The Green Events and Innovations Conference (GEI), the foremost conference for sustainable events, reveals the full schedule for its 16th edition. Taking place on Tuesday 27th February at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London, GEI is organised by green-event pioneers A Greener Future (AGF) alongside the International Live Music Conference (ILMC).

GEI16 will feature a packed programme of inspirational leaders and innovators in the global live music and events sector including the highly anticipated EarthPercent Hour, which will include a Keynote Conversation with Brian Eno, hosted by EarthPercent’s executive director, Cathy Runciman. Jarvis Cocker will take to the stage during this grand finale to present his "Biophobia".

Dale Vince (Ecotricity / Forest Green Rovers FC) hosts two sessions including ‘Low Emission Festivals & Events’, and ‘Avengers Assemble: Using Profile for Change’ with Sam Lee, Music Declares Emergency’s Fay Milton, and Louis VI following his keynote speech ‘Nature Ain’t A Luxury’.

The agenda tackles the structures on which the live sector depends including artist contract clauses hosted by Head of Sustainability for EMEA at Live Nation Patricia Yagüe (Live Nation) welcoming LIVE Green Chair Carol Scott (TAIT), Tom Schroeder (Wasserman Music) and Ross Patel (Whole Entertainment /Music Managers Forum) in ‘Contracts for Climate’. Sponsorship and Greenwashing are tackled by Luke Howell (Hope Solutions) sustainability advisor to Coldplay and Glastonbury Festival, Ella McWilliam (Full Fat), and Ed Collins (InfluenceMap) in ‘Presenting Ecosystem Collapse - Sponsored by Oil and Gas’.

Continuing the theme of structures to tackle the climate crisis, The O2 will host the world's first carbon-removed gig, featuring The 1975 in partnership with AGF and carbon-removal experts CUR8. The results of this event will be discussed in ‘The World's First Carbon-Removed Gig’, hosted by John Langford (AEG) with Mark Stevenson (CUR8), Sam Booth (AEG Europe), and AGF’s Claire O'Neill.

The event also explores the current situation and adaptation in ‘Extreme Weather Events: Adapting to the New Climate’ highlighting the ever-increasing issue of extreme weather events brought about by climate change. Professor Richard Betts from the Met Office and University of Exeter will be joined by representatives of some of the events that were hit by extreme weather during the festival season of 2023, Yungblud and Massive Attack Tour Manager Jamal Chalabi (AGF/Backlash Productions), Alexandra von Samson (Safety & Security Consultant) and Cara Webster-Whiteside (Previse Events) to discuss the latest data on climate change, implications for insurance, and the future outlook for both our industry and the planet.

Continuing to look at global affairs impacting the live sector Ellie Kinney (The Conflict and Environment Observatory) will challenge the idea of the environment as a ‘silent victim of armed conflict in ‘The Military Emissions Gap’.

It’s not possible to consider green events without considering the stage. ‘Greening The Stage’, hosted by John Robb (Louder Than War) and joined by Carol Scott (TAIT), Pauline Bourdon (Team Love/Soliphilia), Zarya Vrabcheva (STUFISH Entertainment Architects).

The complete line up for the ‘Quick-Fire Innovation Round’, hosted by Abena Fairweather (Legacy Marketplace), includes ChefChain blockchain for food traceability, ReClaim Audio recycled speakers, FibreStrap biodegradable cable ties, Take The Jump innovative communication strategy to cut through behaviour change messages, and Fluctuations the transnational boat festival wandering European rivers, to mobilise on social, environmental, and citizenship topics.

This year’s research sessions include the launch of new toolkit No Climate Action Without Us. How to include disabled people in live event sustainability. A joint project with Attitude is Everything A Greener Future and Julie’s Bicycle with Farah Ahmed (Julie’s Bicycle) and Dr Teresa Moore (A Greener Future) presenting followed by a panel with Blaine Harrison (Mystery Jets), Tori Tsui (Climate Activist) and Harry Jones (Forwards Festival) hosted by Feimatta Conteh (Arts Council England)

AEME (Association of Event Management Educators) will return to GEI bringing together a panel of academics including Adrian Bossey (Falmouth University), Jane Lovell (Canterbury Christ Church University), Andrew Lansley (University of Gloucestershire), Dimitri Lera (Edge Hotel School - University of Essex) to discuss the demand for sustainability skills across the industry in 'Supporting sustainable employability skills for current and future generations of festival and events managers'
‘Influencing Audiences Beyond the Festival’, Dr Teresa Moore and Green Gathering’s Em Weirdigan explore the influence of green festivals towards audiences beyond the event and research undertaken by The Green Gathering in association with A Greener Future.

