G7 Summit at Schloss Elmau Sustainability: more than a buzzword. By G7 Host committee

Sustainability is not just a key issue on the 2022 G7 agenda. It is also an important organisational concern on site: the Federal Government is seeking to ensure that sustainability is a priority of its entire G7 Presidency as well as the Summit of the G7 Heads of State and Government, which is due to take place at Schloss Elmau from 26 to 28 June.

Avoid, reduce, offset: sustainability has a key role to play for the Federal Government in hosting the G7 Summit.

In its programme of measures for sustainability (only German), the Federal Government has committed itself to achieve maximum sustainability and climate neutrality in the organisation of its own events – and this priority extends to its entire G7 Presidency. Sustainability standards are to be taken into account from the outset and unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions are to be offset.

Programme of the 2022 German G7 Presidency: “We will organise Presidency events according to proven sustainability criteria, avoiding greenhouse gases as far as possible. Any remaining emissions will be offset, thereby making the Presidency climate neutral.”

Avoid, reduce, offset

With its numerous events, every G7 Presidency leaves a carbon footprint – not least as a result of participants’ travel to and from the venue as well as accommodation, catering and local transport. In order to make its G7 Presidency sustainable, the Federal Government is avoiding and reducing these emissions as far as possible. Here are some examples of measures:

• Raising awareness of the use of rail and public transport for travel to and from the Summit wherever possible, bearing security concerns in mind
• On-site transport using battery-powered vehicles
• Ensuring venues and hotels hold environmental certification and are compliant with sustainability standards
• Maximum use of regional and fair-trade food, plant-based products and tap water
• Sustainable procurement or reuse of products
• Concepts for minimising waste
• No small gifts for visiting delegations

Greenhouse gas emissions that cannot be avoided are offset elsewhere. Offsetting is carried out through the purchase of UN emission reduction credits, which are used to finance high-quality climate protection projects such as those promoting the use of household biogas and efficient cooking stoves in developing countries.

Constant focus on environmental protection and nature conservation

The area around Schloss Elmau is particularly in need of protection from a nature conservation perspective. The Federal Government is aware of this and, together with the state government of Bavaria, is taking the full range of precautions to limit the unavoidable impact of this international summit meeting to the absolute essentials.

All planning steps are carried out bearing nature conservation and landscape protection concerns in mind and in close coordination with the responsible authorities. The measures are designed to avoid or minimise intervention.