Over the last couple of months, in light of the 2019 UN Climate Action Summit in New York, there's been a lot of talk about climate change and what both governments and individuals should be doing to combat it. We'd like to think that by hosting a summit virtually, you're participating in the global movement towards saving our planet. For starters, there's a lot less waste involved with hosting a summit virtually - no flights, no catering, no paper handouts - plus the added benefit of being able to reach anyone in the world with an Internet connection. But don't just take our word for it, here are some examples that truly highlight the sustainability of hosting virtual summits without compromising on results. 🥶

🌍 Virtual summits: a global revolution

Did you know that in 2018, the Marshall Islands led the world's first global political meeting to be held entirely online? The Virtual Climate Summit, hosted by member states of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, featured leaders from all over the globe including French President Emmanuel Macron and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Just last month, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States held a virtual summit on how island nations can contribute towards the world sustainability movement. With topics ranging from how to deal with waste produced by tourism to how communities can make themselves more resilient to climate change, it sounds like a cause we here at HeySummit could get behind.

We all know that summits are great for sharing expertise, building your brand, networking and building up your subscriber list. We see great potential for HeySummit to be used for academic purposes, too. Virtual summits are leveraging technology to enable the presentation of papers, sharing of ideas and giving of lectures all from the comfort of your own home. Even academics acknowledge this, adding to the growing conversation we're having on the carbon footprint of attending international conferences. One solution - take it online!

👑 Greta: inspiring the world

If you hadn't already heard of Greta Thunberg before the UN Climate Action Summit, we're sure you have now. The 16-year-old climate activist garnered plenty of attention for her ambitious (and quite frankly, awesome) choice of transportation to the summit, forgoing air travel for a two-week sail (without access to a shower or toilet) across the Atlantic. Not only can she talk the talk, she showed she could walk the walk as well, and it's paid off. Due to her contribution - and that of many other activists and campaigners - 1 in 5 passengers across the United States, France, Britain and Germany admitted to cutting down on air travel due to climate concerns.

💻 More inspiration for the eco-conscious summiteer

We are the Weather: Saving the Planet Starts at Breakfast by Jonathan Safran Foer is, in the author's words, an exploration of decisions that our planetary crisis has forced us to make. Described as "little short of brilliant" by the Washington Post and "life-changing" by The Guardian, it serves as a timely reminder that no action is too small in our quest to stop climate change.

Greta isn't the only teen on a mission to save our planet. Check out this speech by Xiuhtezcatl Roske-Martinez, an indigenous climate activist at the opening segment of the 2015 UN General Assembly on Climate Change.

Love what you're reading? Why not have a go at hosting your very own summit- on us. Here's a link to your free trial with HeySummit. While you're at it, watch our awesome live demo! Happy summiting 🏔️

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