The GDS-Index is a destination-level programme that measures, benchmarks, and improves the sustainability strategy and performance of tourism and events destinations.
The GDS-Index is aligned with international standards; UN SDGs, GSTC Destination Criteria, UNWTO.
Click here to read more about the benchmarking methodology including data collection and verification, the four benchmarking categories, governance and criteria development and performance scoring methods.
This page highlights each destinations sustainability journey and will showcase their journey.
The 2024 GDS-Index comprises 77 indicators across four categories. Here is the total score and the score for the four categories for this destination.
Environmental
Social
Supplier
Destination Management Organisation
Environmental
Includes a city's performance pertaining to its policies and infrastructure, such as climate change commitment, carbon emissions, renewable energies, resource and water management, public transport, and air pollution levels.
Social
Indicates the performance of the city against indicators of SDG integration, Corruption, Personal Safety, Access to Information and Communications, Health and Wellness, and Inclusivity, using external sources such as the Social Progress Imperative Index, and Corruption Perceptions Index.
Supplier
Addresses the sustainability commitment and performance of the local meetings' industry supply chain, including airports, events agencies, hotels, venues, and restaurants.
Destination Management Organisation
Indicates the sustainability commitment, including questions pertaining to maturity of a destination's sustainability and regeneration strategy, leadership, communication of sustainability initiatives (to support client planners), and the accuracy of their reporting on sustainability operations.
Ensuring Melbourne is a sustainable destination for business events is a key mission of Melbourne Convention Bureau (MCB). We are committed to our role in securing business events for Melbourne that will have a positive social, environmental and economic impact for our city, and will reiterate our position globally as a safe, sustainable and innovative destination. MCB recognises that Melbourne has an unparalleled opportunity to embrace, promote and leverage our industry’s initiatives, efforts and programs focused on sustainability and ensure it is at the forefront of our client’s minds when hosting events in our city. But we can’t do it alone. Acting on sustainability will take commitment from everyone – government, the tourism and events industry, our association clients and delegates - but together we can achieve great things with a combination of big moves and small steps. This all-encompassing approach to sustainability is how we have formed our destination's sustainability plan and how we foresee having the most impact on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
Does Melbourne Convention Bureau have a Sustainability Strategy?
Does Melbourne have a sustainable destination certificate?
Does Melbourne Convention Bureau report on its sustainability performance?
Melbourne is known for its coffee, laneway culture and street art, but its environmental initiatives have earned it a reputation as one of the most sustainable, not just in Australia, but throughout the world. Some of our city’s environmental, economic and social sustainability initiatives, programs and steps towards ensuring Melbourne can be enjoyed for generations to come include a Climate Change Mitigation Strategy 2050, Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030, a state-wide legislation to ban single-use plastics by 2023, a commitment by State Government to net-zero emissions by 2050, sustainable transport options and much more.
OF ELECTRICITY
FROM RENEWABLES
OF WASTE
RECYCLED
HECTARES OF GREEN
AREA PER 100 000
POPULATION
Melbourne Convention Bureau along with their partners, City of Melbourne and Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, are taking proactive steps to ensure that business events in Melbourne result in positive social and environmental impacts that will deliver long-lasting benefits back into our communities. In 2021, we have developed valuable tools and resources for those in the meeting and events industry to continuously improve the sustainability, inclusivity and accessibility of their operations as we rebuild and recover post-pandemic. MCEC is the first centre in the world to be awarded the 6-Star Green Star rating for the Convention Centre’s innovative environmental design and operational features. In 2021, MCEC launched their Sustainability Strategy 2021-26 to further their commitment to sustainability targets and continually ensure the venue is a sustainable events destination. MCEC has also committed to reducing their net carbon emissions to zero by 2030.
OF HOTEL ROOMS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF VENUES
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF PCOS/DMCS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
The Economist Intelligence Unit has ranked Melbourne as the world's most liveable city for seven editions (2011-2017). The city has received national and international recognition as a top destination and world-leader in many areas such as community engagement, climate leadership, business, sports and more. Melbourne is one of the most cosmopolitan and multicultural cities in the world. Victorians come from over 200 countries, speak over 180 languages and dialects and follow over 110 religious faiths. Melbourne has a great reputation as a hospitable and safe city, recognised as the one of the safest cities in the Safe Cities Index 2017, with significant cultural attractions and green spaces that can be explored by both delegates and locals. There are many opportunities for those operating in the meeting industry and hosting events in Melbourne to give back to local communities, recognise the traditional owners of the land, and support ‘local’ businesses through a sustainable supply chain. Visit Victoria's new 'Sustainable Victoria' feature is just one example of how important the sustainability of our local communities is.
The GDS-Movement is a pioneering, data-driven international change agency that acts to catalyse socio-economic and environmental transformation in cities and regions across the world. Our mission is to empower tourism and events professionals with the mindsets, skill sets, and toolsets to co-create more regenerative and resilient destinations to visit, meet, and live in.
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