AFEA Congress lays the foundations for a sustainable congress ecosystem in Greece through its participation in the fuTOURiSME program

In the framework of its participation in the fuTOURiSME program, AFEA Congress conducted a detailed environmental footprint assessment of large-scale events during the 34th Panhellenic Pulmonology Congress.

The MICE-VISION project constitutes a strategic initiative with the aim to upgrade congress and event organizing services through the integration of sustainable practices and digital tools.

AFEA Congress, announces its participation in the European fuTOURiSME program with the implementation of the MICE-VISION project, becoming the first Professional Congress Organizer (PCO) in Greece to join the program.

Co-funded by the European Union, the fuTOURiSME program aims to enhance innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation for small and medium-sized tourism enterprises (SMEs) in Europe. The MICE-VISION project is a strategic initiative aiming at upgrading congress and event organizing services by integrating sustainable practices and digital tools, with the ultimate goal of providing certified services for sustainable congresses. The central pillar of the MICE-VISION project is the systematic integration of sustainability into operational processes and event workflows, as well as the utilization of digital solutions that enhance transparency, efficiency, and environmental footprint measurement. At the same time, the project supports the alignment of AFEA Congress with the international GSTC-MICE standard, accelerating its progress towards becoming a certified sustainable Professional Congress Organizer through a rigorous audit by an independent accredited body.

Within the framework of the fuTOURiSME program and the ΜICE-VISION project, AFEA Congress proceeded with the detailed measurement and offsetting of the environmental footprint of the 34th Panhellenic Pulmonology Congress, thus turning sustainability theory into measurable results. The event took place in December 2025 at the Divani Caravel Hotel in Athens, with the support of GREEN EVOLUTION S.A., a specialized carbon accounting consultancy.

The environmental assessment of the Congress turned its total footprint into
measurable data:

- Total carbon footprint for over 1,000 participants and 22 exhibition booths: 319.44 t
CO₂eq
- Average footprint per participant: 289 kg CO₂eq
- Average water consumption per participant: 1,139 lt

- Average waste production per participant: 8.2 kg

The analysis also recorded the primary sources of environmental impact (including the event venue), with participant travel, accommodation, and exhibition structures accounting for the largest share of the total footprint. These findings highlight the areas where targeted reduction actions can be implemented in the future, using this year's Congress as a baseline.

Stelios Loukides, President of the Hellenic Thoracic Society, Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, said: “The Hellenic Thoracic Society is deeply committed to environmental protection. In 2026, we are focusing on the prevention of chronic respiratory diseases through various interventions, many of which concern the environment. Scientific congresses are not merely venues for exchanging scientific views; as we have demonstrated in recent years, they are also platforms for raising awareness on broader social issues. Quantifying the environmental impact of our congresses through carbon footprint provides us with the opportunity to implement targeted actions and reduce this impact for our next Panhellenic Pulmonology Congress. ”

This initiative marks a substantial step towards the implementation of measurable and documented sustainability within the Greek scientific congress sector, moving the conversation from theory to practice. In line with this philosophy, AFEA Congress invests in practices that not only enhance its own services but also contribute more broadly to the transition of the Greek congress market towards a more sustainable,
responsible, and competitive congress ecosystem, aligned with European priorities for the green and digital transition.

As Mrs. Dimitra Lignou, Vice President and CEO of AFEA Congress, points out, the company’s participation in the fuTOURiSME program and the implementation of the MICE-VISION project "further strengthen our strategic commitment to sustainability and innovation. By measuring the environmental footprint of large-scale congresses and adopting international standards for sustainable organizer and event certification, we are consistently working towards a more responsible and competitive congress ecosystem in Greece.”