Events, Society and Sustainability

The growth of the events industry brings with it concerns of sustainable management, the sharing of available resources, and ensuring that people and places are not over-exploited. While the environmental and economic dimensions of sustainability have attracted a reasonable attention in the study of events, the social and cultural aspects of sustainability have been largely neglected. This book brings together emerging critical perspectives, innovative conceptual frameworks and contemporary case studies. Events cannot be isolated from the actions of humans and this is reflected in the emphasis on people and society throughout. The next wave of sustainable discourse requires a critical synthesis of information and this book is the first to address the need for more critical approaches and a broader way of thinking about events and sustainability. Divided into five thematic parts, the contributions delve into understanding the mainstream stances towards sustainability, the role events play in indigenous cultures and in diasporic communities, and the extent to which events influence the public discourse and civic identity. Sustainability is also examined from a strategic perspective in the events sector, and consideration is given to issues such as corporate social responsibility, greenwashing, and the power of mulit-stakeholder alliances in promoting sustainability goals. Written by leading academics, this timely and important volume will be valuable reading for all students, researchers and academics interested in Events and the global issue of Sustainability.

Tomas Pernecky is a senior lecturer at the School of Hospitality and Tourism at the Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. Michael Lück is Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Tourism and Events in the School of Hospitality and Tourism, at Auckland Univeristy of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.

Introduction: Editors' Introduction: Events in the Age of Sustainability Part 1: Thinking Critically about Events and Sustainability 1. Events, Society and Sustainability: Five Propositions 2. Critical Perspectives on Sustainability 3. Beijing's 'People's Olympics': From Slogan to Sustainability 4. Rethinking Events in Higher and Further Education: A Systemic Sustainability Perspective Part 2: Events, Sustainability and Community 5. Planning and Evaluating Sport Events for Sustainable Development in Disadvantaged Communities 6. Reclaiming Identity and Territory: Events and Indigenous Culture 7. Sustainability and Community Networks: The Case of the Indian Diaspora 8. Peace through Tourism: A Sustainable Development Role for Events Part 3: Strategic Perspectives in the Events Sector 9. Sustainability and Events: Guidelines and Management Practice 10. Conventions and Conferences: Trends and Challenges in Sustainability 11. The Strategic Dimensions of Hosting Sustainable Events Part 4: Insights from the Field: Case Studies 12. Juggling the Environmental, Social and Economic Benefits and Costs of a Green Event 13. Jack Johnson and Sustainable Music Events: A Case Study 14. It's Not Just about the Film: Festivals, Sustainability & Small Cities Part 5: Sustainable Futures: Visions of Action and Hope 15. Sustainable Strategies in the 21st Century 16. Imagination, Possibility and the Sustainable Event