After a sellout success earlier this year, the Green Events and Innovations Conference returns for its 17th edition – GEI17 – in 2025. The foremost conference for event sustainability will bring together global innovators and sector leaders to share, network, and accelerate environmental and social actions to make impactful changes in events, music, and sport.
GEI17 will gather a stellar lineup of the brightest minds in sustainability to tackle and celebrate the future of green events with a jam-packed programme of engaging discussions and case studies; showcases demonstrating the most disruptive current actions and developments; second-to-none networking opportunities in the event sustainability space; and a delicious five-star vegan lunch and closing drinks party.
Last year’s edition welcomed over 50 speakers including artists Brian Eno, Jarvis Cocker, and Blaine Harrison (Mystery Jets); climate justice activists Dominique Palmer and Tori Tsui; plus Dale Vince OBE (Ecotricity), Cathy Runciman (EarthPercent), Carol Scott (TAIT), Patricia Yagüe (Live Nation), John Langford (AEG Europe), and Tom Schroeder (Wasserman Music).
One of the main topics slated for discussion so far is audience travel, which will be a theme that features throughout the day and will include an exclusive deep dive into the TICKET TO RIDE project by The Changency & Crowd Impact together with German rockers AnnenMayKantereit and the impact of business structures and ticketing on fan travel (Hello, Swifties and Adele’s German residency).
Elsewhere, Massive Attack’s Act 1.5 Climate Action Accelerator – which has been hailed as the future of green events – will be presented, in addition to an exclusive panel dedicated to phase 2 of the project (to be announced in the autumn 24); whilst firm favourite The Quick-Fire Innovation Round will provide a few select delegates with the opportunity to pitch their innovative solution to the rest of the delegation.
And as always, the date will be rounded off the day with the International AGF Awards 2025, sponsored by Skydiamond (the world’s first carbon-negative certified diamonds made from atmospheric carbon) in which we’ll commemorate and celebrate the most innovative, inspiring, and aspiring green events, venues, organisations, and individuals over the last 12 months. Last year saw finalists from 27 nominees from 12 countries, with the top accolade – the International Greener Festival Award 2024 – going to Belgium’s Paradise City, who also scooped the Greener Catering Award for their local and vegan menus
Claire O’Neill, AGF CEO & Founder said:
“Leading up to GEI17, things are heating up, literally and figuratively. Hottest temperatures, highest rainfall, and strongest winds; longest sentences in history for peaceful climate protest; and the inhumane is laid bare as we are all witness ‘the most documented genocide in history.’
“Events and the live sector are feeling the impact of global tensions first hand with growing costs, ethical scrutiny, and uncertainty, and in the worst cases, direct impacts to operations caused by war and climate change. Some are simply moving in the wrong direction, whilst others are taking the most ambitious green actions we’ve ever seen. We’re experiencing significant change, which is sharpening focus, boosting innovation, and inspiring action. The purpose of GEI is to expedite that transition through events and to have fun while doing it. We can’t wait to come together again in February!”
GEI is AGF‘s flagship event and is organised in partnership with the world’s leading platform for the live music and entertainment sector, the International Live Music Conference (ILMC).
GEI17 will take place on Tuesday, 25th February 2025, the day before ILMC, at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in Central London.