While this week saw MLB launch some initiatives around Earth Day, Wilson Sporting Goods announcing a “Green” racquet and other various and sundry initiatives, the once announced by the IOC recognizing large scale efforts were probably the most notable and worthy of acknowledgement.
WILSON RELEASES 2022 EARTH DAY TENNIS RACKET SERIES
What makes the awards even more important was that it shows the focus of specific groups to work with their communities…many of which may not be the largest or even the sexiest, but for their communities they are the most engaged…from the IOC announcement…
The International Olympic Committee presented 12 International Federations, seven National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) with Carbon Action Awards to mark Earth Day. The awards launched in 2019, and are designed to recognise organisations’ efforts to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Among the NOC winners, the Spanish Olympic Committee took all of its energy for 2020 and 2021 from renewable sources, while the Canadian Olympic Committee earned recognition for the sustainability standards at its Toronto offices.
NOCs from Australia, Denmark, Britain, Ireland and Switzerland also claimed the IOC Carbon Action Award.
International Federations for archery, motor sport, orienteering, skating, sambo, rugby, sailing, biathlon, sport climbing, golf, canoe and basketball all received the award.
World Sailing’s launch of a demonstration project showing that carbon fibre from disused sports equipment can be recycled in the manufacturing projects was among the initiatives commended by the IOC, as well as World Rugby’s sustainability plan outlining carbon reduction ambitions up until 2030.
The International Automobile Federation was also praised for its plan to reduce carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and implementation of an environmental management system.
ANOC held what it claimed was its first carbon neutral General Assembly in Crete last year.
In 2018, the IOC co-created the Sports for Climate Action Framework with United Nations Climate Change, aiming to use sport to drive climate awareness and action and guide sports towards lessening their impact on the environment,
A total of 272 sports bodies have signed the Framework, including each of the Carbon Action Awards winners.
The IOC has vowed to reduce its emissions by 30 per cent by 2024 and 50 per cent by 2030, and has committed to the Olympic Forest Project in Mali and Senegal to promote reforestation and help to compensate its emissions. From 2030, it will also require Olympic Games Organising Committees to be climate positive, with Paris 2024 having already made this commitment.
Every step forward is important…
