Sustainability
Embracing Sustainability for a Better Future
We are committed to making a positive impact on our planet. We believe that by prioritizing sustainability, we can contribute to a better future for everyone. Join us in our efforts to embrace sustainability and make a difference. Together, we can take small steps towards a greener event and inspire others to do the same. Let’s come together and create a more environmentally conscious and responsible meeting experience at IGCS 2025.
IGCS and the Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs, also called the Global Goals) are 17 goals with 169 targets that all UN Member States have agreed to work toward achieving by 2030. They set out a plan for a world without poverty, hunger, and disease. We want to contribute to the achievement of these objectives in our value chain. We support and work toward the following SDGs.
Please click the icons below to view the IGCS initiatives corresponding to each goal.
Contributions You Can Make as an IGCS Delegate:
As individuals and as a community, we can and should individually contribute to protecting the earth and its natural systems and resources and to sustaining the natural ecological balance of the ecosystem. Here is what we encourage you to do during the IGCS Meeting:
- Use the mobile app and digital program (instead of printing) to inquire about the program details
- Century City is walking and biking friendly, most of the hotels are a walking distance and allows sustainable ways of getting to the venue; If you decide to stay in the Cape Town Waterfront area, share a taxi ride with colleagues from around the world to get to Century City
- Reduce the waste you generate and separate disposal
- Opt for reusable mugs and bottles, the convention center has purified water dispensers to get you hydrated
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
We are introducing several dedicated IGCS initiatives, aiming to promote healthy lifestyle, while enjoying being together with the community.
What we are doing in 2025:
- Convening global top leaders and participants in Cape Town to address the challenge of cancer elimination to improve health and well-being worldwide
- Healthy food served during lunch and coffee breaks
- The CCCC is committed to sustainability. Learn more here: https://ccconferencecentre.co.za/sustainability/
Reduced Inequalities
We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all participants.
What we are doing in 2025:
- Reduced registration fees for low-resource countries
- Gender diverse and balanced faculty to ensure inclusivity and diverse perspectives
- Creating a welcoming and accepting environment for all participants, regardless of sex, gender, nationality, race, color, age, or physical disability
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 2025:
- 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 will collect donations of school materials to donate to local school children from underserved communities
- We aim to use reusable material for the exhibition, which post-Meeting will be donated to local communities to build houses and shelters
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 2025:
- Workshops and panel discussions for early career professionals
- We ensure the Meeting is accessible by providing opportunities for waived registration and additional financial considerations depending on the income of the country of residence.
- Special keynote presentations delivered by prominent internationally renowned experts.
- Networking opportunities and knowledge exchange platforms before or during the Meeting, as well as post-event resource sharing.
Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
At IGCS 2025, we understand the power of partnerships with local, regional and global organizations in making a lasting impact in South Africa.
What we are doing in 2025:
- Collaborating with exhibitors to offer sustainable exhibition booth options fosters partnerships and joint efforts towards achieving sustainable development goals, encouraging collective action for a more sustainable future
- Encouraging a circular economy by donating and reusing meeting materials, fostering partnerships and collaborative efforts towards sustainable development
The content of this publication has not been approved by the United Nations and does not reflect the views of the United Nations or its officials or Member States.
Official SDG website: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment