Environmental Stewardship
While planning the meeting, sustainability, environmental concerns and social responsibility are at the forefront of our in decision-making, acknowledging that the major impact of an in-person meeting is from decisions participants take. Here are some of the environmental sustainability initiatives that are in place for this meeting.
About Pittsburgh and the Venue
Pittsburgh is reinventing its industrial roots to become a local and global hub on sustainability. Pittsburgh was one of the first cities in the U.S. to formally integrate the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals into its city plans and policies to spark social change and economic transformation through world-class research, collaboration and innovation. Supporting Pittsburgh, and by extensions the remediation and restoration of impacted sites, exemplifies focus on SETAC’s mission. The city focuses on building resilient, equitable and inclusive communities, and has done extensive research, published multiple analyses and created a fund through the ONEPGH Resilience Strategy to address inequality across gender and race. The Pittsburgh Convention Center itself is a pioneer in achieving Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification embodying our commitment to social responsibility. Learn more about the convention center’s sustainability initiatives.
Initiatives at the Meeting
To lower the meeting footprint, we opted for the more sustainable choices whenever possible. The The David L. Lawrence Convention Center offers digital signage, which will help cut down paper waste. We limited the size of the printed program book, and encouraged attendees to use the app instead. We chose reusable, recycled or recyclable materials where possible and eliminated custom carpeting in the exhibit hall. We are offering more plant-based catering.
How You Can Make a Difference
As a participant, you can also contribute in making a difference.
- Opt for sustainable transportation options, for example, mass or group transit and direct flights over multiple legs since direct flights have a lower greenhouse gas emission
- Pick a hotel nearby and walk to center to reduce travel
- Don’t forget to bring your own bottle or mug to refill
For thoughts, ideas or questions, please contact us at setac@setac.org.