Sustainable and accessible events

Delivering sustainable events

Environmental change is one of the biggest challenges facing the events and festivals sector. Event organisers face pressure from all sides. They have the desire to act responsibly. But they also want to deliver events that are sustainable and environmentally responsible.

Many event organisers have responded positively to the challenge. Nowadays, they're high-profile ambassadors for the innovation that drives sustainability across the sector.

We are pleased to work in partnership with Business Energy Scotland. Together, we support our events and festivals sector in the development and delivery of sustainable events.

Advice is available to event organisers and suppliers in our latest practical guide. It provides a useful overview on how to plan and deliver environmentally sustainable events.

Making events accessible

Our inclusive and accessible events guide can help anyone involved in organising events. This is regardless of the size, nature or location to create a fully accessible digital, hybrid or in-person event.

Our four pillars of responsible tourism and events

To support the wider industry in the development and delivery of responsible events we will: 

1. Support Scotland's transition to a low carbon economy 

2. Ensure tourism in Scotland is inclusive

3. Ensure tourism contributes to thriving communities 

4. Support the protection, and considerate enjoyment of Scotland's Natural & Cultural Heritage. 

Vision: 2025

Helping the outdoor events industry take action on the climate crisis, Vision: 2025 is a growing network of over 500 outdoor events and businesses taking climate action.

• Visit the vision 2025 website for more information  

Sustainability toolkit for festival managers

This toolkit emerged as part of a collaboration between Edinburgh Napier University and the Cultura Circular (Circular Culture) programme, a British Council initiative in Mexico focused on promoting a culture of sustainability in the festive sector. The programme envisioned a plan to promote artistic cooperation and exchange between Mexico and the United Kingdom, as well as a training module specializing in environmental sustainability for an emerging network of Mexican festivals.  

• Visit the Napier university website for more information

Elevenses webinar "delivering events sustainably"

This webinar introduces sustainable development and what we mean by planning events sustainability with case studies provided by international music festival HebCelt and art house Cryptic Glasgow.

• View the Museums Galleries Scotland video on YouTube