About
ASLA Conference on Landscape Architecture Operations Assessments
Tree Canopy of Washington, D.C. / istockphoto.com, Isabel Dobbs “With our Strategic Plan, released in 2021, we committed to reducing the emissions from our conference and headquarters operations by 20 percent by 2024. And through our ambitious ASLA Climate Action Plan, released in November 2022, we made the additional commitment to achieve zero emissions in our conference and operations by 2040. We are now moving forward to achieve our goals,” said ASLA CEO Torey Carter-Coneen.
ASLA has committed to publicly releasing annual conference impact assessments. The assessments provide data on energy used and greenhouse gas emissions and waste generated, which ASLA will use to measure and improve its environmental and social impacts on an annual basis. It also outlines the many positive actions ASLA has taken to make access to the conference more equitable, donate EXPO products, reuse waste materials, and support the communities that host the conference.
2023
Assessment
The assessment, which was developed in partnership with Honeycomb Strategies, a sustainability consulting company, includes key findings:
Over four days and per attendee, the conference released 0.68 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, which is 17 percent higher than the 2022 conference. This is due to:
- The energy mix in Minneapolis, Minnesota included more fossil fuels than San Francisco, California, where the 2022 Conference was hosted
- Collection of additional transportation emissions data
- Updated methodology and calculations to align with the Net Zero Carbon Events Initiative. (See 2023 assessment for updated 2022 baseline data).
Due to procurement decisions made by ASLA and sustainability measures adopted by the organization:
- 100 percent of electricity from the grid used by the conference was generated from off-site solar and wind through renewable energy credits. The credits were then retired.
- 29,850 pounds of EXPO materials were donated to Habitat for Humanity, which is nearly 40 percent less than in 2022. This means exhibitors are leaving behind lower amounts of booth materials.
- A waste diversion rate of 71 percent was achieved, which is 4 percent higher than 2022. Recycling increased by 700 percent and composting increased by 165 percent in comparison to 2022.
- More than $43,000 in positive climate contributions were collected from ASLA members to purchase 1,225 offset credits, a 614 percent increase over 2022.
- 475 pounds of food was donated to People Serving People.
Actions
To reduce adverse climate and environmental impacts and leave a positive legacy in Minneapolis, ASLA has implemented these strategies for its 2024 Conference at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center:
- Selected host city with train and public transit access and LEED-Gold Certified Convention Center
- Created climate change and biodiversity educational tracks at its Conference
- Implemented a communications strategy to reduce transportation emissions from attendees and exhibitors traveling to and from the conference and in the host city. Preliminary data shows a 1,226 percent increase in train travel and a 24 percent decline in air travel to the 2024 conference in comparison with the 2023 conference (as of September 18, 2024).
- Implemented a range of measures related to food, energy, water, and waste to reduce impacts.
- Made a positive carbon contribution by purchasing up to 3,500 tons of emission offsets
- Enhanced a sustainability pledge for EXPO exhibitors
- Provided free registrations for invited Washington, D.C.-based climate equity and justice leaders to attend the conference
- Provided free registrations for invited Washington, D.C.-based young climate leaders to attend the conference
- See all conference and business operations commitments and progress to date at the Sustainable ASLA hub.
Positive Carbon Contributions
While it pursues its near-term goal of reducing emissions 20 percent by 2024, ASLA has committed to purchasing up to 3,500 tons of carbon dioxide emission offsets from the National Indian Carbon Coalition (NICC).
This partnership will also advance the cultural empowerment and climate equity goals of the ASLA Climate Action Plan, which was released in 2022.
The carbon offsets NICC will provide have been generated in the Tribal Forests of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in Minnesota. The Fond du Lac Band’s forest carbon project is a natural climate solution that generates carbon credits through Improved Forest Management.
2022
Assessment
The Sustainable Event Impact Assessment, which was developed in partnership with Honeycomb Strategies, a sustainability consulting company, includes key findings.
Over four days and per attendee, the conference:
Due to procurement decisions made by ASLA and sustainability measures adopted by the organization:
- The ASLA 2022 Conference was hosted at the Moscone Center conference facility, which is 100% powered by renewable hydropower and rooftop solar.
- 49,500 pounds of EXPO materials were donated to Habitat for Humanity.
- More than 900 students attended the conference for free in return for volunteering.
- $7,000 in carbon offset contributions were collected from ASLA members
Actions
Based on these findings, ASLA committed to event sustainability
strategies for its 2023 Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
To reduce adverse climate and environmental impacts and leave a positive legacy in Minneapolis, ASLA implemented these strategies:
- Creating climate change and biodiversity educational tracks at its Conference
- Implementing a range of measures related to food, energy, water, and waste to reduce impacts
- Offsetting 1,500 tons of its carbon dioxide emissions
- Launching a new sustainability commitment for EXPO exhibitors
- Providing free registrations for invited Twin Cities-based climate equity and justice leaders to attend the conference
- Providing free registrations for invited Twin Cities-based climate youth leaders (high school students) to attend the conference
- Developing a strategy to reduce transportation emissions for attendees and exhibitors traveling to and from the conference and while traveling in the host city.
Positive Climate Contributions
While it pursues its near-term goal of reducing emissions 20 percent by 2024, ASLA also committed to making positive climate contributions and purchasing 1,500 tons of carbon offsets in 2023. A total of 1,226 tons were purchased.
For 2023, ASLA partnered with Green Minneapolis, an innovator in urban tree carbon offsets, to scale up those efforts. The lead sponsor of ASLA 2023 Conference carbon offsets was Bartlett Tree Experts.
Green Minneapolis collaborated with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to complete the first urban tree carbon offset project in Minnesota. The project is part of the Twin Cities Climate Resiliency Initiative, a public private partnership that will significantly expand the urban tree canopy across Minneapolis and the seven county Twin Cities metropolitan area.
Through City Forest Credits, a national nonprofit carbon registry, the urban tree carbon offset project has achieved third-party verification for its carbon credits. The project includes 23,755 city trees planted by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board from 2019 to 2021. Over its 25-year duration, the project is estimated to store 48,865 metric tons of carbon and will provide quantified co-benefits related to rainfall interception, air quality, and energy savings.
According to Green Minneapolis offset funds collected by ASLA and its members will “support a 20-year vision to increase the metro area’s tree canopy through planting and maintaining five million trees on public and private lands, with a focus on addressing environmental inequities in the most disadvantaged communities.”