International conferences and global partnerships for the Sustainable Development Goals

The 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a blueprint for peace and prosperity on the planet. All industry areas, including the business events industry, have been called upon to make contributions. In this paper we discuss ways in which international conferences contribute to Goal 17 Partnerships for the Goals. Already, conferences are demonstrating that they are working to reduce environmental impacts and make positive contributions toward the SDGs by reducing waste, using local suppliers, reducing carbon footprints, and partnering with worthwhile social or environmental groups or causes. Our longitudinal case study of the International AIDS Society conferences lifts the potential of conference contributions to the SDGs to a macro level. We present a case that demonstrates international conferences are uniquely and ideally positioned to be the drivers of global, multi- sector and inter-organisational partnerships, capable of accommodating collaborative relationships that generate solutions to our most pressing global issues.