At Perspektywy Women in Tech Summit, we believe that a large international event should be more than a meeting point for technology, science, business and leadership. It should also be designed with awareness of its environmental impact.
For years, we have been measuring and reducing the Summit’s carbon footprint through responsible event design: public transport, bike infrastructure, plant-based catering, Warsaw tap water, digital-first materials, lower-waste solutions and a hybrid event model that allows thousands of people to join without travelling. We have also supported long-term nature restoration projects in Poland - from perpetual and biodiverse forests to the reclamation of degraded wetlands in eastern Poland.
Annual Carbon Footprint Reporting
Since 2022, the Women in Tech Summit has been calculating and publishing its full event carbon footprint in partnership with Plan Be Eco, a Polish SaaS platform specialising in EU sustainability compliance.
The reports are developed in accordance with the GHG Protocol methodology, covering direct and indirect emissions across all scopes - from participant travel and accommodation to energy use, catering, and materials. This transparent, data-driven approach forms the foundation of our Climate Positive commitment and allows us to set measurable reduction targets year on year.
The 2025 report confirms that this approach works. Perspektywy Women in Tech Summit 2025 set a new world record - 35 kg CO₂e per participant, the lowest footprint ever recorded for a large-scale international tech event. Despite a record 14,000 attendees, total emissions dropped 19% to 453 t CO₂e - 177× lower than WEF Davos. Calculated and reported by Plan Be Eco.
Growth without growing emissions
The 2025 edition of the Summit brought together 14,000 participants - the highest number in the event’s history. At the same time, the total carbon footprint decreased by 19% compared to 2024, while the footprint per participant dropped by 26%.
This is one of the most important findings of the report: the Summit grew, but its emissions went down.
A key part of this result was the hybrid model. In 2025, around 4,500 people joined online, which helped avoid an estimated 157.5 t CO₂e compared to a fully on-site scenario. For an event where participant travel is by far the largest source of emissions, every meaningful shift toward online participation, public transport, rail and shared mobility matters.
Where the footprint comes from
The report shows clearly that the biggest environmental challenge for large events is participant transport and accommodation. In 2025, participant-related emissions accounted for 91.72% of the Summit’s total footprint, with transport alone responsible for more than 80%.
This is why our environmental strategy focuses not only on what happens inside the venue, but also on how people get there - or whether they need to travel at all.
At the venue level, emissions were kept low through renewable energy use where possible. Food-related emissions were also limited thanks to a fully vegan menu and zero-waste catering practices, including the use of Warsaw tap water instead of single-use plastic bottles. Event materials remain another area of reduction, with the report recommending a continued shift toward digital-first materials and less printed collateral.
Restoring what matters
In 2025, the full 453 t CO₂e footprint of the Summit was offset through the restoration of 260 hectares of degraded wetlands in eastern Poland - Krychów – Krowie Bagno, Holeszów and Kamień - together with Amazon Web Services and OTOP BirdLife Poland.
Wetlands are among the most valuable ecosystems on Earth. They store carbon, support biodiversity, retain water, reduce the risks of droughts and floods, and help damaged landscapes recover. Supporting their restoration is one of the most meaningful ways to connect climate action with nature protection.
For us, this is what environmental responsibility means: calculate honestly, reduce wherever possible, and support nature where it needs care the most.
What comes next
The report also gives a clear roadmap for further reduction. The biggest opportunities are expanding online participation, encouraging train-first travel, moving closer to 100% renewable energy use, eliminating unnecessary printed materials, reducing food waste, sourcing locally, and setting science-based targets aligned with a 1.5°C pathway.
We know that every edition of the Summit is a chance to do better. Better data. Better choices. Better systems. Better cooperation with participants, partners and experts.
Download our Carbon footprint report 2024
Download our Carbon footprint report 2025
Perspektywy Women in Tech Summit is a celebration of technology and human potential. But progress only makes sense when it is responsible. That is why we will continue to measure our impact, reduce it year by year, and invest in nature-based solutions that help protect the planet we all share.
