Tiered certification tracks for foundational climate literacy, strategic leadership, organisational transformation and more. Photo Credit: iStock/Galeanu Mihai
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The Net Zero Carbon Events Academy has been launched to close a growing climate skills gap as sustainability pressures mount across the global meetings and events industry.
The new Net Zero Carbon Events Academy was launched by Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) and GDS-Movement, with the programme aligned to and endorsed by the Net Zero Carbon Events Initiative.
The initiative is supported by two Asian industry bodies – Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and Macau Fair & Trade Association (MFTA) – highlighting growing regional engagement in sustainability capability-building for the meetings sector.
Positioned as a global training platform for event professionals, the academy is designed to help organisations translate net-zero pledges into measurable operational action, amid rising scrutiny over emissions reporting and sustainability claims.
The academy launch comes as business events stakeholders contend with tightening sustainability regulations globally, including evolving EU green-claims legislation and corporate reporting requirements that are increasing pressure for transparent emissions reduction strategies.
Energy market shocks a ‘wake-up call’
“The current energy and climate context is a wake-up call for the industry,” said Guy Bigwood, CEO of GDS-Movement.
“Volatility in fossil fuel markets is exposing the risks of business as usual and accelerating the shift toward energy efficiency, renewable energy and more local, circular supply chains,” he said.
“At the same time, many organisations still lack the skills needed to act. This Academy is about bridging that gap – moving from ambition to capability, and from carbon commitments to real, lasting change.”
The events industry skill gap
Industry groups behind the initiative said the absence of standardised sustainability training pathways has become a major barrier as event organisers, venues and destinations face growing demands from regulators, clients and investors.
The academy will offer tiered certification tracks spanning foundational climate literacy through to strategic leadership and organisational transformation. Training modules will cover areas such as carbon measurement, net-zero event planning, stakeholder engagement and sustainability reporting.
The programme will be delivered through online, hybrid and in-person formats, with the first courses set to be hosted in Macau in June 2026 by Macau Fair & Trade Association.
Alexander Alles, executive director of Joint Meetings Industry Council, said the industry now needed practical implementation frameworks to support existing climate commitments.
“The events industry has made bold commitments on climate action; now we have a structured and systematic framework to build the skills to deliver on them,” he said.
Destinations want in
Support from Asian organisations also reflects how sustainability capability is becoming increasingly tied to destination competitiveness in the international meetings market.
“Building climate capability is essential for the future competitiveness and resilience of our industry,” said Supawan Teerarat, president of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau.
“By investing in knowledge development, collaboration and standards, TCEB is supporting our sector in reducing emissions while creating more sustainable and future-ready events.”
Organisers behind the initiative said they are now seeking additional partners, sponsors and destinations to host local training hubs as the programme expands globally.