Event organisers, venue operators make efforts to go green amid growing consciousness

SINGAPORE: British band Coldplay’s Music Of The Spheres World Tour in Singapore that will end on Wednesday (Jan 31) has not only entertained the band’s scores of fans. It has tried to reduce its carbon footprint as well.

Through kinetic dance floors and energy-storing stationary bikes at its performance arena at the National Stadium, the band has fuelled batteries that power elements of the show.

These are just several initiatives the band has put in place to be more environmentally responsible for its tour.

In June last year, the band said that on a show-by-show comparison, the Music Of The Spheres Tour produced 47 per cent less carbon dioxide equivalent emissions than its last stadium tour.

Transport operators like ride-hailing platform Grab have also been quick to jump on the green bandwagon to offer more eco-friendly ways to get home, rolling out free buses to take passengers to Redhill, Boon Keng, Jurong East, and Toa Payoh MRT stations.

Other shuttle services selling tickets for guaranteed seats are also running their own promotions and discounts.

Such moves are creating awareness about the need to reduce the carbon footprint of large-scale entertainment events as more venue operators and event organisers in Singapore look to go green to appeal to environmentally-conscious event-goers.

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY INITIATIVES

Among these venues is the Singapore EXPO, which is making eco-friendly changes. 

The convention and exhibition venue is now home to the largest single-site solar panel installation in the country. In January alone, it generated enough energy to power 170 four-room HDB flats for a year. The venue aims to be Asia's first net zero venue running on clean energy.

There are also 20 electric vehicle charging bays across its vicinity.

Such efforts set a benchmark for the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) industry, said Mr Ian Gan, vice-president of centre management at Constellar, which manages Singapore EXPO.

He noted that consumers today are not just aware of climate change but taking active steps in reducing their impact from day-to-day activities.

“Sustainability is now a requirement from our clients who want to do events … It is critical that our industry continues to make an effort and pursue sustainability as part of our greater initiative to continue to make Singapore the preferred MICE destination for the years to come,” he said.

The biggest challenge that faces the industry is the alignment of standards, especially in terms of measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions.

FIRMS NEED TO CATCH UP

Economist from CGS CIMB Securities Song Seng Wun said that while efforts are being made by sectors including the MICE industry, they are part of a transition that cannot take place overnight.

“(It) really is a case of how passionate the entertainer themselves are, the companies behind and the engagement with concert goers and fans is very important. If the fans leave with a message they can do more, I think that's already half the battle won,” he said.

As Singapore continues making its name on the world stage as an event destination, other players in the ecosystem will also need to go green or risk getting left behind.

"When it comes down to, say, the hospitality sector, (it) is about how hotels can deliver their services and energy consumption in a more sustainable, more efficient basis,” he said.

He added that the government can use the carrot-and-stick approach by introducing more incentives and penalties to get everyone on board.