Live green, act green, think green!

In 2009, BIMUN/SINUB e.V. realized very successfully the first green MUN worldwide. After this positive experience and inspired by numerous, motivating feedback, the association decided to expand the concept.

In general, the term Green Conference stands for the aspiration to reduce the negative environmental effects caused by the conference and to compensate unavoidable emissions. This approach does not focus on ‘buying a way out’ of excessive emissions. Beside the vision of the conference, the association is willing to assume consequently ecologic responsibility and to realize the 11^th BIMUN/SINUB conference of this year in due consideration of strict sustainability criteria. Therefore, our Green Conference has a preferably low carbon footprint.

From Theory to Practice

The implementation of the conceptual framework for a Green Conference consists of several measures aiming at a coherent and sustainable approach. For example, the journey of our participants from around 50 countries all over the world generates a huge environmental load, which constitutes the counterpart to the enrichment due to intercultural exchange of experiences and thoughts. In order to reduce these negative effects, we are determined to raise environmental awareness among our participants and to encourage the use of public, environmentally friendly transportation (trains, busses, car sharing). Air travels, which are unavoidable because of long distances, are compensated by BIMUN/SINUB e.V. in cooperation with certified providers of carbon offsets, for example the company CO2OL.

In addition to those aspects, there are other features which contribute to the successful organization of a Green Conference, such as using a green server for operating the website and recycled paper during the conference. Moreover, we aim to mainly offer organic food and fair trade products as well as to operate within the confines of strict waste management criteria.

Sustainable ideas

‘What goes against the environment is ill, fatal and will not persist.’ (Alexander von Humboldt, German scientist, naturalist and cosmopolitan)

Implementing Implementing the concept of a Green Conference is only a small step on the path towards a new environmental awareness, but it is an important one. Therefore, BIMUN/SINUB e.V. is committed to actively sensitize young and socially active people to responsible and eco-friendly behavior. To achieve this, the focus of the Green Conference in this special anniversary year will be on raising awareness and on the information of our participants. During the conference week, more precisely, they will be demonstrated examples for a green life, which will allow them to reconsider their lifestyle under sustainable, ecological aspects. A great step will be reached if they continue their thoughts and ideas after the conference, and implement some of them in their personal life and environment. In order to make the concept more understandable and tangible, our participants will have the possibility to find out their own emissions via a CO₂ calculator and to compensate those emissions themselves, if they wish to do so.