Environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance across the global event sector has improved significantly in the first half of 2025, according to new data from event:decision.
The company’s 1st & 2nd Quarter 2025 Sustainability Review Summary revealed that average total sustainability scores climbed to 19.07 out of 30 in 2025, up from 16.95 out of 30 in 2024 — with the most significant gains recorded in social impact and governance channels.
“In just 12 months we’ve seen total scores rise by more than two points on average,” said Matt Grey, director at event:decision. “The data proves that when planners measure, they change — embedding locality, wellbeing and community values into every decision.”
The highest scoring sector was finance and legal, while internal meetings had the highest overall scores reported.
“It’s no surprise that event-types where organisers have the highest control over the most significant factors (supply-chain, partnerships, travel, materials and freight) – being internal events and conferences, demonstrate higher relative scores,” said Grey.
“Events with a wider variety of stakeholders, exhibitions and congress can be harder to align, however this presents as an opportunity for all exhibitions, association and congress owners to deliver what delegates and visitors clearly look for.
Travel emissions remain the single largest footprint driver, while social enterprise engagement and pre-event goal setting (still below 25% total adoption) represent untapped opportunities for nearly all organisers.
The data includes events submitted via event:decision’s Impact: Responsible Event Review tool related to events from the American, EMEA and APAC regions from 12 sectors and 12 separate event-types since April 2024.