Sporting events joining Climate Neutral Network

Wednesday, 11 February 2009 14:43

Sporting events are the latest additions to the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) network promoting global action and involvement towards low-carbon economies and societies.

The network, called the Climate Neutral Network (CN Net), has caught the attention of the 2014 Sochi Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games organisers who are striving for carbon neutral games. The organisers say “Sport depends on the environment” but they also recognise that sports events are one of the largest energy consumers and, as they put it, “greenhouse gases ‘addicts’.” Notably, the announcement comes shortly before UNEP’s report on the environmental impact of the 2008 Beijing Olympic games, due out on 18 February 2009.

The 2010 FIFA world cup, to be held in South Africa, has also set an ambitious carbon neutral target, requiring the offsetting of over 200 million tonnes of carbon, predominantly through air travel. South Africa’s government is expecting a large carbon offset bill, which it hopes to ease with donor funding and through new and improved public transport infrastructure.

Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director has said he feels heartened “that this passion for excellence increasingly encompasses environmental performance”.

Read more about the CN Net