illuminem guide to the sustainability events you cannot miss in 2024

👉 See The unmissable sustainability events of 2025 or continue below to read the events of 2024.

As the leading platform for sustainability information & data, illuminem is delighted to present a comprehensive list of the “must-attend'' sustainability events of 2024.

Events recommended by illuminem are marked with the ⭐ symbol.

November 

5-7 November | Smart Cities Convention | Barcelona, Spain 🇪🇸
Main focus: Green Tech 🚀, Sustainable Living 🏡 
Description: One of the world’s biggest and most influential event on urban innovation. We connect leaders from global companies, governments and organizations to move cities towards a better future

⭐ 6 November | The Conduit Green Economy Forum: Financing the Green Transition | London, UK 🇬🇧
Main focus: Social Responsibility 🤝, Net Zero 🌿
Description: The transition to a greener economy will require a diverse range of skills and expertise, making it an exciting area of growth and innovation. The event will address economic inequality and how the green agenda is tied to social and economcarbonic equality. 

11-14 November | WebSummit | Lisbon, Portugal 🇵🇹
Main focus: Green Tech 🚀, Net Zero 🌿
Description: An event gathering policymakers, heads of state, and the founders and CEOs of technology companies and fast-growing startups, to ask a simple question: Where to next?

⭐ 11-22 November | COP29: UN Climate Change Conference | Baku, Azerbajian 🇦🇿  
Main focus: Climate Change 🌳, Environmental Sustainability 🌍 
Description: A global event where representatives from various nations, along with experts, NGOs, and other stakeholders, gather to review progress, set goals, and establish agreements to mitigate climate impacts

13-15 November | Energy Oceania | Melbourne, Australia 🇦🇺
Main focus: Energy 💡, Renewable Energy 🔋
Description: The event assembles global experts, including scientists, policymakers, and business leaders, for a comprehensive dialogue on clean energy innovations, featuring a dynamic agenda of debates and technology showcases

16 November | COP16 and New Directions: Nature, Carbon, and Biodiversity | Online
Main focus: Carbon 🌫️, Net Zero 🌿
Description: This webinar is organized by illuminem and Green Future Project. It is designed for professionals seeking exclusive insights into COP16 and nature-based solutions

⭐ 27-28 November | London Climate Tech Show | London, UK 🇬🇧 
Main focus: Greentech 🚀
Description: The London Climate Technology Show is the UK's largest exhibition & conference focused on the fast-developing climate technology value chain

December 

2-4 December | Global Carbon Market Conference | Barcelona, Spain 🇪🇸
Main focus: Carbon 🌫️
Description: This conference is hosted by S&P Global for thought leaders and decision makers in the carbon market. Discussions will be be centered on integrity and quality as the carbon market is poised for exponential growth in the coming years

10 December | EU Level(s) conference for buildings professionals committed to sustainability | Online
Main focus: Sustainable living 🏡
Description: An online conference hosted by the European Commission. It is aimed at exploring Level(s) in the building section,  with focus on the EU common language for assessing and measuring the sustainability performance of buildings

January 2025

⭐ 14-16 January | World Future Energy | Abu Dhabi, UAE 🇦🇪
Main focus: Renewable Energy 🔋
Description: The World Future Energy Summit is a leading event for future energy solutions, covering clean energy, water, smart cities, and eco-waste

15-19 January | World Economic Forum Annual Meeting | Davos, Switzerland 🇨🇭
Main focus: Ethical Governance 🏛️, Social Responsibility 🤝, Sustainable Business 💼
Description: This influential summit fosters collaboration, gathering leaders from across governments, businesses, and civil society to tackle worldwide challenges and build a more resilient and inclusive future

23-25 January | International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability | Miami, USA 🇺🇸 
Main focus: ESG 🌿,  Sustainable Lifestyle 🍃
Description: The conference is organized by Sustainability Research Network, united by a common concern for sustainability from a holistic perspective, where environmental, cultural, economic, and social interests intersect

27-29 January | Cleantech Forum North America | California, USA 🇺🇸 
Main focus: Greentech 🚀
Description: This forum presents an opportunity to connect with innovators in the cleantech sector, highlighting emerging technologies in energy storage, sustainable agriculture, and water management sectors

