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Glasgow, United Kingdom

Contact: Aileen Crawford

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The GDS-Index is a destination-level programme that measures, benchmarks, and improves the sustainability strategy and performance of tourism and events destinations.

The GDS-Index is aligned with international standards; UN SDGs, GSTC Destination Criteria, UNWTO.

Click here to read more about the benchmarking methodology including data collection and verification, the four benchmarking categories, governance and criteria development and performance scoring methods.

This page highlights each destinations sustainability journey and will showcase their journey.

Performance Overview

The 2024 GDS-Index comprises 77 indicators across four categories. Here is the total score and the score for the four categories for this destination.

Total

0%

Environmental

Social

Supplier

Destination Management Organisation

Environmental

Includes a city's performance pertaining to its policies and infrastructure, such as climate change commitment, carbon emissions, renewable energies, resource and water management, public transport, and air pollution levels.

Social

Indicates the performance of the city against indicators of SDG integration, Corruption, Personal Safety, Access to Information and Communications, Health and Wellness, and Inclusivity, using external sources such as the Social Progress Imperative Index, and Corruption Perceptions Index.

Supplier

Addresses the sustainability commitment and performance of the local meetings' industry supply chain, including airports, events agencies, hotels, venues, and restaurants.

Destination Management Organisation

Indicates the sustainability commitment, including questions pertaining to maturity of a destination's sustainability and regeneration strategy, leadership, communication of sustainability initiatives (to support client planners), and the accuracy of their reporting on sustainability operations.

Sustainability Journey

Summary
Environmental
Supplier
Social

Glasgow aims to be at the forefront on climate change with ambitions to become the UK's first carbon neutral city by 2030 and a world leading centre for sustainable policy and innovation. Glasgow has featured within the top 10 of the GDS-Index since it joined back in 2016. The ranking recognises the huge strides the city is making around driving forward systemic and cultural change which supports positive environmental and inclusive impact.

Does Glasgow Convention Bureau  have a Sustainability Strategy?

Does Glasgow have a sustainable destination certificate?

Does Glasgow Convention Bureau  report on its sustainability performance?

The name Glasgow is derived from the Gaelic word Glaschu, which can be translated as ‘dear green place’. Glasgow is championing its aspirations to become one of Europe’s most sustainable cities – with a focus on improving quality of life in the city, protecting the environment and developing a green economy with sustainability top of the agenda. From the installation of ‘smart’ LED streetlights and more electric vehicle charging stations to the creation of renewable energy schemes and green jobs, Glasgow’s vision is to become a world-leading centre for sustainable policy, innovation and action. Already well known as a city that works together, the partners that support Glasgow City Council’s Sustainable Glasgow initiative are drawn from housing, communities, business, universities, enterprise and education. In 2021, Glasgow hosted the UN Conference on Climate Change - COP26 and the city has continued to build on the legacy by hosting numerous major conventions and events associated with protecting the planet.

68%

OF ELECTRICITY
FROM RENEWABLES

16%

OF WASTE
RECYCLED

868 ha

HECTARES OF GREEN
AREA PER 100 000
POPULATION

Glasgow is at the forefront of low-carbon developments, with world-leading industry and academic organisations working in this sector. This in turn has had a positive impact on the number of conferences held in this area. Glasgow is also home to the UK's largest annual renewable energy event, All Energy, which attracts more than 7,000 attendees annually. The Scottish Event Campus (SEC) holds the highest award possible – the Gold Award – for Green Tourism in addition to the OVO Hydro (concert venue) has A Greener Arena (AGA) certification. The campus also provides free city bike hire for delegates. Over 95% of the city's hotel bedrooms, representing more than 7,000 rooms, are within 30 minutes of the SEC and easily accessible by public transport. Moreover, some 53% of Glasgow’s hotels have secured 3rd party green accreditation.

31%

OF HOTEL ROOMS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED

100%

OF VENUES
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED

40%

OF PCOS/DMCS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED

Glasgow, Scotland play host to some of the world’s most prestigious energy businesses and the city is committed to utilising the visitor economy to deliver positive benefit.

INCLUSION SCORE ON SOCIAL PROGESS INDEX

PERSONAL SAFETY SCORE ON SOCIAL PROGESS INDEX

SCORE ON CORRUPTION PERCEPTION INDEX

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