When the Stage Goes Silent: The Hidden Footprint of a Disrupted Event
A n event can disappear from the stage in a matter of hours. Its footprint cannot. That distinction is easy to miss when an event is cancelled or postponed. The immediate story is usually about the reason for the cancellation, the disappointment of the audience, the organisers' response and the possibility of a new date. Once the venue goes quiet, however, the public conversation often moves on. But sustainability asks us to look backwards and forwards. What had already happened before the cancellation? How many people had travelled? How much energy had already been consumed? How much equipment had already been moved? What resources had been purchased, prepared or mobilised? What financial commitments had already been made? What happens when those people have to travel home? And if the event is rescheduled, what happens when many of those journeys, preparations and operations have to happen again? These questions become particularly interesting in the context of the recently postpo...
