IOC and Dow Reward Climate Leadership in Sport
November 13, 2020
Twenty Olympic Movement organisations, 15 International Sports Federations (IFs) and five National Olympic Committees (NOCs), have received the 2020 Carbon Action Awards of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and business and financial news company, Dow. The global initiative aims to recognise and accelerate effective climate action in sport.
Launched in 2019, the Awards – which form part of the IOC-DOW Carbon Partnership – were created to inspire further climate action by recognising the sustainability efforts of key sports organisations within the Olympic Movement. The winners were announced at the sixth IOC Sustainability Session, which took place virtually as part of the annual IF Forum.
“Climate change continues to be a global challenge of unprecedented proportions for all humankind, and it requires an unprecedented response from all of us,” said IOC President Thomas Bach addressing Forum participants in a video message.
“The IOC wants to ensure that the Olympic community contributes to the global efforts to address climate change. This commitment to climate action is a remarkable illustration of how everyone of us in sport, whether a National Olympic Committee or an International Sports Federation, can make a meaningful contribution to reduce our carbon footprint.”
The IOC and Dow collaborated on this joint initiative to reward carbon offsets to those IFs and NOCs that have reduced their greenhouse gas emissions within the scope of their organisations and respective events.
To be recognised, IFs and NOCs must be a part of the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, launched by UN Climate Change and the IOC in 2018. They are also expected to present detailed data on their carbon reduction plans, requiring them to better understand and measure their annual carbon footprint.
“Sport has huge power to incite action globally, and this initiative has created a successful platform to educate, inspire and boost efforts aimed at tackling climate change,” said Mike Reed, Vice-President of Olympic & Sports Solutions for Dow. “Teamwork is key in sport, and if we are to truly address climate change, reduce carbon emissions and go beyond offsetting, we need effective partnerships. We feel this award and our collaboration with the IOC is demonstration of applying the power of sport and teamwork with and across the Olympic Movement to make an impact and create a positive legacy.”
The winners are implementing diverse actions to reduce their carbon emissions, from the use of renewable energy and sustainable construction to influencing their supply chains to be more sustainable. For example, World Sailing is working with Paris 2024 to accelerate the adoption of non-combustion engines in the marine industry.
As part of the recognition, the IFs and NOCs will receive carbon offsets to compensate their 2020 unavoidable residual emissions. These include a diverse set of climate solutions, from conserving ecosystems and avoiding deforestation to energy efficiency and renewable energy.
The 2020 Award winners are:
NOCs: The Brazilian Olympic Committee (BOC), Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), British Olympic Association (BOA), Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) and Swiss Olympic Association (SUI);
Olympic IFs: The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), Fédération Internationale de Basketball (FIBA), Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS), World Rowing (FISA), International Biathlon Union (IBU), International Golf Federation (IGF), International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), International Skating Union (ISU), World Triathlon (ITU), Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), World Archery (WA), World Rugby (WR) and World Sailing (WS);
Recognised IFs: The International Floorball Federation (IFF) and Fédération Internationale de Sambo (FIAS).