February 2025

⭐ 10-11 February | World ESG Summit | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  🇸🇦
Main focus: ESG 🌿
Description: The World ESG Summit is a two-day event bringing together global leaders, industry experts, and stakeholders committed to advancing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, with focus on carbon management strategies, advancements in climate technology, and sustainability challenges facing urban development

10-12 February | GreenBiz 25 | Phoenix Arizona, USA 🇺🇸
Main focus: Ethical Governance 🏛️, Sustainable Business 💼
Description: GreenBiz 25 is an event for sustainability professionals to explore decarbonization, supply chains, and regenerative nature strategies

11-13 February | Globe x Change | Toronto, Canada 🇨🇦
Main focus: Ethical Governance 🏛️, Sustainable Business 💼
Description: GLOBExCHANGE is a forum that empowers North America’s premier community of climate and sustainability leaders, decision makers, and innovators to accelerate actions that benefit their own organizations, our economy, and our planet

Keep an eye on this page, as we will continue to update this calendar with new, unmissable events. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our free newsletters for a quick recap of these updates.

Contact us if you want to suggest an event for this guide, and partner with us to be featured alongside Thought Leaders (the world's largest sustainability expert network) and engage with a vibrant community of 500,000+ sustainability professionals.

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Past events

13-14 May | CSO Leadership Forum | Basel, Switzerland 🇨🇭
Main focus: Ethical Governance 🏛️, Sustainable Business 💼
Description: A 1,5 day-long event for 100+ CSOs and sustainability leaders to come together, learn from each other, exchange insights and strengthen their connections. Workshops, panels and keynotes, will offer a valuable chance to network and get inspired by like-minded peers across industries

15-17 May | GreenTech Festival | Berlin, Germany 🇩🇪
Main focus: Green Tech 🚀, Energy💡, Sustainable Business 💼
Description: An event providing an inspiring space for people, ideas, innovations, companies, and organizations to discuss the challenges and opportunities on the mission to net zero

⭐ 21 May | Adapt Unbound USA | New York, USA 🇺🇸 
Main focus: Sustainable Business 💼, Net Zero 🌿
Description: Over 250 leaders and visionaries will convene in NYC to share actionable insights, scale innovative solutions and unlock the critical capital needed to adapt our urban and natural environments to the changing climate

⭐ 21-23 May | Carbon Unbound USA | New York, USA 🇺🇸 
Main focus: Carbon 🌫️, 
Description: An event convening 400 business leaders, investors, buyers and policy makers in New York to discuss the future of carbon removal

23 May | Young Innovator Awards | London, UK 🇬🇧
Main focus: Social Responsibility 🤝, Net Zero 🌿
Description: An event hosting in-depth discussion and idea-generation on societal issues that our community and partners are passionate about – from changing the discourse around Refugees to leveraging AI for net zero

3-4 June | Carbon Capture Summit | Amsterdam, The Netherlands 🇳🇱
Main focus:  Carbon 🌫️,  CCS 𖣘
Description: An event gathering industry leaders in Amsterdam to explore next-generation technologies for carbon capture, utilization, storage, and transportation to meet net-zero emissions targets

4-5 June | Ecosummit Berlin | Berlin, Germany 🇩🇪
Main focus:  Green Tech 🚀, Net Zero 🌿
Description: The marketplace for startups and investors to decarbonise the economy and save the climate. Accelerating smart green startups and investors in climate tech, energy, mobility and cities

22-25 May | Vivatech | Paris, France 🇫🇷
Main focus: Green Tech 🚀, Sustainable Business 💼
Description: An event crafted to catalyze innovation by fostering connections among burgeoning startups, visionary tech leaders, influential corporations, and astute investors, all united in addressing the paramount challenges facing our world

27-29 May | Lisbon Energy Summit | Lisbon, Portugal 🇵🇹
Main focus: Energy💡, Energy Transition ⚡, Net Zero 🌿
Description: The Lisbon Energy Summit is an energy transition event focusing on balancing energy security and achieving net zero ambitions, the decarbonisation of existing energy systems and investing in new renewable energy sources

