How teams in The Ocean Race Europe are taking action for the planet
Joining UN Sports for Climate Action, collecting scientific data about the state of the seas, cutting out single-use plastic, measuring and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and engaging with world leaders about the threats to the ocean, were just some of the initiatives taken by the 12 teams competing in The Ocean Race Europe to support the ocean and climate.
The Ocean Race Europe is a new event for offshore racing teams, that saw some of the world’s top racing crews competing over 2,000 nautical miles in three stages, from Lorient, France to Genova, Italy with stops in Cascais, Portugal and Alicante, Spain.
All of the VO65 and IMOCA teams – the two classes in the inaugural European Race – joined the UN Sports For Climate Action framework, either as individual teams, or via IMOCA, where some teams are participating via the class association. The sailing teams join a coalition of hundreds of sports events, teams and organisations from all over the world who are taking action on climate change. In joining the Action, teams have committed to reducing their impact, promoting greater environmental responsibility and sustainable consumption and educating and communicating on climate action.
Lindita Xhaferi Salihu, UN Sports for Climate Action Lead said: “We’re delighted that teams in The Ocean Race Europe have taken this significant step to join us and use their unique platform to display climate leadership, help to make the critical issue of climate change mainstream within the sports community and encourage the industry to take greater action. By being part of the UN Sports for Climate Action teams are with us in the race against climate change, which is crucial if we are to have a healthy planet where people and nature can thrive.”
The Ocean Race joined UN Sports for Climate Action in 2019 and has worked closely with teams to support their sustainability journeys, including helping them to track their impact through a GHG Emissions Tracking Tool that the Race developed for this purpose.
The estimated GHGs for The Ocean Race Europe are approximately 250 tonnes, one quarter of which is the race organisers’ impacts and the remaining from race team participation. Along with teams, the Race supports a certified blue carbon project to restore mangroves in Madagascar, which locks away carbon and supports marine life and local communities. The project draws down more GHGs than the Race produced, in order to help achieve the goal of becoming climate positive and contributing to accelerating ocean health restoration.
Anne-Cécile Turner, Sustainability Director at The Ocean Race said: “It’s fantastic to see the efforts and ambition demonstrated by teams, not just to be more sustainable in their operations, but to use their position to drive change. We are in a race for the ocean and collaboration is essential. By joining initiatives like UN Sports For Climate Action and coming together as a sport we can show other industries and organizations what is possible.”