European Athletics is proud to have contributed to “Playing for our Planet – How Sports Win From Being Sustainable,” a collection of sustainability and environmental best practices by organisations and individuals in the sports movement.
The report, spearheaded by UEFA, WWF and the Green Sports Alliance (GSA), showcases the wide variety of green initiatives being undertaken by key stakeholders ranging from federations, teams, fans, sporting goods manufacturers and venue operators to sponsoring partners, environmental organisations and policymakers. Its main objectives are to highlight innovative solutions that enhance the environmental and sustainable performance of sports, and encourage collaboration between all parties.
The many successful environmental initiatives undertaken by European Athletics under our Green Inspiration brand are outlined in the report. Green Inspiration was created in 2013 to help athletics federations and event organisers implement environmental initiatives and engage the public in predominantly locally focused projects. Over the last four years, European Athletics has worked closely with its 51member federations to develop best practices for environmental issues. Some of the examples include protecting the environment, teaching good lifestyle habits, helping others get fit, physical education and promoting awareness about sustainability issues.
European Athletics President Svein Arne Hansen welcomed the publication of the report and encouraged greater collaboration between all parties in the sports movement. “We all have a responsibility to protect the environment and leave it in good shape for future generations. To do so, we must not only act responsibly as individuals, but collectively as organisations as well. And the more all players in the sports world commit to working together on these issues, the greater the impact we can have. European Athletics stands committed to sustainability and the environment, and we will continue to fight for more to be done in this area.”
European Athletics believes committing to sustainability can boost public image, improve relations with image-conscious partners and other stakeholders, and reduce costs through efficiency savings. We have made it a priority to communicate this to our member federations.
According to the authors of Playing for Our Planet, the report shows that the sports sector is contributing more and more to the fight against climate change and that eco-friendly operations are no longer solely a focus of visionary thinking but have become a vital operational and economic requirement for the sports industry. Playing for Our Planet highlights the excellent work being undertaken by the French Ministry of Sport, World Sailing, World Rowing, BBC Sport, Formula E, Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League, among many others.
For more on Playing for Our Planet, click here.
For more on EA’s Green Inspiration, click here.