Climate challenges for event management: a research agenda

Abstract

ABSTRACT This research note examines the impacts of human-induced climate change on events. It discusses the increasing vulnerability of these events to climate-related hazards and risks, such as extreme heat, warmer winters, rain/flooding, severe storms, wildfires/bushfires, and their subsequent impacts on event viability and sustainability. Through empirical examples, it illustrates how climate change is already affecting various events worldwide, proposes a framework for assessing the climate vulnerability of events (including exposure and sensitivity to climate hazards as well as adaptive capacity), and discusses potential structural and physical, social, and institutional adaptation strategies. It then draws some conclusions on enhancing event and festival resilience to climate change. Finally, it highlights the urgent need for proactive measures to address climate risks in event planning and management, underscoring the critical importance of integrating climate change considerations into event planning, by presenting a research agenda.