UK Sport aims to make major sporting events net positive by 2040
Government body UK Sport has announced a strategy to make major sporting events, including British Olympic and Paralympic sport, net positive by 2040.
UK Sports’ newly released environmental sustainability strategy also says it will aim to reduce the negative impact of its own activities and operations and aim for net-zero Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 2030.
Along with details on specific actions and targets, the report provides guidance on areas such as what is expected of the sports in which it invests. It states that by March 2025 UK Sport expects all national governing bodies to have analyzed their environmental impacts and developed an environmental sustainability action plan in line with the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework.
The report also states that the government agency will support its partners to enable the integration of environmental sustainability measures into the promotion, hosting and implementation of major events. Other priorities outlined in the strategy include responsible sourcing of goods and services to reduce negative environmental impacts.
UK Sport pledged to devote the remainder of the Paris Olympic and Paralympic cycle to March 2025 to laying the foundations needed to achieve its long-term goal of identifying the areas in high-performance sport where the greatest impact can be made.
It is currently offering environmental sustainability guidance for national governing bodies to implement systemic change in their operations through a pilot project. This includes supporting British Triathlon, UK Athletics, British Swimming and England Hockey together with the English Institute of Sport to measure their carbon footprint and other environmental impacts and develop a sustainability action plan.
Britain’s sporting director Sally Munday said: “Climate change affects us all. UK Sport is committed to reducing the impact of our own activities and operations and to achieving net zero by 2030, driving action and progress on sustainability across high-performance sport.
“Our aim is for British Olympic and Paralympic sport, together with the major sporting events we host in the UK, to have a net positive impact on the environment by 2040.
“Sport has the power to unite people across borders and inspire positive change. Not only must we take meaningful sustainability action ourselves, but we must use the voice, influence and platform of high-performance sport to advocate for environmental sustainability action and inspire others to take action and make a difference.”