Embracing Sustainability
IGCS 2026 Annual Meeting is committed to integrating sustainable conference practices and initiatives that go beyond slogans and result in useful achievements.
We firmly believe that we all have a part to play in preserving our future for generations to come, both locally and across the globe.
Therefore, we are organizing the IGCS 2026 Meeting with sustainability in mind – for our planet and environment, as well as for everyone involved with the event.
On par with our compromise, Montréal stands as one of the most sustainable cities in North America and the IGCS 2026 venue supports our goals with its sustainable guidelines for events. Together, we are working on creating a more sustainable Meeting.
IGCS and the Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs, also known as the Global Goals) are 17 goals with 169 targets that all UN Member States have agreed to work towards achieving by the year 2030. They set out a vision for a world free from poverty, hunger and disease.
We at IGCS want to do our part to promote the achievement of these goals in our own value chain.
- Healthy coffee break options, meat-less, vegetarian lunch
- Run for Hope 5K: Run or walk to promote both individual and collective wellness, movement and healthy lifestyle habits within our professional community among participants in a relaxed and inclusive setting. All proceeds will go towards IGCS World of Hope, supporting programs that will bring a brighter, sustainable future for those affected by gynecologic cancers.
- We provide opportunities to support healthcare professionals’ participation in the conference. These initiatives help ensure that financial constraints do not hinder access to quality education, promoting inclusivity and equity in learning opportunities
- Presentations of clinical and laboratory findings from applied research that encourage audience participation
- Diverse scientific program comprised of keynote sessions featuring invited speakers and panels, oral presentations of high-scored peer-reviewed abstracts
- Aim for and monitor gender equality and non-discrimination among our delegates, presenters, and committee members.
- Make our meeting a welcoming, inclusive space for people of all ages, genders, and abilities.
- Promote more women in committee positions related to the event.
- Create a program that features diverse topics and speakers from various backgrounds and experiences.
- The Palais des Congrès has a a fixed temperature (around 22-23°C) for the conference halls, balancing attendee comfort and reducing energy use.
- Accommodation options are offered directly at the venue or nearby, to minimize the need for transportation, reducing carbon emissions and promoting an eco-friendlier experience.
- We prioritize local suppliers and low-waste catering options wherever possible.
- Recycling stations are available in all public areas to encourage responsible waste management and reduce landfill impact
- We collaborate with a conference center aligned with our vision of minimizing our environmental and societal impact, learn more here.
- A policy against single-use plastics is enforced at the venue.
- The Palais des Congrès repurposes waste as fuel to heat buildings and supports local low-income communities by involving them in waste management.
- Utilizing technology to avoid paper usage. Mobile app, QR Codes and PDFs will be used for advertising, certificates, and the program.
- Promoting hotels within walking distance to delegates to minimize transportation resources and reduce environmental impact
- Minimizing waste generation by controlling the number of attendees to avoid waste and unnecessary leftovers
- We aim to use reusable material for the exhibition, which post-Meeting will be donated to local communities to build houses and shelters
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
We are introducing several dedicated initiatives aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle, while enjoying being together with the community during IGCS 2026.
What we are doing in 2026:
- Healthy coffee break options, meat-less, vegetarian lunch
- Run for Hope 5K: Run or walk to promote both individual and collective wellness, movement and healthy lifestyle habits within our professional community among participants in a relaxed and inclusive setting.
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
Our top priority is to make high-quality education available to our community. Our goals include eliminating educational gaps between genders; providing more accessible conference options; and enhancing the quality of the scientific program.
What we are doing in 2026:
- We provide opportunities to support healthcare professionals’ participation in the conference. These initiatives help ensure that financial constraints do not hinder access to quality education, promoting inclusivity and equity in learning opportunities
- Presentations of clinical and laboratory findings from applied research that encourage audience participation
- Diverse scientific program comprised of keynote sessions featuring invited speakers and panels, oral presentations of high-scored peer-reviewed abstracts
Reduced Inequalities
We are committed to fostering inclusivity through a gender-balanced and diverse faculty, reflecting our dedication to equal representation and opportunities for all.
What we are doing in 2026:
- Aim for and monitor gender equality and non-discrimination among our delegates, presenters, and committee members.
- Make our meeting a welcoming, inclusive space for people of all ages, genders, and abilities.
- Promote more women in committee positions related to the event.
- Create a program that features diverse topics and speakers from various backgrounds and experiences.
Affordable and clean energy
We prioritize reducing the environmental impact of our events by integrating sustainable practices into every stage of planning and delivery.
What we are doing in 2026:
- The Palais des Congrès has a a fixed temperature (around 22-23°C) for the conference halls, balancing attendee comfort and reducing energy use.
- Accommodation options are offered directly at the venue or nearby, to minimize the need for transportation, reducing carbon emissions and promoting an eco-friendlier experience.
- We prioritize local suppliers and low-waste catering options wherever possible.
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable
We actively integrate environmental and social responsibility into our event planning, working to ensure our conferences contribute positively to both the host community and the planet.
What we are doing in 2026:
- Recycling stations are available in all public areas to encourage responsible waste management and reduce landfill impact
- We collaborate with a conference center aligned with our vision of minimizing our environmental and societal impact, learn more here.
- A policy against single-use plastics is enforced at the venue.
- The Palais des Congrès repurposes waste as fuel to heat buildings and supports local low-income communities by involving them in waste management.
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
We recognize the environmental impact that large-scale events like IGCS can have, so sustainable production and consumption are one of our top priorities in organizing the IGCS 2025 Meeting. We are working with our suppliers to ensure maximum positive change.
What we are doing in 2026:
- Utilizing technology to avoid paper usage. Mobile app, QR Codes and PDFs will be used for advertising, certificates, and the program.
- Promoting hotels within walking distance to delegates to minimize transportation resources and reduce environmental impact
- Minimizing waste generation by controlling the number of attendees to avoid waste and unnecessary leftovers
- We aim to use reusable material for the exhibition, which post-Meeting will be donated to local communities to build houses and shelters
Sustainability in the IGCS Annual Meeting Program
IGCS 2026 continues to bring important conversations on sustainability into the scientific program, recognizing that the future of cancer care must consider not only clinical outcomes, but also the broader impact of healthcare delivery. This year’s Presidential Plenary & Invited Guest Speaker session will address the environmental footprint of gynecologic oncology.
This session will explore the environmental footprint of gynecologic oncology and how sustainable practices can be integrated into cancer care. It will highlight perspectives from diverse practice settings, including resource-constrained environments, and examine strategies such as prevention, early detection, and vaccination. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on practical opportunities for change within their own practice.
Date: Friday, October 2, 2026
Time: 15:05–16:05
Room: Hall 517CD
Sustainable Development of Palais des Congrès de Montréal
Learn more about the IGCS 2026 venue’s commitment to a sustainable development and their key initiatives that include being a carbon-neutral building, offsetting GHG emissions, urban agriculture labs, and more.
