From May 13-14th, 2024, the IEEE 6G Summit Dresden took place, a renowned telecommunications fair that impressed not only with technological innovations but also with its strong commitment to sustainability. Thanks to the tireless work of sustainability ambassador Shangqing Wang, the event became a role model in terms of environmentally friendly design.

Shangqing Wang worked to ensure that the Summit was environmentally responsible with her detailed planning and meticulous proof certificates. She paid particular attention to waste separation, catering, mobility and sustainable materials. The venue organizer, Messe Dresden, demonstrated that all waste was properly separated and disposed of.

The catering at the event was also a highlight in terms of sustainability. Care was taken to ensure that the food provided consisted of regional ingredients, with a large proportion of the dishes being vegetarian or vegan. Disposable crockery was also avoided and glass bottles were used instead of plastic or paper cups. This not only helped to reduce the ecological footprint, but also promoted awareness of sustainable nutrition. Another plus point: the leftover food was reused sensibly to avoid food waste.

Organizing a sustainable event also involves informing participants in advance about sustainable travel options. In this case, the Messe Dresden location made it possible to travel quickly and easily by tram from the main railway station directly to the frontdoors of the event location.

Another important aspect was the introduction of environmentally friendly name badges. Instead of the usual plastic sleeves, the badges were made entirely of sturdy paper. This decision was facilitated by the support of other sustainability ambassadors of TU Dresden who shared Shangqing's commitment and actively contributed to its implementation. You can read more about this in the sustainability statement for the event here.

The IEEE 6G Summit also included the Mobilities for EU 1st Periodic Meeting, which provided an important platform for the exchange of technological innovations. Topics such as autonomous driving, private 5G campus networks, bidirectional charging and Car2X communication were at the center of the discussions. These technologies play a crucial role in urban planning and the development of sustainable mobility solutions that contribute to climate neutrality and sustainability overall.

The IEEE 6G Summit Dresden 2024 impressively demonstrated how technical innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand. The use of the Sustainability Ambassador and the associated measures have set new standards for future events and shown that even large conferences can be designed in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way. The example of the IEEE 6G Summit clearly shows how important the commitment of individuals is for the implementation of the sustainability strategy and for the promotion of sustainable practices at TU Dresden. Sustainability ambassadors such as Shanqqing Wang show that responsible use of resources is possible and feasible. This was also made possible by the support of the Deutsche Telekom Chair of Communication Networks at the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering at TU Dresden.