Practical information

Sustainability Guide for Participants

Health, safety and
international participants infographic

The venue

Marseille Chanot
Exhibition and Convention Centre
13266 Marseille Cedex 08 / France
www.marseille-chanot.com 

To come with a PMR vehicle, contact the Parc Chanot at +33 4 91 76 90 60

Hours of registration, public and participant access

The registration area will be located after the main entrance gate A and after the health pass and security checks.

The Exhibition Hall will be open to the general public (non-registered) from 10:00 to 17:30 every day from 4-9 September 

Please see below a complete schedule of opening and registration hours for Congress participants:

Venue opening hours

Registration desk opening hours

E spaces Generations Nature (Nature Generation Areas ) opening hours

First Aid Centre and emergency number

The First Aid Centre is located in the service area in Hall 1 at the left hand side.

For any emergency at the venue, call +33 1 84 21 39 78. Outside the venue call 18 or 112.

Dress Code

The weather in Marseille in September is hot with temperature rising up to 30°C / 86°F. Heavy winds (mistral) happen on a regular basis making the temperature drop and quite cold. The dress code is business casual. A long-sleeved top can keep you warm when temperature drops in the evening. Please note that Aircon is only available in session rooms. 

My IUCN Congress

Social media
Please use the #IUCNcongress hashtag when tweeting, posting on Facebook, blogging or otherwise sharing your experiences at the IUCN World Conservation Congress on social media. We will be picking top tweets to retweet from the IUCN account each day, and your post will also have a chance of appearing on our live Twitter Wall!

Follow the latest news from IUCN on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Transportation  

Various local authorities in Marseille and the surrounding areas will facilitate local transportation for Congress participants by offering special fares. You are encouraged to use ground and public transportation - where possible – for travel to and around Marseille. If you are planning to drive to Marseille Chanot, please refer to the list of public car parks in Marseille. Please note: there is no parking available at Parc Chanot.

Getting to Marseille
To minimise your carbon footprint we highly recommend you to:

• Use public transport
  • You can get to Marseille Saint Charles train station by high-speed train. The train station is located in the heart of the city. Train tickets can be booked 3 months in advance, from most countries.
  • Consider train pooling
• You can get to Marseille by ferry from Corsica, Algeria, Tunisia and Sardinia
• If you are flying to Marseille: Consider taking the shortest route and nonstop flights if these are an option 

Getting around in Marseille
To minimise your carbon footprint we highly recommend you to:

• Use public transport to the venue
  • The closest metro station is Rond-Point du Prado Station (the venue entrance Gate A is located just next to the metro station)
  • Depending where you are coming from, you have various options to get to the venue by public transport. The best options are listed here.
• If using a personal vehicle is a must: 
  • Consider carpooling with fellow event organisers
  • If you rent a car, opt for an economy or hybrid car
  • Take the shortest route to get to the venue
  • Please note that there is no car park availabilities within Parc Chanot

Security – Parc Chanot 

Your official personalised IUCN Congress badge is required for entry. Please wear it at all times. Badges are non-transferable.  Attendees will be required to go through security clearance, which will involve a metal detector screen. All bags and containers will be subject to a search as a condition of entry. No person in possession of a prohibited item will be allowed entry. Furthermore, any items possessed in violation of French laws will be turned over to law enforcement, and those in possession denied entry. 

Prohibited on the Congress site

• Objects exceeding the dimensions of the security tunnels below:
  • Medium tunnels: 60cm x 50cm / 64cm x 43cm (available at all entrances of Parc Chanot)
  • Large tunnels: 75cm x 55cm / 82cm x 65cm (available at entrance A only)
• Objects likely to be used as a projectile, to constitute a weapon or to endanger the safety of the public, in particular: firearms, all ammunition including fake, sharp objects, blunt, cutting, glass containers; 
• Drones (flying)
• Chemical, toxic or infectious substances
• Flammable liquids, solids and gases, except lighters and e-cigarettes.
• Fireworks, firecrackers, flares, fire starters, tear gas etc.
• Illegal drugs
• Means of transportation (bicycles, scooters, gyropods, roller skates etc.) except wheelchairs
• Equipment that may interfere with the audiovisual equipment in the Congress, such as walkie-talkies, private wifi modems, etc.
• Animals, except for guide dogs

Are allowed:

• Water bottles and bottles, if they are not made of glass
• Hydro alcoholic gels
• Lighter or matches 

General rules :

• All bags will go through the security tunnels and may be searched at the entrance of Parc Chanot. 
• Smoking/vaping is only allowed in the designated areas.
• No one in possession of a prohibited object will be allowed to enter.