30-31 May | AI for Good Global Summit | Geneva, Switzerland 🇨🇭
Main focus:  Sustainable Business 💼,  Ethical Governance 🏛️
Description: An action-oriented United Nations platform promoting AI to advance health, climate, gender, inclusive prosperity, sustainable infrastructure, and other global development priorities, featuring renowned speakers, such as António Guterres (UN Secretary-General) and Sam Altman (OpenAI)

3-13 Jun | June UN Climate Meetings (SB 60) | Bonn, Germany 🇩🇪
Main focus: Climate Change 🌳, Environmental Sustainability 🌍 
Description: A gathering of the Representatives from Subsidiary Bodies (SB), the permanent arms of the UN Climate Convention to strategize for the upcoming COP29. This meeting serves as a critical nexus for aligning global climate objectives with actionable policies

5-7 June | Key Notion Sustainability World Summit | Frankfurt, Germany 🇩🇪
Main focus:  Green Tech 🚀, Net Zero 🌿
Description: A pivotal moment where discussion on environmental urgency will intersect with panels on technological progress, driving a significant transformation in Sustainability

5-7 June | South Summit | Madrid, Spain 🇪🇸 
Main focus: Sustainable Business 💼, Net Zero 🌿
Description: Gather with industry leaders, innovators, and visionaries at an event designed to ignite progress and foster business growth through collaborative strategies. Join forces with key players to cultivate a mindset of collaboration that drives innovation and propels businesses forward

9-10 June | Turing Fest | Edinburgh, Scotland 🇬🇧
Main focus: Green Tech 🚀, Sustainable Business 💼
Description: An event connecting founders and leaders in engineering, product, & growth to build better tech. The conference features industry experts sharing practical insight into the art and science of building and scaling technology and tech businesses

11th June 2024 | 2024 Top Tier Impact Summit: Nature & Biodiversity Investing | London, UK 🇬🇧
Main focus: Green Tech 🚀, Sustainable Business 💼
Description: The summit’s goal is to accelerate the mainstream adoption of impact & sustainability by connecting the most action-driven, results-oriented impact leaders globally to accelerate their own success 

13-14 June | Hack Summit | Lausanne, Switzerland 🇨🇭
Main focus: Green Tech 🚀, Sustainable Food 🥗
Description: An event gathering Climate and Food Builders, Investors and Limited Partners for two days of networking and deal-making

19-21 June | Asia Climate Forum 2024 | Singapore 🇸🇬 
Main focus: Green Tech 🚀, Sustainable Business 💼, Net Zero 🌿 
Description: A global platform dedicated to fostering dialogue and collaboration on climate change issues. The event brings together government officials, private sector representatives, researchers, and key stakeholders to share ideas and expertise on how to build resilience and mitigate climate-related hazards

20-21 June | TNW Conference | Amsterdam, The Netherlands 🇳🇱 
Main focus: Sustainable Business 💼, Ethical Governance 🏛️ 
Description: The conference sets out to inform and connect tech with present and future challenges through the aid of international industry leaders, policymakers, startups and investors to come together

22-26 June | Future Horizon | Tuscany, Italy 🇮🇹
Main focus: Net Zero 🌿, Sustainable Business 💼
Description: A conference where visionaries and changemakers unite to conceptualize, develop, and honor a regenerative future, fostering a collaborative platform for transformative ideas and sustainable growth

⭐ 22-30 June | London Climate Action Week | London, UK 🇬🇧
Main focus: Green Tech 🚀, Net Zero 🌿
Description: The annual event brings together the city's world-leading array of climate professionals and communities. LCAW creates space for participants to come together and find global solutions to climate change. The week-long event is for everyone, creating space for both those inside and outside the climate world to present London's action on climate change to a global audience

⭐ 25-26 June | Reset Connect | London, UK 🇬🇧
Main focus: Sustainable Business 💼, Ethical Governance 🏛️
Description: Reset Connect London bridges the gap between sustainability professionals, large corporations, government leaders, policymakers, tech providers, innovators, purpose-led brands and entrepreneurs

