SailGP Highlights Climate Action with Race For The Future in Dubai

December 8, 2023 

SailGP, a leader in purpose-driven and sustainable sport, is highlighting its commitment to climate action with the first 'Race For The Future' (RFTF) takeover at the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas on Dec 9-10. The takeover is happening during the biggest climate conference in the world, COP28, which is currently running through Dec 12 in Dubai. 

Climate change is putting sailing at risk with changing wind patterns, increased storms and rising water levels, affecting the future of the sport. SailGP’s RFTF event is designed to harness the power of nature through innovation and technology to drive a clean energy revolution and create a sustainable future for sailing. 

During the first week of COP28, many calls to action and points have been made to promote environmental action. Countries have pledged millions and billions of dollars to help lower-income countries cope with loss and damage caused by climate change and to invest in limiting carbon emissions and increasing renewable power. 

The significance of RFTF being held around COP28 is for the organization to be a leading sports voice and presence at the conference. SailGP Transition and Innovation Manager Tom Verity is presenting keynotes on SailGP’s decarbonization strategy and the organization is partnered with Goals House on a roundtable discussion with Danish manufacturer ROCKWOOL on strategies and tactics to raise the bar on sport and climate action. 

“We have a unique opportunity to be racing during COP28 and we need to ensure it is one that we galvanize and show the power of sport in the climate conversation. The world needs a halftime talk – something that is familiar to us in sport – and we want to show that if you think differently, impossible is just a mindset, and that there is hope and optimism in what is a pretty bleak landscape, and that’s what we want to highlight through our RFTF takeover,” said Fiona Morgan, Chief Purpose Officer at SailGP. 

The takeover will use the color yellow, symbolizing hope and optimism, to highlight the issue and solutions across its channels. The organization will also showcase how the league is racing for impact, innovation, inclusivity and clean energy solutions. A host of activations will be delivered for the first time showing how events can run more sustainably. This includes the unveiling of the largest temporary solar array ever installed at an event with Aggreko, the first SailGP all-female athlete team. The event will be powered by 100% clean energy on shore saving 64 tonnes of carbon – the equivalent of taking 14 cars off the road for a year. 

SailGP will also use the opportunity to challenge other sports to embed sustainable action into their DNA like the championship has done with the world’s first-ever Impact League, which rewards and scores teams on their positive environmental and social action. Through introducing two podiums – one for sports and one for the planet – 75% of athletes in Season 3 changed their behavior and the teams cut their energy consumption by 50%. 

“Sport has the power to inspire people to engage with some of the most important causes of our time like climate change and the environment. The reach sport is able to achieve is unparalleled to almost anything else,” said Hannah Mills, SailGP’s Global Purpose Ambassador and member of the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team. “Through its first-ever RFTF takeover, SailGP is once again sending a message to the sporting world of what is possible when you challenge, innovate and act. It is showing what can be done in order to make that change happen.” 

Source: SailGP