Sustainability is at the heart of the PRI's values  

We acknowledge that our annual conference has the potential to impact the environment and people both on-site and throughout supply chains, and as such we have a duty to proactively manage this.

PRI in Person 2024 will 'walk the talk' by managing the social and environmental impact of the event in a way that’s consistent with the mission of the PRI and the ESG issues discussed across our agenda.  

We aim to: 

• Minimise carbon emissions and other environmental impacts
• Reduce negative social impact of goods and services offered
• Make a positive contribution to sustainability and contribute to the local economy of the city

Central to this approach has been selecting the award-winning Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) as our conference venue:

• The MTCC redirects 90% of event waste from landfill by recycling and donating food and materials to local charities. The centre’s charity partners, include Scott Mission, Margaret’s Housing and Community Support Services and the Toronto District School Board’s student nutrition programme support the most vulnerable in Toronto. In an average year, the venue diverts the equivalent of 35 garbage trucks of waste from landfill.
• Additional sustainable practices at the MTCC include the upkeep of rooftop beehives, a rooftop Chef’s Garden, and a local food programme. Approximately 65% of all food and beverage items procured by the facility are locally sourced.
• The buildings’ electrical consumption and GHG emissions are reduced by initiatives including the use of energy efficient LED lighting, and unique Deep Lake Water Cooling system.

At PRI in Person 2024 we are further reducing our environmental impact by:

• Opting for exclusively vegan and vegetarian in-venue catering.
• Minimising paper usage and utilising recycled and /or recyclable materials for items such as lanyards.
• Removing product giveaways such as tote bags and water bottles from our sponsorship suite.

The evening reception will take place at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) which is a cultural sector leader in the advancement of environmental research and public discourse:

• In 2021, the Museum announced the appointment of environmental scientist and researcher Dr. Soren Brothers as the inaugural Allan and Helaine Shiff Curator of Climate Change. With the threat of the climate crisis reaching new levels of urgency, this position—the first role of its kind at a major museum—signals ROM’s intention to play a greater role advancing the science of climate change, biodiversity and conservation, and deepening public engagement on these vital topics.

Our approach to social sustainability is supported by organisational procurement, human rights, DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) and climate change policies.

• Our criteria for selecting venues and suppliers includes review to ensure their operations are in line with relevant laws and guidelines, including but not limited to human rights, environmental, and employment.
• We are committed to providing a platform for a diverse range of speakers across the RI ecosystem, representing the global composition of our signatory base.  
• We will not convene any all-male panels and will actively seek diversity among speakers at PRI in Person, including (but not limited to) gender identity, race/ethnicity, and persons with disabilities.   
• We have selected a fully accessible venue for PRI in Person and intend to support content accessibility through the use of closed captions.  
• We are working with stakeholders through our 'Local Action Forum' to ensure the event is reflective and respectful of local context.  
• We are mindful that PRI in Person 2024 is taking place on land that is the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. Land acknowledgments will feature across PRI in Person content and at the event itself.