26-27 June | World Bio Markets | The Hague, The Netherlands 🇳🇱
Main focus: Sustainable Food 🥗, Sustainable Lifestyle 🍃
Description: The World Bio Markets conference will connect over 450 bioeconomy leaders with a two-day program of pre-arranged commercial meetings, knowledge exchange, and networking opportunities to accelerate the transition to a fossil-free economy. The event connects and generates deal flow between bio-developers and producers, global brands and buyers, investors and financiers, community enablers and suppliers

27 June | Climate Innovation Forum | London, UK 🇬🇧
Main focus: Sustainable Business 💼, Ethical Governance 🏛️
Description: The event will bring together over 1,000 business leaders, policymakers, investors and civil society representatives to accelerate the speed and scale of our collective efforts in driving climate action. The Forum will focus on translating promises into tangible actions midway between COPs, harnessing the power of London as a leading global climate hub

9-11 July | Advancing Ocean CDR Summit | Boston, USA 🇺🇸
Main focus: Carbon 🌫️, Net Zero 🌿 
Description: The definitive summit aimed at uniting project developers, policymakers and business leaders to discuss the huge opportunities presented by ocean-based carbon solutions

19-20 July | illuminem Celebrations & Redentore Festival | Venice, Italy 🇮🇹
Main focus: Sustainable Business 💼, Green Tech 🚀
Description: A two-day celebration marking Illuminem's successful first financing round and significant milestones. The event will also coincide with Venice's famous Redentore Festival, offering a blend of professional gatherings and local festivities

2-4 September | Terra Tuscany | Tuscany, Italy 🇮🇹
Main focus: Net Zero 🌿, Sustainable Business 💼
Description: A 3-day offsite for an intimate group of world-class speakers and Chief Sustainability Officers to discuss the future of corporate climate action, powered by illuminem.

4 September | CDR Copenhagen | Copenaghen, Denmark 🇩🇰
Main focus: Carbon 🌫️, Net Zero 🌿 
Description: An event bringing together global CDR leaders

4-5 September | GTF Connect | London, UK 🇬🇧
Main focus: Green Tech 🚀, Net Zero 🌿 
Description: A global platform empowering changemakers and fostering innovative green technologies, featuring discussions on the mission to net zero, top exhibitors, and a star-studded awards ceremony. This event is part of a pioneering extended festival concept across major cities, dedicated to driving a greener future

8-12 September | Sdewes | Rome, Italy 🇮🇹
Main focus: Environmental Sustainability 🌍, Energy💡
Description: A multi-day conference dedicated to advancing sustainable development in energy, water, and environmental systems, showcasing solutions and policies that support global sustainable growth

10-11 September | Sustainability Live London | London, UK 🇬🇧
Main focus: Sustainable Business 💼, Environmental Sustainability 🌍
Description: An event gathering internationally acclaimed business leaders sharing valuable knowledge and real-world experience to accelerate efforts in cutting emissions and enhancing environmental footprint 

⭐ 11-12 September | Carbon Unbound Europe | London, UK 🇬🇧
Main focus: Carbon 🌫️
Description: A gathering of 400 influential figures, including business leaders, scientists, investors, buyers, policymakers, and advocates. Their collective mission: to tackle the monumental task of removing gigaton-scale CO2 emissions from Earth's atmosphere

12-13 September | ReThink | Hong Kong 🇭🇰
Main focus: Energy💡, Net Zero 🌿, Sustainable Business 💼
Description: A two-day conference and expo demonstrating the business case for a just and sustainable transition, supported by real solutions that will accelerate Hong Kong towards a more resilient and sustainable future

17 September | The Drop | Malmö, Sweden 🇸🇪
Main focus: Green Tech 🚀, Net Zero 🌿
Description: Join Europe's premier climate tech festival, a convergence point for over a thousand carefully selected attendees hailing from diverse corners of the globe. Experience a dynamic gathering uniting thought leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts passionate about shaping a sustainable future

19 September | The Conduit Live Future of Work: Green Jobs Summit | London, UK 🇬🇧
Main focus: Net Zero 🌿, Sustainable Business 💼
Description: Bridging the gap in financing the green transition requires a multifaceted approach. It requires a combination of government support, private sector involvement, technological innovations, international cooperation, and the active participation of financial institutions. The event will bring together all these actors to partner for greater impact  

