FAQs
Events on campus are a fantastic way to bring people together and foster connections, but it is important to also acknowledge the cumulative negative impacts that events can have on the health of our community and our natural environment.
A Green Event inspires attendees to live more sustainably and participate in climate action by modeling what environmentally responsible operations and activities look like in an event setting.
Planning events on campus with equity and sustainability in mind moves CSULB closer to its sustainability goals, increases general knowledge of sustainability and climate justice, and creates educational opportunities for all students and employees.
Here at the Beach, sustainability is defined as the practice of promoting social, economic, and environmental well-being for all members of the campus community in ways that recognize and address systemic inequalities and discrimination based on race, gender, sexuality, ability, and other factors that can result in unequal outcomes.
Therefore, it’s critical to recognize that we can’t consider events to be sustainable if they aren’t implementing practices that make the event inclusive and accessible as well.
No. Training is encouraged (but not required) for anyone involved in planning the event.
In order for a department/club to be recognized as a Certified Green Host, only one member of the event planning committee needs to complete the training, pass the quiz, and take the lead on sharing information and goals outlined in the Checklist with the rest of the committee. This person will also be responsible for completing the Event Assessment and submitting the checklist after the event.
Green Host Certification is valid for ONE year, and in order to remain certified you must submit an Event Assessment and completed Checklist at least ONCE a year.
Failure to submit a checklist will result in automatic suspension of your host certification, and someone from your department or organization will need to retake the training and quiz to become recertified.
If the person who completed the training leaves the department/club or is no longer involved in planning events, a new member of the group will need to go through the certification process.
Our office will recognize Certified Green Hosts by publishing a list of active certified hosts on our website and social media accounts. We will also be providing a badge that can be used on their marketing materials and/or email signature to let folks know their commitment to planning events with the Equity & Sustainability Event Checklist.
The Office of Sustainability developed the Green Events Program and Equity & Sustainability Checklist and Toolkit, in collaborationwith the President’s Commission on Sustainability (PCS), which has representation from students, staff, community partners and faculty from every college.
The work of the Office of Sustainability and PCS is focused on integrating sustainability into all aspects of the university. We do this by implementing environmentally responsible practices that can reduce the university’s impact on the environment, as well as by finding more sustainable ways to support the health and well-being of all members of the campus community.
Whether you’re a student organization or a faculty department, any event on-campus that’s committed to prioritizing environmental sustainability, social equity, and economic viability are eligible for Green Event Host Certification.
Examples of events that may be eligible include tabling events, resource fairs (WoW), festivals, conferences, seminars, workshops, and other gatherings that are able to demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and equity in their planning, implementation, and outcomes.
Certification for a specific event is only available for reoccurring events that happen every year. (Ex: Smorgasport, WoW, Green Generation Showcase)
Follow these steps to obtain your Green Event Host Certification:
- Complete the training modules and take the short quiz.
- Commit to incorporating action items from the Equity & Sustainability Checklist into the event planning.
Congrats! You’re now a Certified Green Event Host! Start planning your event(s)!
Next steps:
- Host your event and remember to take photos to document your efforts.
- After the event, assess the impact of your equity & sustainability efforts by filling out the Event Assessment form and submitting your completed checklist.
- You must submit at least one Event Assessment and checklist during the academic year in order to retain and renew your Green Event Host Certification for next year.
