Sustainability in Focus: Navigating Carbon Footprint and Climate Action
Our trainings are about more than just delivering information—they’re immersive, collaborative experiences.
Yet, bringing filmmakers and experts from all over the world to Vienna creates a significant carbon footprint we don’t take lightly and it feels important to acknowledge it. Meeting in person has so much value for our participants and their growth, but we want to make sure we’re doing it responsibly and with intention.
Our trainings are about more than just delivering information—they’re immersive, collaborative experiences.
Yet, bringing filmmakers and experts from all over the world to Vienna creates a significant carbon footprint we don’t take lightly and it feels important to acknowledge it. Meeting in person has so much value for our participants and their growth, but we want to make sure we’re doing it responsibly and with intention.
Our Sustainable Management and Market Ready programmes are designed as hybrid formats, with a portion of the programmes conducted online to limit the need for additional travel.
To balance the carbon footprint generated by our activities, we partner with carbon-offset programmes to compensate for the emissions from our events and make a financial contribution to the climate.
How does this work?
In collaboration with ClimatePartner, we have documented the carbon emissions of our activities and calculated the total carbon footprint.
- In 2023, we calculated 29,256.04 kg CO2 (including a 10% safety margin) from organizing our Business and Legal Affairs, The Audience Design Lab, and Sustainability Management programmes.
- For 2024, we calculated 44,291.45 kg CO2 (including a 10% safety margin) from the mobility of our Market Ready: Fiction, Market Ready: Documentary, The Audience Design Lab, Business and Legal Affairs, and Sustainability Management programmes.
To offset these emissions, we have selected three impactful climate projects to support.
What is a climate project?
Climate projects play a decisive role in combatting global warming by demonstrably reducing or avoiding greenhouse gas emissions. This is achieved, for example, through protecting existing forests, reforestation, or expanding renewable energy supplies. At the same time, climate projects promote sustainable development in the project regions, for example by improving access to clean drinking water, upgrading local infrastructure, creating jobs, or preserving biodiversity.
The projects must meet internationally recognised standards. To prove compliance, projects are verified and audited according to strict criteria from bodies such as the Gold Standard and the Verified Carbon Standard.
Get to know the projects!
The first project we are supporting is enabling women in at-risk communities in India to make the transition to clean energy. The women entrepreneurs in rural communities are supported to transition to solar lamps and water filters in their businesses and eventually homes. The women form self-help groups where they provide mutual support and promote the use of clean energy products. Some women also act as clean energy ambassadors, travelling to nearby villages to raise awareness and help others begin their transition to clean energy.
Learn more about the project here.
Climate Contribution Confirmation 2024, Climate Contribution Confirmation 2023
Another great initiative we would like to introduce is powering access and promoting a just transition to renewable energy in Africa. This initiative is introducing a portfolio of solar and wind energy projects across Madagascar, Namibia, South Africa, and Egypt. The initiative harnesses sustainable energy to power both rapidly growing cities and rural households, providing a reliable energy supply across various regions. What’s more, it is creating lasting job opportunities, helping to the economic growth.
Learn more about the project here.
Climate Contribution Confirmation 2024, Climate Contribution Confirmation 2023
Closer to home, we’re contributing to nature conservation in Austria, a combined project that funds wind energy in Turkey while directly supporting biodiversity and climate education in the Karwendel Nature Park. The Austrian component focuses on land restoration—planting hedges, creating flower strips, and protecting ecosystems—but it also funds the training of climate educators who pass on their knowledge to others.
Learn more about the project here.
Climate Contribution Confirmation 2024, Climate Contribution Confirmation 2023