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.
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.
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.
Does Uppsala Convention Bureau have a Sustainability Strategy?
Does Uppsala have a sustainable destination certificate?
Does Uppsala Convention Bureau report on its sustainability performance?
Uppsala has high ambitions when it comes to environmental work and strive to accomplish it's main goals in accordance to the environmental and climat plan for 2014-2023. To mention but a few of the goals/ * by 2020 reduce the green house emissions by another 30%, * All renewable and climate neutral heating by 2020, * Solar energy to 30 MW by 2020, * All transportation owned or financed by the city shall be fossile fuled only by 2020, * The citys energy use should be unchanged in year 2020 when compared to the amount in 2014 *100% ecological food by all publicly funded functions in 2023, such as childcare, schools and elderly homes, to name but a few. 100% of the convention centres and 88% of the hotels rooms are eco-certified.
OF ELECTRICITY
FROM RENEWABLES
THE CITY’S
2030 CARBON
REDUCTION TARGET
HECTARES OF GREEN
AREA PER 100 000
POPULATION
Uppsala as one of the founding partner in ICCA Scandinavia Sustainability Index has done quite well in achieving good results and top positions in the ranking. The sustainable work of the local meetings industry is very goal oriented and the Convention Bureau together with it's industry partners work for continous progress and leadership in the matter. We have followed the example of the municipallity in setting high goals for the convention bureau, partners and our common projects. We are most proud of engaging the accual local hosts and meetings ambassadeurs in the work of environmental, social and economical sustainabilty. Together with them we meet up in forums over the year to discuss how we all can help to progress and perform better. We aim to have all major events and congresses certified already in 2017 and we hope to get the industry to involve in social sustainability events over the year to come. 100% of the convention centres and 88% of the hotels rooms are eco-certified.
OF HOTEL ROOMS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF VENUES
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF PCOS/DMCS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
Uppsala has over the last year started to work with local partners of social sustainability programs and to communicate towards local meeting planners and meeting hosts to set an example and act upon supporting local initiatives when organising their meetings and events. We arrange sustainability forums for the hosts to meet with local charities and social projects and we send out a quarterly newsletter to the about 550 local hosts at the universities, the university hospital, the municipallity and other local associations representatives with more information and contact details.
The GDS-Movement is a pioneering, data-driven international change agency that acts to catalyse socio-economic and environmental transformation in cities and regions across the world. Our mission is to empower tourism and events professionals with the mindsets, skill sets, and toolsets to co-create more regenerative and resilient destinations to visit, meet, and live in.
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