As leaders in the weather, water and climate community, the AMS recognizes the impacts that our meetings can have on the environment. We are committed to improving the sustainability of all meetings, including specialty meetings. 

AMS is building on sustainable practices from previous events with new guidelines that govern how we conduct our meetings and scientific conferences, and what partners and venues we choose to work with.

What We’re Doing–and What You Can Do

Not only is the AMS committed to reducing our carbon footprint at our meetings, we are encouraging all attendees to get involved and help the AMS reach our goals. Below are the initiatives that AMS is proud to offer at the 31st Conference on Severe Local Storms.

AMS is:

• Increasing our vegetarian/pescetarian/vegan menu options
  • The Icebreaker reception on Monday will be completely vegetarian! Make sure to RSVP during registration.
• Collecting RSVPs for food events to provide the right amount of food and reduce waste.
• Utilizing digital signage when possible.
• Requesting AMS waste and donation data from all AMS meeting venues.
  • Trash, recycling, composting, etc.
• Offsetting all staff travel by purchasing carbon offsets from Bonneville Environmental Foundation.
• Encouraging attendees to offset meeting travel by purchasing carbon offsets.
  • Offset your travel by purchasing carbon offsets here.
• Encouraging staff and attendees to use public transportation around Virginia Beach
• Offering badge holder and lanyard recycling via boxes in the registration area.
• Minimizing printed materials
  • If you need a meeting program, please request one during the registration process by 4 October. Otherwise, please use our online program to plan your day and see what’s next!
• Printing on materials that are reusable, recyclable, eco-conscious, etc.
• Continuing to offer a virtual attendance option for all meetings.
• Conducting a site visit to explore sustainability in practice at each meeting venue.

In addition to AMS initiatives, Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront Resort and the City of Virginia Beach also engage in sustainable practices.

Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront Resort Initiatives

Information Coming soon! Check back later.

City of Virginia Beach Initiatives

• Virginia Green - State’s initiative to encourage green tourism in Virginia. The program was launched in 2007 by the Virginia Green Travel Alliance and has over 1,800+ tourism operations listed and recognized as Certified Virginia Green Travel Partners. To learn more about the initiative and support one of these organizations while onsite on Virginia Beach, click here.

• Keep it Beachy Clean - a program that was created in 2015 to remind beach goers about the importance of cleaning the beach to ensure no litter is left behind. The program has recently been approved to place four beach toy recycling boxes at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.

• Sensible Seafood Program - The Virginia Aquarium started the program to work with local restaurants, caterers, grocery stores, wineries, and breweries that support sustainable seafood or offer sustainable seafood menu options. To see what seafood is in season and which organizations responsibly source it, click here.

To learn more about Virginia Beach’s sustainability initiatives, click here.