Arsenal has set a first for a Premier League football club by signing up to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework.
Arsenal joins the International Olympic Committee (IOC), FIFA and the English Football Association (FA) as signatories to the initiative.
The initiative is designed to bring together the sports community with a commitment to align with the goals of the Paris Agreement and support the ambition to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.
Signatories to the initiative adhere to five key principles: undertaking systematic efforts to promote greater environmental responsibility, reducing overall climate impact, educating on climate action, promoting sustainable and responsible consumption, and advocating for climate action through communication.
Last year, Arsenal topped a study by the BBC and the UN-backed Sport Positive Summit on sustainability among Premier League clubs. By signing up to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, Arsenal hopes to build on the work it does in the sector and the club is encouraging supporters to take positive climate action.
Last month, Arsenal teamed up with Ball Corporation through a wide-ranging partnership between the aluminium packaging products manufacturer and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE). As Arsenal’s official sustainable aluminium beverage packaging partner, Ball will explore ways to support the club in reducing its impact on the environment and assist with educational initiatives about the importance of recycling and other green practices.
In 2018, Arsenal became the first football club in the UK to install large-scale battery energy storage with a system that can power the Emirates Stadium for an entire match, or the equivalent of 2,700 homes for two hours.
The club also holds a partnership with Octopus Energy that delivers renewably supplied electricity to the Emirates Stadium.
Hywel Sloman, Arsenal’s operations director, said: “Arsenal is committed to leading the way on sustainability among Premier League clubs and we are proud to be the first club to sign up to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework.
“Together with our partners, we’ve already implemented a number of environmentally-friendly practices across the club. This includes becoming the first Premier League club to switch to 100 per cent green electricity since the beginning of our partnership with Octopus Energy in 2016, and a new partnership with aluminium packaging company Ball Corporation, which is designed to help us and our millions of fans around the world reduce our impact on the environment.
“We will continue to use the power and reach of Arsenal to inspire our global communities and push each other towards a more sustainable future.”
Lindita Xhaferi-Salihu, Sports for Climate Action Lead at UN Climate Change, added: “Football inspires so many of us around the world and there is a remarkable potential for the game to become greener, more climate resilient and lead by example for millions of global fans. We are delighted to welcome Arsenal as the first Premier League club to the UN Sports for Climate Action community, as we raise awareness of climate change and use this opportunity to make a difference together.”
Image: Pixabay
Share this