Luggage storage

The luggage room will be located near the registration area, next to Hall 1 - Palais des Evènements. The luggage storage will be open on the same dates and times as the registration desk.

Health and Safety at the Congress

• Safety protocols for entering the Congress
• Overview of safety precautions 
• For additional details, please visit the health and safety page

To access the event, the French authorities will require the presentation of an electronic or paper-based health pass (TousAntiCovid application for French residents or European health certificate / “green pass” for Schengen residents), or equivalent documents in French or English for participants coming from outside the Schengen area (proof of vaccination, antigenic test or RTPCR of less than 72h, proof of immunity / Covid-19 recovery certificate) for all those involved in the IUCN World Conservation Congress from 1 September to 11 September 2021. The pass will be checked at Gate A and Gate B at every entrance to the venue. 

A COVID test center will be available onsite for exhibitors, Congress participants and suppliers who are not vaccinated or recovered from COVID or who require a test for their return flight. The centre will be located at the venue entrance at Gate A before the security check. 

The test centre will be open every day from 1 September to 10 September from 07:00 to 20:00 and on 11 September from 07:00 to 17:00. 
Online appointment booking will be implemented to allow for a smoother flow. 

Antigenic tests will cost 22.19€ and results will be available within 30minutes, RT-PCR test can be done upon request at a cost of 44.06€ with results being available within 12-24h and can be used for you to be tested prior to your return flight, if applicable. 

The website for booking appointments, which will be communicated closer to the Congress dates together with further details on the process, will be available in French and English.

More information on the health pass can be found on the French Government website: www.gouvernement.fr/en/coronavirus-covid-19.

Connecting and electricity onsite

Internet and Wi-Fi
Participants will be able to access the 3G/4G/5G network from the Parc Chanot. Wi-Fi is available throughout the Venue, free of charge, as well as hard wire internet in rooms. Please note that for some spaces only Wifi may be available. Under no circumstances will visitors be allowed to create a private Wi-Fi network for their own needs. A private Wi-Fi network is a connection created from a smartphone (mobile access point/shared connection) or a wired access point (LAN/RJ45) and to which a private Wi-Fi modem is connected. Disallowing such connections will contribute to the good reception and use of the Wi-Fi network of the Parc Chanot. We thank you in advance for your understanding and collaboration in this matter.

Charging stations

Charging stations for mobile devices are available for free throughout Parc Chanot in lounges and hallways, in the media centre as well as on the knowledge hub and in the rest areas of the Exhibition hall. 

Electricity

In France the voltage is 230 V. The standard frequency is 50Hz. The power sockets that are used are of type C / E. Below you find pictures of theses power sockets and corresponding plugs. 

IUCN Membership services

Motions
Accreditation
Official Documentation
Candidates for election

IUCN Members' Lounge and accreditation 

Located in H9 – Palais des Congrès (ground floor), the Members’ Lounge is an area for networking, discussions, getting accredited for the Members’ Assembly and obtaining key membership information. The layout has been designed to encourage exchanges between IUCN Members, Commission Members and IUCN Secretariat. There are designated spaces for small and larger group discussions, internet access and relaxation, as well as direct access to a terrace.

The Lounge will be coordinated by the Membership Support and Accreditation Teams, with experience of membership and accreditation issues and a range of languages skills. 

The Members Lounge, Hub and Accreditation Area will be open as follows:

My green Congress

IUCN is dedicated to leading by example, which is why organising a sustainable event is at the core of IUCN Congress preparations. As the Congress host country, the government of France shares this commitment and is incorporating sustainable practices into all procurements and preparations for the event.  

The Congress will follow the ISO 20121 Event Sustainability Management System and involve local resources and initiatives as much as possible. IUCN and the government of France will apply sustainability efforts across the event, from hotels, transportation and on-site materials, to food, energy and waste management. The end goal is to leave a sustainable and green legacy at the local and regional level that will last beyond the IUCN Congress. 

