Environmentalist Al Gore: webcast fan.

The research, by carbon management specialist Co2balance on behalf of web television specialist BroadView, compared the carbon footprint of a traditional event with a webcast. The results indicate that, if webcast viewers had personally attended the event, they would have used 3.7 tonnes more carbon dioxide each than by watching online, making their carbon footprint a staggering 17,222 bigger.

Pharma conference

The event in question was a pharmaceutical conference in New Orleans, requiring delegates to fly to attend and stay overnight. Co2balance used the actual location of those watching online as the basis for its research to calculate how much carbon they would have used had they attended.

‘Not all events are as global in nature as this one and many will have a lower carbon footprint,’ BroadView managing director, Stuart Maister told ModernSelling.com.

‘Nevertheless, the difference in C02 generated is so large it’s clear that the web version is the greener option.’

Webcasts not carbon-free

Webcasts are not carbon-free, however, and factored into the research was the energy used by the production crew, the webcasting servers and the PCs for viewing the event. The report maintains that a webcast’s carbon footprint is minimal and would get smaller as the number of delegates increased. This is due to shared server usage and other shared resources, such as TV cameras and lighting.

One of BroadView’s clients for virtual events has been the global accountancy body the ACCA (Chartered Association of Certified Accountants).

‘By webcasting our AGM we enable our global membership to engage with a vital part of ACCA’s governance process in a way that is convenient to them and reduces the environmental impact of travel associated with attendance in person. The webcast has been very well received by members and viewings have increased substantially year on year,’ said head of corporate marketing, Michelle Nicolson.

Live events

‘No-one will replace live events for their impact and for networking,’ acknowledged Maister. ‘However, this report was designed to show that extending the event online or creating additional web-based programmes to engage audiences is a green option as well as a cost-effective one.’

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