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.
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.
Business Events Adelaide leads the destination’s sustainability program, harnessing the efforts of its members, partners, state and local government stakeholders in a coordinated Team Adelaide response. Consistently ranked highly in ‘world most liveable city’ surveys – ‘The Economist’ placed it 11th in 2024 - Adelaide is the world’s only city in a park, encircled by 760ha of parklands. as well as being the southern hemisphere’s first National Park City. Adelaide is culturally diverse, vibrant, safe and welcoming. It is compact, but its broad flat streets make it feel spacious. Visitors love how close everything is – 15 minutes separates the airport from the CBD, and the Adelaide Convention Centre is within a 5-minute walk of more than 7,000 luxury hotel rooms. The rest of the city is just as easily navigable on foot or by free (electric) public transport.
Does Business Events Adelaide have a Sustainability Strategy?
Does Adelaide have a sustainable destination certificate?
Does Business Events Adelaide report on its sustainability performance?
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change are important focuses for the Government of South Australia. In May 2022, South Australia declared a climate emergency and committed to restoring a safe climate by transforming the economy to net zero emissions. South Australia has targets to: -reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 60% by 2030 - achieve net zero emissions by 2050 - achieve 100% net renewable electricity generation by 2027. The government is delivering a range of actions to progress towards these targets and strengthen South Australia’s climate change adaptation response. Our capital city is leading the way, with the City of Adelaide becoming the first council in South Australia to use 100% renewable electricity in all its operations, including the historic Adelaide Town Hall, community buildings, electric vehicle chargers, street lighting and traffic lights. All this energy, generated by wind and solar. It is not just in renewable energy that SA is demonstrating leadership. It has an impressive list of firsts when it comes to avoiding waste and landfill too. - SA was the first state to introduce deposits on beverage containers. - The first to ban lightweight plastic bags. - Legislation banning the sale, supply and distribution of single-use plastics, came into effect from 1 March 2021, and was the first of its kind in Australia. - This was expanded in 2022 to include polystyrene cups, bowls, plates and containers, with further amendments planned for 2025.
OF ELECTRICITY
FROM RENEWABLES
THE CITY’S
2030 CARBON
REDUCTION TARGET
HECTARES OF GREEN
AREA PER 100 000
POPULATION
Adelaide’s business event’s partners play their part in ensuring the destination achieves its sustainability goals. In October 2023, the Adelaide Convention Centre was announced as the world’s first convention centre to achieve EarthCheck’s coveted Master certification. This milestone achievement reflects a 15-year commitment to best practice in business and environmental sustainability, reaffirming the Centre’s global leadership at a time when sustainability has emerged as a major consideration for organisers in the business events industry. Adelaide Airport, the major gateway to South Australia with approximately 7 million passengers a year, is committed to minimising its environmental footprint and achieving 100% regulatory compliance whilst being an industry leader in environmental sustainability. In 2024, Adelaide Airport became the first major airport in Australia to reach carbon neutrality. All of Adelaide Airport’s electricity comes from renewable sources generated by a combination of on-site solar and wind farms in South Australia. Other recent Adelaide Airport initiatives have included working to accelerate the transition of the industry to sustainable aviation fuels, upgrading lighting including LED across its terminal and runways precincts, and optimising plant and equipment to reduce energy usage and emissions.
OF HOTEL ROOMS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF VENUES
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
OF PCOS/DMCS
SUSTAINABILITY
CERTIFIED
Adelaide / Tarntanya is the Capital City and the civic and cultural heart of South Australia. It is the traditional Country of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains, and their continuous culture, custodianship, and relationship with the land is respected and honoured. Adelaide is unique in its design as the world’s only city surrounded by Park Lands resulting from the vision of the Surveyor General of South Australia, Colonel William Light, and the community has a proud history of advocating for the protection of the city’s distinctive heritage and cultural assets. Adelaide was founded on ideas of social and political freedom and has been shaped by the diverse cultures and communities it has welcomed over generations. A University city and innovation hub, it attracts global talent, investment and new industries as one of Australia’s most competitive places to do business. Renowned for its hospitality, with exceptional food and wine, world-class festivals, centres of creative excellence, art and cultural attractions and collections, Adelaide is home to one of the largest undercover fresh produce markets in the Southern Hemisphere, is one of 10 Wine Capitals of the World, is Australia’s Festival Capital and the nation’s first and only, UNESCO City of Music. The four pillars of the City of Adelaide Strategic Plan 2024-2028 are: - Building a vibrant, connected and inclusive COMMUNITY - Creating a resilient, protected and sustainable ENVIRONMENT - Growing and developing an innovative and responsive ECONOMY - Creating interesting, purposeful and safe PLACES.
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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