A series of unmissable presentations will be held including ‘Sisyphean Or Herculean? The Task Ahead For Decarbonising Transport’ from Glenn Lyons (Mott McDonald/University of West England), ‘Chasing Waste Management Gremlins’ from Clive Philips (Greenbox Events Ltd) and ‘Carbon Impact Of Festivals: AGF Annual Report’ from Alex Fintoni (A Greener Future).

Throughout the day refreshments are provided including a 5* vegan lunch, with a special treat from Devils Kitchen and WILDFARMED. The day rounds up with the International AGF Awards 2024 sponsored by the incredible Sky Diamonds (who make “bling without the sting”, diamonds made from atmospheric carbon “mined from the sky”!) with 27 events, venues, and innovators from 12 countries as finalists. GEI delegates will raise a glass to the winners, followed by a final networking drinks reception with devilishly good vegan balls! Courtesy of Devils Kitchen. More info here.

GEI is kindly supported by Ecotricity, TAIT, Instagrid, KB Event and The O2.

Confirmed speakers:

Abena Fairweather (Legacy Marketplace), Adrian Bossey (Falmouth University), Alex Fintoni (A Greener Future), Alexandra von Samson (Safety & Security Consultant), Andrew Bishop (Reclaim Audio Ltd/ GreenWaves), Andrew Lansley (University of Gloucestershire), Andy Hibberd (Ecotricity / Grid Faeries), Andy Mead (Insagrid), Blaine Harrison (Mystery Jets), Brian Eno (Musician, Producer, Visual Artist and Activist), Cathy Runciman (EarthPercent), Cara Webster-Whiteside (Previse Events), Carol Scott (TAIT), Claire O'Neill (A Greener Future), Clive Philips (Greenbox Events Ltd), Craig Hardeman (Power Logistics), Dale Vince (Ecotricity/Forest Green Rovers FC), Damiem Taylor (Chef & Co-Founder of Chefchain), Dimitri Lera (Edge Hotel School - University of Essex), Ed Collins (InfluenceMap), Ella McWilliam (Full Fat), Ellie Kinney (The Conflict and Environment Observatory), Em Weirdigan (The Green Gathering Festival), Farah Ahmed (Julie’s Bicycle), Fay Milton (Musician & Co-Founder, Music Declares Emergency), Feimatta Conteh (Arts Council England), Glenn Lyons (Mott McDonald/ University of West England), Harry Jones (Team Love/Accessible Events Ltd), Jak Hill (Green Gathering), Jamal Chalabi (Backlash Productions/A Greener Future), Dr. Jane Lovell (Canterbury Christ Church University), Jarvis Cocker (Musician & Broadcaster), John Robb (Louder Than War), John Langford (AEG), Julia Davies (Patriotic Millionaires UK), Luke Howell (Hope Solutions), Louis IV (Nature Ain't A Luxury), Mark Stevenson (CUR8), Patricia Yagüe (Live Nation), Pauline Bourdon (Team Love/Soliphilia), Professor Richard Betts (Met Office/University of Exeter), Ross Patel (Whole Entertainment/Music Managers Forum), Sam Booth (AEG Europe), Sam Lee (Singing With Nightingales), Sangeeta Waldron (Serendipity PR & Media Ltd), Sigrid Svedberg (EVLR International AB / FibreStrap), Steve Muggeridge (Green gathering), Dr. Teresa Moore (A Greener Future), Tom Bailey (Take the Jump), Tom Schroeder (Wasserman Music), Tori Tsui (Climate Activist/Co-founder Bad Activist Collective), Zarya Vrabcheva (STUFISH Entertainment Architects).