Tottenham Hotspur is pleased to announce that it has joined the United Nations Race to Zero, committed to halving its carbon emissions by 2030 and being carbon-neutral by 2040.
On the same day, the Club finished first in the Premier League sustainability ranking compiled by the UN-backed Sport Positive and published by BBC Sport for the third year in a row.
The Club became a signatory to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework a year ago, which supports and advises sports organisations throughout the world in achieving climate change goals.
The Race to Zero high ambition track was launched at last year’s COP26, with the goal of rallying non-state actors – such as companies, cities, regions, financial, and educational institutions – to take rigorous and immediate action to achieve net-zero carbon in accordance with the Paris Agreement, with transparent action plans and robust targets.
“To have been ranked at the top of the Sport Positive League Table once again is excellent validation for the work that continues to be performed across our organisation – now we must challenge ourselves to go higher,” said Donna-Maria Cullen, Executive Director, Tottenham Hotspur.
“Joining the UN Race to Zero is an important next step in our journey since it provides us with a defined roadmap and emission reduction objectives that we are ready to fulfill.”
“We are excited to work together with our employees, players, fans, partners, and suppliers to achieve our objectives.”
Sport Positive has compiled crucial environmental sustainability data for each Premier League football team into a table matrix. The categories represent the environmental implications of hosting a football match, as well as club actions, and are presented in an easy-to-digest fashion.
This year, two new categories were incorporated: biodiversity and education, with extra points given to teams that operate strategically across all club locations and operations, have policies in place and engage fans, staff, and players in their work.
Their range of sustainable measures, include:
- Tottenham Hotspur Stadium uses 100 percent renewable energy and emits zero Scope 2 emissions, thanks to LED lighting (including floodlights) and high-efficiency building services systems
- a ‘zero to landfill’ waste management programme, with clear recycling instructions for fans on its bins, as well as a reusable beer cup scheme
- single-use plastic reduction measures implemented across the Club – players drink water from cartons, food is served in recyclable packaging with wooden cutlery, and even beer keg caps are recycled at the stadium
- all food served within the stadium is sourced locally and responsibly, with plant-based choices available in all outlets and Premium sections
- substantial investment in our local transportation system, with the stadium connected by four railway stations and a free matchday shuttle bus, as well as space for 180 bikes to be parked near the stadium
- waterless urinals and low-flow faucets and fixtures reduce water use
- an ecological habitat has been established at our Training Centre, which includes an organic Kitchen Garden, hundreds of new and semi-mature trees, and tens of thousands of new plants and hedgerows; bug hotels and bat houses; wildlife ponds; green roofs to capture and re-harvest rainwater; solar panels and air source heat pumps
- the Nike shirts used by players on the field, as well as the replica jerseys sold to spectators, are made of 100 percent recycled polyester fabric, which is manufactured from recycled plastic bottles
“Congratulations to Tottenham Hotspur for gaining joint-first in our Sport Positive EPL Sustainability League for 2021,” stated Claire Poole, Founder of Sport Positive. For the third year in a row, the Spurs have won our league, which can only be accomplished with a comprehensive commitment to environmental sustainability that pervades the whole organisation.
“We praise them for innovative operational emission-reduction efforts like biofuel-powered coaches for team travel, as well as the substantial work done by staff, players, and ambassadors to educate fans on the topic of climate change through social and mainstream media, as well as during their games.”
“The Club and its supporters should be very proud of this achievement, but we must do more, and I know Spurs has a lot more planned.” The climate catastrophe isn’t going away, and neither can we.”
The Club collaborated with Sky in September to organise the world’s first net-zero carbon football game at the highest level.
Net-zero was achieved by first measuring the baseline emissions of a Tottenham Hotspur Stadium match, then lowering those emissions as much as possible and offsetting any that could not be reduced with the help of Natural Capital Partners, through a community reforestation project in East Africa that removes carbon emissions from the atmosphere.
How emissions from Game Zero were reduced:
- Players arrived at the stadium in coaches fueled by green biodiesel, reducing team travel emissions by more than 80%.
- Fans walked 36,000 miles and drove 225,000 miles in electric or hybrid automobiles to and from the game
- This match sold 94 percent more vegetarian and plant-based meals than the baseline game
- Sky reduced emissions from the Sky Sports production team covering the event by 70%.
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