Sustainable Meetings with Academic Conferences

Meetings are a central part of university life. They shape research collaborations, teaching practices, and decisions that influence both society and the environment. At the same time, meetings often involve travel, venue use, catering, and other forms of resource consumption—factors that impact universities’ climate footprint.

By understanding and rethinking how meetings are planned and carried out, higher education institutions can make significant improvements in both emissions and working environments. At Akademikonferens, we work in accordance with the guidelines established by our four principals: Karolinska Institutet, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Stockholm University, and Uppsala University.

Our mission is to create meetings and conferences that maintain high quality while contributing to sustainable development. This includes selecting venues with good access to public transport, making conscious and climate-smart choices regarding meals and catering, and ensuring that we collaborate with environmentally responsible suppliers.

Sustainable meetings are not only about reducing climate impact. They are also about work environment and inclusion. A well-planned meeting culture—with clear agendas, limited meeting time, and respect for participants’ working conditions—creates better workplace standards.

By combining digital participation with in-person gatherings, we increase accessibility for students, researchers, and partners—both nationally and internationally—who might otherwise be excluded. We also work with solutions that promote gender equality, accessibility, and diversity in all types of meetings.

Transforming meeting culture is key to reducing climate impact and contributing to the UN’s 2030 Agenda. Together with our universities, Academic Conferences aims to show that academia can lead the green transition—and that sustainable meetings are not only possible, but also inspiring, inclusive, and of higher quality.