Sustainability at ISPPD-13
Going Green Together
We believe that we all have a part to play in preserving our future for generations to come, both locally and across the globe.
From the ISPPD Meeting’s point of view, we think everyone has a role to play in maintaining a healthy and sustainable ecosystem. And even small actions matter! Therefore, we’ve taken steps to make the meeting more environmentally friendly.
The ISSPD-13 Meeting and the Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs, also called the Global Goals) are 17 goals with 169 targets that all UN Member States have agreed to work toward achieving by 2030. They set out a plan for a world without poverty, hunger, and disease.
We at ISSPD want to contribute to the achievement of these objectives in our value chain. We support and work toward the following SDGs:
Contributions you can make as an ISPPD-13 Meeting Delegate:
As individuals and as a community, we can and should individually contribute to protecting the earth and its natural systems and resources and to sustaining the natural ecological balance of the ecosystem. Here is what we encourage you to do during the ISPPD-13 Meeting in Cape Town:
- Use the mobile app, the virtual platform and the official ISPPD-13 Meeting website (instead of printing) to inquire about the programme details.
- Sort your waste in appropriate bins at venues, hotels, and around the city.
- Keep waste items with you if there are no visible garbage or recycling bins at an event or during your tourism outings.
- Opt for reusable mugs and bottles and refuse single-use plastic. Water from water coolers is of good drinking quality and we will make sure there are enough around the venue, so don´t forget to bring your bottle!
- Do not print booking confirmations and boarding passes; instead, provide digital copies of these documents.
- Provide an alternative to business cards – QR codes to LinkedIn or e-card.
- Opt for a vegetarian meal option when available and possible.
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
We are introducing several dedicated ISPPD initiatives, aiming to promote a healthy lifestyle, while enjoying being together with the community.
What we are doing at ISPPD-13 in 2024:
- Option for meatless/vegetarian meetings. Or option for 1 or 2 no-meat lunches. We can offer vegetarian, vegan, fish, and gluten-free options.
- Signs at the venue to avoid waste.
- Change of practice –have more healthy breaks -to choose healthy options for coffee breaks (fewer cookies and more fruits for example).
- Tips and recommendations on how to implement sustainability in your daily life and well-being.
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Our top priority is to make high-quality education available to our community. Our goals include eliminating educational gaps between genders and geographic communities; providing more accessible conference options; and enhancing the quality of the scientific programme.
What we are doing at ISPPD-13 in 2024:
- Special Sessions for early career professionals to meet and interact with seasoned professionals – “Meet The Expert” Sessions (please check the scientific programme for those sessions here)
- Hosting Hands-on Lab Workshops (more information here)
- ISPPD Travel Grants: The Travel Grant programme aims to support talented early-career researchers and young investigators from diverse geographical and scientific areas who wish to participate in the ISPPD meetings, by aiding with registration fees, transportation & accommodation.
- Presentations of basic, clinical and translational research findings, encouraging audience participation and collaboration.
- Young Investigator Award supporting the research contributions pf outstanding early-career researchers and Robert Austrian Research Award, recognising groundbreaking contributions to the field of pneumonia and pneumococcal diseases.
- Special keynote presentations delivered by a large number of internationally renowned experts covering a large spectrum of our multidisciplinary field.
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
We ensure inclusiveness and equality for committee members, presenters, and invited speakers.
What we are doing at ISPPD-13 in 2024:
- Aim for and monitor gender equality and equal access among our delegates, presenters, and committee members.
- Make our meeting a welcoming, inclusive space for people of all ages, genders, and abilities.
- Maintain an environment that is free from discrimination and where attendees are treated fairly and with respect, making sure that everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas and perspectives.
- Do the utmost to increase and invite more diverse speakers, performers, and attendees and create a more inclusive environment.
- Make sure the event is accessible and this includes a fully accessible venue and exhibition with ramps, providing accommodations for people with disabilities (The CTICC is equipped with various features to ensure comfort, safety and ease of access for all clients and guests. Wheelchair ramps and wheelchair-accessible elevators can be found throughout both buildings. All elevators are equipped with braille-inclusive buttons and voice-prompt facilities).
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
We recognise the environmental impact that large-scale events like the ISPPD Meetings can have, so sustainable production and consumption are one of our top priorities in organising the ISPPD 2024 Meeting (ISPPD-13). We are working with our suppliers to ensure maximum positive change.
What we are doing at ISPPD-13 in 2024:
- A mini-programme will be printed instead of the full programme, and the rest of the information will be shared digitally via the official ISPPD-13 App.
- For the printed and branded materials, we are using local partners and less economically damaging product alternatives.
- We encourage all of our exhibitors to participate in this initiative by reducing single-use giveaways at their booths.
- ISPPD and the CTICC are committed to a baseline energy reduction, with electricity savings a priority.
- Delegate badge collection and recycling at the end of the event. A collection box set up at the venue for any unused/unopened items to be donated to local organisations.
- We work with our local catering partner to ensure the use of local and seasonal products, to reduce the transportation footprint of the meeting. Measuring of food waste in collaboration with CTICC and possible food donations.
Waste and Energy Sustainable Management Strategy
Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable
- recycling options in public spaces
- minimising food waste and food donation options
- filtered water with reusable glassware (bring your bottle to ISPPD-13)
- recycling options in each meeting room
- back-of-house recycling sorting
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
- Baseline energy reduction with CTICC having a highly-effective building management system
- Investing in more sustainable electrical generation
- Staff and awareness to make sure that energy-efficient practices are included in standard operating procedures
- Using natural lighting in the venue, whenever possible