As individuals and as a community, we can and should individually contribute to protecting the earth and its natural systems and resources and to sustaining the natural ecological balance of the ecosystem. Here is what we encourage you to do during the ESPID Meeting:

• Use the mobile app and the virtual platform (instead of printing) to inquire about the programme details
• Use more sustainable ways of traveling to and around Copenhagen (take the train instead of a flight; ride a bike or walk instead of taxi)
• Reduce the waste you generate and separate disposal
• Do not print booking confirmations and boarding passes; instead, provide digital copies of these documents.
• Provide an alternative to business cards – QR codes to LinkedIn or e-card
• Opt for reusable mugs and bottles

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 2024:

• 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 nondiscrimination and equality for committee members, presenters, and invited speakers.

What we are doing in 2024:

• Aim for and monitor gender equality and nondiscrimination 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 2024:

• The Bella Center in Copenhagen encourages sustainable practices, with a constant focus on reducing consumption and utilising everything to the fullest. Their waste is turned into furniture, their rooftops into green powerhouses and leftovers into biogas
• Thousands of bees living by Bella Center and AC Bella Sky produce their own honey. The bees are looked after by ByBi, who recruit their beekeepers among refugees, the long-term unemployed and the homeless
• The ESPID 2024 Meeting will take place in Copenhagen which is considered one of the most sustainable cities in the world. It is home to 546km of bike paths, a fleet of electric harbour ferries and the majority of the hotel rooms around town are eco-certified
• 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

Official SDG website: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment