Green Meetings Initiative

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 36th Conference of Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology.

AMS is:

  • Increasing our vegetarian/pescetarian/vegan menu options.
    • The Monday Evening Reception 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 Long Beach.
  • Offering badge holder and lanyard recycling via boxes in the registration area.
  • Encouraging attendees to offset meeting travel by purchasing carbon offsets. 
    • Offset your travel by purchasing carbon offsets here.
  • Minimizing printed materials
    • If you need a meeting program, please request one during the registration process by 18 April. 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, the Hyatt Regency Long Beach and the City of Long Beach also engages in sustainable practices.

Hyatt Regency Long Beach

  • Water refill stations on property
  • Digital signage in meeting space to support a paperless meeting
  • Food is responsibly sourced and waste is composted
  • No plastic straws on property. Straws made from compostable materials are available upon request.

To learn more about Hyatt's sustainable initiatives, click here.

City of Long Beach

  • Received prestigious Green California Summit Leadership Award in 2018
  • Green Port Project- a program helps to cut air pollution such as smog-forming nitrogen oxides, diesel particulate matter and greenhouse gasses within the Port of Long Beach
  • Long Beach Transit's (LBT) “Green Fleet” – i.e. battery electric, hybrid, natural gas buses
  • Solar panels on top of the parking structure at the Long Beach Airport supply 70% of electricity used at the terminal.

To learn more about Long Beach’s sustainability initiatives, click here. To learn more about the Port of Long Beach’s sustainability initiatives, click here.