Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Green Sports Alliance advocates for sport and sustainability

Green Sports Alliance advocates for sport and sustainability
March 19, 2020

Amid growing concerns over the global implications of climate change, the Green Sports Alliance is leveraging the cultural and market influence of sport to promote healthy and sustainable communities.

Explaining that the Green Sports Alliance “has been successful in creating valuable resources for our industry in the core areas of energy, food, procurement, transportation, venues, waste, and water”, the organisation’s Director of Operations, Kelley Martin writes that it has “just completed a refreshed playbook on greener cleaning in sports facilities, educating users on how to reduce adverse impacts on the health of athletes, fans, and the environment (while) 2020 will feature resources on e-waste, zero-waste initiatives, and more, as we continue to positively impact the current actions of our industry.

“In 2019, the United Nations launched the Sports for Climate Action Framework with two key objectives: to promote a set of principles for the global sports community to adopt in order to combat climate change; and to use sports as a unifying tool to drive climate awareness and the action among global citizens.

“Dozens of stadia, professional sports teams, and universities have signed on, committing to support the pledge by implementing five UN Climate Action Principles pertaining to promoting environmental responsibility, reducing overall climate impact, educating for climate action, promoting sustainable and responsible consumption, and advocating for climate action through communication. The time for the sports industry to act is now. Increased consumer awareness of the global climate issue at hand translates into business risk if it doesn’t act immediately. In the meantime, there is continued business risk if the sports industry is not seen as doing enough to actively participate in driving meaningful change to its operations.

“The Alliance encourages stadia to support the UN Sport for Climate Action Plan using a forward-thinking lens and that we all move towards an action-oriented approach. One way to work towards implementing the five Climate Action Principles is via the implementation of formal measurement and tracking systems at each stadium. Sustainability measurement tracking allows benchmarking, assists with optimizing efficiency, ROI and cost-savings, and gives an opportunity to share, educate, and advocate for climate action by providing insight on how a venue may reduce its overall climate impact.

“Utilising measurement programs provides vital insight into maintenance needs, weatherization information, and tracks over-usage trends of water or energy per building zone. This information, coupled with fan and staff reviews, contributes to overall wellness and occupancy satisfaction, improving the guest and employee experience. All of these aspects are crucial for undertaking systematic efforts to promote greater environmental responsibility within the sports industry.

“We need to unite together to signal to the sports industry market that the time to create real climate action is now. We have the opportunity to leverage the cultural influence of sports – we need to do it today, and we need to do it boldly. We are all playing for the next generation and we must be held accountable by our industry peers to do the right thing.

“The Green Sports Alliance is the environmentally-focused trade organization with members from around the sporting world (teams, leagues, conferences, venues, corporate partners, governmental agencies, athletes, and fans) committed to creating awareness and dedicated to creating meaningful change towards a more sustainable future.”

Click here to visit the Green Sports Alliance website. 

Related Articles

11th March 2020 - STRI constructs ambitious and sustainable turf racetrack in Saudi Arabia

3rd March 2020 - Saudi Arabian sustainable development appoints Foster + Partners as Architectural Advisors

26th February 2020 - NEOM adopts pioneering technology for sustainable desalination

5th February 2020 - adidas creates sustainable sporting field using 1.8 million plastic bottles

20th January 2020 - New report aims to prompt recognition of climate change threat to Australian Open

30th December 2019 - Research finds Australian cricket not ready for challenges of climate change

20th September 2019 - International sport bodies unite to combat climate change

10th September 2019 - New report highlights the impact of climate change on cricket

6th June 2019 - Tennis Australia commits to United Nations climate change action

24th March 2019 - Sydney Showground begins AFL Season with introduction of reusable beer cups

14th March 2019 - IOC and IUCN partner to release sustainable venue development guide

5th March 2019 - ‘Sea of plastic’ fills Wellington’s Westpac Stadium after Eminem concert

21st February 2019 - Sports Environment Alliance’s 2019 Summit to explore practical change

6th February 2019 - Climate change set to impact Australia’s summer sporting calendar

21st January 2019 - Sports Environment Alliance looks to improve facilities’ sustainability

25th May 2018 - MCC recognised as ‘innovator of the year’ at international Green Sports Alliance Awards

19th July 2015 - HOK announces partnership with Green Sports Alliance

1st February 2015 - Report suggests elite and grassroots sport at risk from climate change


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

Click here to view our subscription options.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

Augmented Creative

Augmented Creative is an open organization of like-minded and highly dedicated, creative people who conceive, plan and execute visual solutions. We pursue new and innovative visual ideas to help…

read more

Arts / Attractions / Consultants / Design / Tourism

 
 

Debitsuccess

Debitsuccess is now part of Xplor Technologies.

read more

Billing / Finance / Fitness / Golf / Recreation

 
 

TICKETSERV

As of 2018, TicketServ operates as SeatGeek Asia Pacific Pty Limited, part of international ticketing platform SeatGeek. Click here to contact SeatGeek Asia Pacific via their entry in…

read more

Attractions / Entertainment / Events / Sport / Ticketing

 
 

ICP

ICP is an Australian-based company focused on indoor climbing. ICP will manage your project from initial design to completion and beyond, whether you're building an international-level climbing…

read more

Attractions / Fitness / Recreation

 
 

@leisure Planners

@leisure is a team of experienced leisure, aquatic and sports facility managers and planners, with market modelling, sports management, recreation planning, business and GIS qualifications. We have…

read more

Consultants

 
 

TicketSearch Pty Ltd

TicketSearch is focused on providing businesses, organisations, and venues with affordable, efficient, and powerful self-managed ticketing solutions. The organisation has offices in Australia, New…

read more

Attractions / Entertainment / Technology / Ticketing / Venues

 
 

SeatGeek Asia Pacific

SeatGeek is a search engine and mobile-focused ticket marketplace that allows fans to buy and sell tickets for live events. As of August 2018, SeatGeek has exited the Australian, New…

read more

Entertainment / Sport / Technology / Ticketing / Venues

 
 

Gladstone MRM

Gladstone Health & Leisure (Gladstone MRM Pty Ltd Australia) is a leading supplier of leisure management and fitness software and is endorsed by leading health and fitness professionals and…

read more

Access / Billing / Fitness / Technology / Venues

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business