IUCN and the French government will develop and implement sustainability initiatives that aim to, but are not limited to:

• Reduce as much as possible greenhouse gases produced before and during the event and work on a local and international mitigation program
• Minimise the demand for resources, and use available local, reused and/or recycled resources whenever possible
• Promote good environmental practices to service providers, participants, exhibitors and local communities engaged in Congress preparations
• Work with suppliers, partners and companies which support Congress sustainability efforts on environmental, social and economic benefits
• Create a sustainability program supported by the local stakeholders
• Leave a sustainable legacy for the city of Marseille

We ask all participants, exhibitors, sponsors, suppliers and other stakeholders to support these efforts. 

Learn more about the IUCN Congress Green Policy.

Zero single-use plastic
Do not bring or use plastic items that are intended to be used and then thrown away (plastic bags, plastic cups, plastic packaging, straws, etc.).

Smoking and vaping
Smoking and vaping are not permitted at any time within the exhibition hall nor in any other part of the venue, which is not specifically designated as a smoking area. There are 9 smoking areas within the venue. Please make sure to dispose of your cigarette butt in the appropriate bin.

Handouts

Distribution of paper / brochures / presentations / documents etc. is strictly prohibited at Congress. 

Waste sorting

Available waste sorting bins at Congress:

• Organic waster (including compostable tableware)
• Plastics / Cans / Paper
• Other waste
• COVID waste

Sustainable Development Policy and ISO 20121 approach

Because of its international scope and its recognised importance for the preservation of biodiversity and nature conservation at the global level, the IUCN World Conservation Congress must be exemplary in terms of sustainable development.

This is why the Ministry of Ecological Transition and IUCN have embarked on an ISO 20121 certification process aimed at implementing a responsible management system for the Congress that contributes to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, while respecting the principles of inclusion, integrity, transparency and vigilance.

Strong values have been defined to guide this responsible management system: Exemplarity, Mobilisation, Openness and Sobriety. 

The responsible management system aims to ensure the environmental excellence and sustainability of the Congress through the implementation of a Sustainable Development Policy based on four major issues: 

• Environmental Commitment: Implementing an eco-responsible, low-carbon organisation, minimising the use of resources as well as the production of waste, and promoting the circular economy.
• Economic and Social Commitment: Maximise the territorial commitment and impact, giving the opportunity to the different local actors to be involved in the event and facilitating employment for all, volunteering and voluntary work.
• Legacy Commitment: To strengthen the territorial sustainable dynamics, valuing the local natural heritage and sustainable practices in terms of nature conservation and biodiversity preservation.
• Commitment to Inclusion: Organise a unifying event, offering the possibility for all publics to participate in the event in conditions of comfort, equity, safety and integrity for all. This covers specifically a strong commitment to advance gender equality as outlined in the Gender mainstreaming strategy for IUCN events and organisation of a harassment-free event for all participants as outlined in the Anti-harassment policy for IUCN events. In that context, IUCN is proud that the Congress has received the French label "Event Gender Equity”. 

Eating at Congress

Participants are encouraged to discover and support restaurateurs who are committed to the Congress with an offer: 

• Organic/Local/Seasonal: 100% seasonal products, 70% local and/or organic products.
• Sustainable: compostable/reusable tableware, no plastic bottles
•  Anti-waste: donation of unsold food to associations, recycling of organic waste
• Vegetarian: a minimum of one vegetarian offer.

These restaurateurs will be located:

• In the restauration area of Hall 3, composed by a restaurant and a take-away. 
• In the food court located in Esplanade 3 and 4.

Sustainable tourism

Green Hotels
The Congress housing process is handled by the registration and housing company Live by GL events. They offer a variety of hotels in different categories, locations and prices at negotiated rates.

Participants have the possibility to book rooms in environmentally‐friendly hotels. When booking accommodation, ask for the hotel’s environmental principles and programmes, and check if these closely adhere to those established by the Congress. Hotels that offer a sustainability programme are indicated by a My Green Congress logo on the registration platform.

More information on how to book accommodation can be found on the Congress website or by directly contacting the housing agency via email at iucn.housing@gl-events.com.

Discover Marseille through IUCN Congress Special Excursions

Reserve your space on a variety of special excursions around Marseille and Provence, just for Congress participants. Read more.

Banks, currency exchange and ATM

Banks are normally open from 08:30 am to 16:00 on weekdays. They are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Major currencies can be exchanged at the airport, exchange offices and at all French banks.   There are two ATM machines at the Parc Chanot to withdraw cash – one right outside the exhibition hall (facing Esplanade 3&4) and one close to the security check at Gate A (accessible if you pass in front of Hall 9 and head towards Gate A).