Madrid – The Perfect Host for Sustainability-Driven Meetings

For event planners seeking a destination with an abundance of opportunities for attendees to participate in sustainability efforts, Madrid is the ideal location. Madrid’s commitment to the environment can clearly be seen in the Madrid 360 Environmental Sustainability Strategy that was passed in 2019.  This, along with their PLUS Platform, more than 200 parks and endless available options to enjoy the outdoors makes engaging with sustainable activities effortless. Read on to learn more about Madrid’s sustainability efforts.

The city’s environmental commitment was reflected in the approval of the Madrid 360 Environmental Sustainability Strategy in 2019. The strategy includes a number of measures to help adapt to climate change, foster the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency plans, manage water resources, cut emissions and waste and promote sustainable transport. 

These measures also seek to foster the creation of green infrastructure and low-carbon urban renewal methods.

A Destination Full of Green Spaces

Madrid’s trees are one of its greatest strengths. Over 55 percent of the city’s streets are tree-lined, with nearly 300,000 trees helping to improve Madrid’s air quality and making it the world’s second-leafiest city in terms of tree-lined streets. 

In 2023, the capital was once again named a Tree City of the World, a distinction awarded to 200 cities in 22 countries worldwide. This recognition further cements Madrid’s environmental commitment through the initiative by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Arbor Day Foundation, which promotes good practices and conducts activities to raise awareness of the importance of trees and of caring for them.

A Rich Natural Heritage

With more than 200 parks, gardens and natural spaces totalling almost 15,800 acres of green heritage, Madrid has an endless range of options for enjoying a healthy, outdoor lifestyle. One of them is El Retiro Park, a historical treasure and UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of the city. Another is Madrid Río Park, which stretches for 932 miles along the banks of the River Manzanares and is a great place for group activities, walking, exercising and admiring the ecological restoration carried out in the area which has led to the return of numerous species. Casa de Campo Park is also very close by, declared an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC) and offering over 3,700 acres for leisure, sports and recreation; it’s the perfect place for outdoor activities.

And that’s not all. Madrid is also developing new green spaces like the Metropolitan Forest, which will be a 46-mile-long green belt around the city featuring wide open spaces.

PLUS Platform for Event Organizers

In keeping with Madrid’s strong commitment to environmental protection, Madrid Convention Bureau developed the MICE Sustainability Guideand the digital platform PLUS (Platform for Legacy with US) for event organizers. The latter is a pioneering initiative in Spain which helps organizers to effectively manage the sustainability and legacy of their events in line with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out in the UN’s 2030 Agenda. 

The platform was recently improved and allows specific sustainability reports to be created for every meeting hosted in Madrid, including recommendations which can be implemented before the meetings are held to minimize their environmental and social impact. After an event finishes, the platform can also be used to calculate its carbon footprint.

One of the key improvements made to the platform with respect to an event’s carbon footprint is that it’s now possible to classify the scope of the related emissions (Scope 1: direct emissions; Scope 2: indirect emissions; and Scope 3: supply chain emissions).

Events With a Positive Impact

Another of Madrid Convention Bureau’s objectives is to support associations—and private organizations—that want their conferences or events to contribute to instituting change in the city. There’s a growing belief among host destinations that meetings should have a positive impact, and an increasing number of associations and companies are aligning their missions and visions with the objectives of the locations where they hold their events. Madrid Convention Bureau aims to be a key point of liaison to ensure that meetings held in the city leave a positive footprint.

To this end, the PLUS platform provides organizers with a catalogue of social entities in Madrid. Here, they can discover and select actions with a positive impact to include in their meetings’ agendas. This catalogue is complemented by an open directory of these social organizations.

Being able to meet in Madrid, walk around, breathe the fresh air and leave a positive mark on the city are some of the many attractions the capital offers as a destination for meetings and events prioritizing sustainability. This commitment is guided by the knowledge that together we can build a greener future for Madrid and for the planet.