24-26 September | Gulfood | Dubai, United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪
Main focus: Sustainable Food 🥗, Sustainable Lifestyle 🍃
Description: A global exhibition and summit dedicated to promoting healthier and sustainable food systems - presenting fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, plant-based/alternative proteins, functional foods/health and wellness, organic produce, and groundbreaking sustainable and commercially scalable technologies protecting food, preventing loss and waste, and positively impacting people and the planet

⭐ 22-29 September | NY Climate Week | New York, USA 🇺🇸
Main focus: Sustainable Business 💼, Energy💡, Net Zero 🌿
Description: Climate Week NYC is the largest annual climate event of its kind, bringing together over 500 events and activities. Business leaders, political change makers, local decision-takers and civil society representatives from all over the world, will gather to drive the transition, speed up progress, and champion change that is already happening

30 September–1 October | Sustainability Europe 2024 | London, UK 🇬🇧
Main focus: Sustainable Business 💼, Carbon 🌫️
Description: A premier summit and global broadcast event bringing together over 500 leaders from government, corporate, and finance sectors to navigate new regulations, inform future strategies, and drive real climate action in Europe’s transition to a low carbon economy

7-8 October | Sustainability Week Amsterdam | Amsterdam, The Netherlands 🇳🇱
Main focus: Sustainable Business 💼, Energy 💡
Description: This year’s climate-change conference is an opportunity for European businesses to enter a new era of collaboration with the East. The event will offer a unique chance to share recommendations with fellow business leaders before the conference begins

⭐ 13-16 October | Gitex Impact | Dubai, United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪
Main focus: Green Tech 🚀, Sustainable Business 💼
Description: The global epicenter of climate-tech, sustainability, and ESG innovation bringing together global exhibitors, industry expertise, cutting-edge tech, Impact investors, and a vibrant community

14-18 October | SOSV Climate Tech Summit | Online
Main focus: Green tech 🚀, Carbon 🌫️
Description: A live, virtual  event that brings together founders, investors, policymakers, and media to tackle the challenges of decarbonizing our economy

⭐ 15 October | Wall Street Green Summit | Online
Main focus: Green Tech 🚀, Sustainable Business 💼
Description: A 12-hour-long, marathon worldwide summit that brings practitioners, investors, and the green-thinking startup community from all over the world to convene through the magic of virtual

16-17 October | The Business Booster | Barcelona, Spain 🇪🇸
Main focus: Green tech 🚀, Energy💡
Description: A two-day international networking event that showcases 150+ sustainable energy technologies under one roof. Discover groundbreaking innovations, forge valuable connections, and delve into the forefront of sustainable energy solutions, all within a dynamic showcase of global ingenuity

22-23 October | NetZero Festival | London, UK 🇬🇧
Main focus: Net Zero 🌿, Energy💡
Description: An invaluable opportunity to celebrate and showcase the best of the UK’s vibrant net-zero economy in what is set to be a pivotal year for the country’s decarbonisation efforts

24-15 October | Sustainability Week Africa | Cape Town, South Africa 🇿🇦
Main focus: Sustainable Business 💼
Description: A two-day conference aimed at accelerating the continent's sustainability through business-led initiatives that will bring together pan-African and global leaders to drive actionable solutions against climate change

29-31 October | VERGE 24 | San Jose, United States 🇺🇸
Main focus: Green Tech 🚀, Net Zero 🌿
Description: A gathering of industry leaders committed to transformative change through decarbonization, showcasing emerging trends and technologies to expedite sustainable business practices and global environmental impact

30-31 October | IMPACT Festival | Frankfurt, Germany 🇩🇪
Main focus: Green Tech 🚀, Net Zero 🌿
Description: Bridge GreenTech startups & SMEs with corporate sustainability managers and investors to foster innovative collaborations for sustainable solutions

21 October - 1 November | UN Biodiversity Conference | Cali, Colombia 🇨🇴
Main focus: Environmental Sustainability 🌍 
Description: The Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 16) will bring together global leaders to review and advance the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The event will focus on aligning national strategies with the Framework and advancing resource mobilisation, emphasising the critical role of biodiversity in global sustainability efforts