Marylebone Cricket Club has unveiled a Net Zero Carbon Strategy, setting a goal of being carbon neutral by 2030 and producing net zero emissions by 2040, with a focus on the historic Lord’s ground.
Various projects across Lord’s will help to achieve this target, as well as innovative tools like the Fan Footprint Calculator, which was launched at today’s one-day international between England and New Zealand.
The club aims to become net zero through a range of measures, including undertaking a significant programme of degasification at Lord’s, and switching the use of remaining natural gas in the operation of the venue to renewable energy sources.
Today’s match will also see the first use of the Fan Footprint Calculator, a free online platform which will allow fans, visitors to Lord’s, MCC members and MCC staff to understand and measure their current carbon footprint and reduce their own emissions.
In 2009, Lord’s became the first UK sports venue to appoint a full-time sustainability manager and published its first sustainability policy shortly after. In October 2022, it signed up for the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, which aims to support and guide sports clubs and bodies in achieving global climate change goals.
Lord’s has introduced a number of sustainability measures to reduce its carbon footprint in recent years. It has been operating on 100% renewable electricity since 2016, with all electricity sourced from wind power, and since 2010 has sent zero waste to landfill.
MCC sustainability and accessibility manager Stuart Dunlop said: “A journey to net zero carbon marks the next chapter in a long sustainability journey for MCC, and the club recognises that a lot of work will need to go into implementing it.
“Whilst, as a club, we have already made a lot of progress in terms of decarbonisation, this strategy is necessary and vital for us to determine an exact blueprint of the steps required to reach our net zero targets. Engaging our staff, members and supporters who visit Lord’s is an important part of that process and journey.”
The Net Zero Carbon Strategy and tool was developed in partnership with the Net Zero Group consultancy.
