Sustainability at the Crossroads of Global Showcases: Balancing Economic Progress and Environmental Conservation in Expo 2020 Dubai

Abstract

In an era where exceptional exhibitions and mega-events garner global attention, the association between economic advancement and environmental conservation grabs focus. This has never been more apparent than at Expo 2020 Dubai, a global event that incorporated progress, innovation and culture (Haneef & Ansari, 2019). This chapter aims to explore the relationship between sustainability, economic progress and environmental conservation through the lens of Expo 2020 Dubai. The research approach relies on prominent case studies, accentuating the contribution of Expo 2020 Dubai towards the global discussion on sustainable event management. This chapter dives into the sustainability framework, exploring strategies including eco-friendly infrastructure, energy efficiency, waste management and community engagement. It demonstrates Expo 2020 Dubai's proactive approach in addressing the challenges of hosting mega-scale events sustainably. This chapter also adds value by elucidating the parallel sustainability journey, that is otherwise, often overshadowed by the economic aspects of global events (AML Gomba et al., 2018). On the whole, this chapter significantly contributes towards the understanding of sustainable event management by accentuating Expo 2020 Dubai. It highlights the event's role in driving environmental awareness and innovation, demonstrating how such mega-scale events can inspire future sustainable practices (Cull, 2022).

Citation

Issac, A.L. (2024), "Sustainability at the Crossroads of Global Showcases: Balancing Economic Progress and Environmental Conservation in Expo 2020 Dubai", Sharma, D., Abdullah, H. and Singh, P. (Ed.) Sustainable Tourism, Part B, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83608-326-920241001