Planners can leave a positive legacy when they hold events in the Spanish capital
Brought to you by Madrid Convention Bureau
Amidst an increasing global demand for sustainable events, leaving a positive impact ranks high on event planners’ agenda.
On a mission to help planners meet their sustainability goals is the Madrid Convention Bureau (MCB). For years, it has been committed to ensuring congresses and incentive trips leave a positive impact on the city, supporting about 250 events each year.
Green metropolis
This is evidenced by Madrid’s 360 Climate Change and Sustainability Strategy. Approved in 2019, it outlines a series of measures to help the capital adapt to climate change, promote renewable energy and energy efficiency, manage water resources, reduce emissions and waste, and encourage sustainable transport. It also promotes the creation of green infrastructure and low-carbon urban renewal, positioning the city as a model for responsible urban development.
These help preserve Madrid’s wealth of green spaces. More than 55 per cent of the city’s streets are tree-lined, with nearly 300,000 trees helping to improve the capital’s air quality, making Madrid home to the world’s second-leafiest streets.
It is also home to more than 200 parks, gardens, and natural spaces covering almost 6,400 hectares, offering serene nature to enjoy. Some of its most famous are El Retiro Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Madrid Río Park, a 10km riverfront park that has seen ecological restoration, and Casa de Campo Park, an expansive 1,500-hectare recreation zone designated an Asset of Cultural Interest with spaces for outdoor recreation.
Reaffirming its commitment to the environment, Madrid was named a Tree City of the World by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Arbor Day Foundation.
Looking ahead, Madrid continues to build its green legacy with the Metropolitan Forest, a 75km green belt encircling the city.
Tools to support green planners
In keeping with the city’s firm commitment to environmental protection, MCB developed the MICE Sustainability Guide, to reinforce how companies in the industry can integrate environmental, economic and social sustainability elements in their processes and products aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Spain’s Strategic Guide for sustainable tourism for 2030.
It outlines sustainability practices, areas for improvement and how organisers and delegates can make each event more responsible and impactful.
Another initiative is PLUS, a digital platform designed for event organisers to manage the social and environmental footprint of their events.
Users can generate sustainability reports for each meeting and see pre-event recommendations to minimise environmental and social impact. Post-event, the platform calculates the meeting’s carbon footprint and is able to classify emissions by scope from Scope 1 to 3 for greater precision and accountability.
In addition, PLUS connects organisers with a catalogue of local social organisations in Madrid, enabling them to integrate positive-impact activities into their programmes. This is complemented by an open directory of the same organisations, ensuring that every event contributes to the city’s social and environmental well-being.
With its green heritage and mission, Madrid’s vibrant city life and rich cultural heritage makes it a natural choice for combining business with leisure. Planners have a diverse variety of options to choose for team building activities and authentic gastronomic experiences.
Meet your event’s sustainability goals in Madrid now. Visit Madrid Convention Bureau to get started.
