ESPID and the Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs, also called the Global Goals) are 17 goals with 169 targets that all UN Member States have agreed to work toward achieving by 2030. They set out a plan for a world without poverty, hunger, and disease.
We at ESPID want to contribute to the achievement of these objectives in our value chain. We support and work toward the following SDGs:
Sustainable Travel
Use more sustainable ways of traveling to and around Bologna (take the train or bus instead of a flight; walk instead of taxi)
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
We are introducing several dedicated initiatives aimed to promote a healthy lifestyle, while enjoying being together with the community during ESPID 2026.
What we are doing in 2026:
- Meatless, healthy lunch and coffee breaks on Friday 5th of June
- Walking will be encouraged with a step counter on the congress app
- Engaging well-being sessions during breaks with a dedicated instructor
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Our top priority is to make high-quality education available to our community. Our goals include eliminating educational gaps between genders; providing more accessible conference options; and enhancing the quality of the scientific programme.
What we are doing in 2025:
- Sessions On Demand – The recorded ESPID sessions are available to all participants for 3 months after the conference dates, allowing attendees to catch up on any learnings they missed during the Meeting, or re-watch important presentations and discussions.
- Awards Supporting Participation – We provide opportunities for waived Conference registration and additional financial support towards attendance.
- Interactive Meet-the-Expert Sessions with audience participation (voting, etc.) and presentation of a case series.
- Presentations of clinical and laboratory findings from applied research that encourage audience participation
- Special keynote presentations delivered by a large number of internationally renowned experts covering the full spectrum of paediatric infectious diseases.
- Virtual Conference Alternative – Although we are preparing a true celebration of the community, with lots of learning and networking opportunities for everyone joining us in Copenhagen, we are aware that not everyone can afford to travel and take full advantage of ESPID. Therefore, we introduced the more accessible virtual alternative, where everyone can be part of the conference – at lower rates, from wherever they are in the world.
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
We ensure non-discrimination and equality for committee members, presenters, and invited speakers.
What we are doing in 2026:
- Aim for and monitor gender equality and non-discrimination among our delegates, presenters, and committee members.
- Make our meeting a welcoming, inclusive space for people of all ages, genders, and abilities.
- Promote more women in committee positions related to the event.
- Create a programme that features diverse topics and speakers from various backgrounds and experiences.
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable
We recognise the importance of developing urban economic and cultural centres in a way that promotes the well-being of all inhabitants while minimising environmental impact, to ensure a high quality of life for present and future generations. We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all participants.
What we are doing in 2026:
- The ESPID 2026 Meeting will take place in Bologna and we would like to support the city with the various initiatives – more information to follow.
- Reduced registration fees for low-resource countries
- Gender diverse and balanced faculty to ensure inclusivity and diverse perspectives
- Creating a welcoming and accepting environment for all participants, regardless of sex, gender, nationality, race, color, age, or physical disability
| 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Carbon emissions / footprint reduced 2025 vs 2024 | Reduction of tCO2 in % 2025 vs 2024 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Carbon Footprint | 3,488.59 tCO2 | 3,096.27 tCO2 | 2,635.28 tCO2 | Yes | 15% |
| Avg Carbon Footprint per attendee | 917.08 kgCO2 | 1021.87 kgCO2 | 830.01 kgCO2 | Yes | 18% |
| Total Waste Footprint | 6.70 tons | 4.31 tons | 4.14 tons | Yes | 4% |
| Travel Footprint | 3,395.83 tCO2 | 2,897.07 tCO2 | 2,472.23 tCO2 | Yes | 14% |
| CO2 equivalent to cars | 1,744 cars | 1,548 cars | 1,317 cars | Yes | 15% |
| Carbon sequestered by tree seedlings | 17,443 trees | 15,481 trees | 13,176 trees | Yes | 15% |
*Please note that there were 3812 participants (in-person and virtual) in 2023, and 3033 (in-person and virtual) in 2024.
The largest impact on per attendee footprint is mostly due to travel, as there was a significant reduction in all other categories, especially waste.
Sustainability at the Bologna Palazzo dei Congressi
All the rooms are equipped for the separate collection, so as to facilitate the disposal of the same in view of a necessary eco-sustainability. In case of events with catering, we involve external partners who only use compostable and disposable tableware.
Food for Good
Food surpluses are not thrown away but used, thanks to the partnership with the Food for Good project. In cooperation with Banco Alimentare and Equo Evento, the recovered food is delivered to charities (family homes, soup kitchens and refugee centres).
