PCMA LAUNCHES INAUGURAL C4C GLOBAL AWARDS TO SPOTLIGHT INNOVATION IN SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS EVENTS

FRANKFURT, GERMANY — Sherrif Karamat, CAE, President & CEO, PCMA and CEMA today announced the inaugural Convene 4 Climate (C4C) Global Awards, a global competition designed to recognize and elevate real-world solutions driving sustainable transformation across the business events industry. The competition was revealed during the 4^th Global Forum of National Convention Bureaux on the eve of IMEX Frankfurt.

More than an accolade, the C4C Global Awards create a platform for leadership, collaboration, and legacy — spotlighting those setting new benchmarks and turning business events into a powerful driver of sustainable change. The awards celebrate bold innovators, organizations, and leaders who are redefining how events are designed, delivered, and experienced to create lasting social and environmental impact.

Karamat noted, “The C4C Global Awards are about more than recognition — they are about elevating solutions that are critical to reshaping and protecting the future of the global business events industry. We are calling on changemakers who are moving beyond promises to bold, practical approaches that can be scaled, replicated, and embedded across business events worldwide to deliver real, measurable impact.”

The submission process is complimentary and will remain open through June 30, 2026.

Award categories include:

• The Human Impact Award — honoring organizations that have redesigned the human element of events through neuro-inclusive design, behavioral innovation, or community-centered hosting models that create measurable shifts in attendee mindsets.
• The Technology for Climate Award — recognizing the boldest integration of technology to decarbonize the event lifecycle, including AI-driven tools, carbon-negative materials, innovative energy use, or supply chain transparency.
• The Trailblazer Award — celebrating an individual leader or disruptor who has used their platform to transform the business events industry through policy influence, mentorship, or progress toward net-zero goals.
• The Impact Event Award — recognizing events that set the benchmark for sustainable business practices with an intentional focus on people, planet, and profit.

Finalists will be invited to attend Convene 4 Climate in Lisbon on September 16, 2026, where they will participate in a live pitch competition. Winners will present their solutions at Convening Leaders 2027 in Miami.

About Convene 4 Climate

Convene 4 Climate (C4C) is a global platform and movement aimed at accelerating the transition of the Business Events Industry towards sustainability and regeneration. It was launched in 2024 through a collaboration between PCMA and the Strategic Alliance of National Convention Bureaux of Europe (SANCBE), taking a structured, action-oriented approach to stimulate cross-sector collaboration and enable measurable change. As part of its evolution as a global movement, C4C has welcomed foundational partners Destination Canada, Fáilte Ireland, Marina Bay Sands, and United Airlines — organizations aligned around responsibility, innovation, and transformation.

About PCMA

PCMA, PCMA Foundation and CEMA educate, inspire, and listen, creating meaningful experiences where passion, purpose and commerce come together. We are the world’s largest community for Business Events Strategists, providing senior-level education, networking, and market intelligence for the global business events industry. Our mission is to drive social and economic progress through business events. Headquartered in Chicago, IL PCMA has 17 North American Chapters, regional communities in APAC, EMEA and LATAM, and members in 72 countries and communities. The Corporate Event Marketing Association (CEMA), a PCMA subsidiary, advances strategic event marketing and marketing communications for senior-level event marketers and industry professionals. Visit us at pcma.org.