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (COP26), the message was both clear and urgent: global warming must be limited to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This threshold is critical. Scientific consensus shows that exceeding 1.5°C significantly increases the frequency and severity of climate-related risks, from extreme weather and biodiversity loss to food insecurity and social disruption. Every fraction of a degree matters.

The call from COP26 extended beyond governments. It challenged industries to translate ambition into measurable action.

For the business events industry, that response took shape through the Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE) initiative led by the Joint Meetings Industry Council. NZCE established a shared framework for venues, organisers and suppliers to work collectively towards net zero carbon emissions by 2050, supported by interim milestones and transparent reporting.

In 2022, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre became a signatory to NZCE. This marked the beginning of a structured net zero pathway, one defined by clear targets, accountability and practical implementation, rather than statements of intent.

The Scope 3 Challenge

While progress has been made on emissions within a venue’s direct control, the most complex challenge lies in Scope 3 emissions. For business events, these indirect emissions sit across the value chain, including exhibitor stand construction, freight and logistics, delegate travel, accommodation, catering supply chains, contractor activity and waste treatment.

Scope 3 emissions typically represent the largest proportion of an event’s total carbon footprint, yet they cannot be reduced by a single organisation acting alone.

Addressing them requires alignment, shared responsibility and industry-wide participation.

Recognising this, the Centre’s net zero pathway identifies 2025 as the starting point for structured Scope 3 action, not as a finish line, but as the point at which collective engagement must begin in earnest.

Creating Space for Industry Action

In September 2025, as part of the Centre-led KLCC Sustainable September, we convened a Net Zero Carbon Events Workshop to bring industry stakeholders together around this challenge. The objective was to move beyond awareness and into practical, adoptable solutions.

The workshop brought together organisers, suppliers and partners to examine how everyday decisions, when aligned, can significantly reduce emissions across events.

A key session was led by Amy So, Director of Sustainable Exhibitions (Asia), who shared insights from Better Stands.

Originally developed within Informa Markets, Better Stands has since evolved into a stand-alone industry programme, enabling broader adoption across organisers, venues and markets. The programme focuses on eliminating single-use exhibition stands, reducing waste and lowering embodied carbon, offering a clear, practical reference point for change that the wider industry can adapt and scale.

The workshop was facilitated by WWF Malaysia, ensuring discussions remained grounded in environmental integrity while recognising commercial realities faced by organisers and suppliers.

A Venue’s Role Beyond Hosting

As a responsible venue, we believe our role extends beyond providing space. We have a responsibility to convene the industry, to enable informed dialogue, and to champion sustained change.

This is not about imposing immediate transformation. Meaningful progress on Scope 3 emissions requires continued engagement, shared learning and the willingness to rethink established practices over time.

The Net Zero Carbon Events Workshop was not conceived as a one-off initiative. It represents the beginning of a longer journey, one that will require persistence, collaboration and collective accountability.

Sustaining Momentum

The transition to net zero will not be achieved through declarations alone. It will be shaped by consistent action, reinforced through partnership and guided by credible frameworks.

At the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, we remain committed to bringing stakeholders together, supporting practical solutions and maintaining advocacy for lower-carbon events. The work ahead is complex, but necessary, and it is work we intend to continue, alongside the industry we serve.