UEFA: Powering Football with Renewable Energy
Football, or soccer if you're in North America, captivates billions of fans globally.
While it unites people and creates unforgettable moments, the sport also faces challenges related to its environmental impact.
UEFA, the governing body for European football, is actively addressing these issues by pioneering sustainability within the sport.
This commitment is showcased in its annual Respect Report, highlighting significant achievements like the environmental strategies implemented during the Euro 2024 tournament.
Leadership and commitment
During the 2023/24 season, UEFA's investment in sustainability reached €12.1m (US$12.6m).
Its sustainability initiatives led to all UEFA members appointing a sustainability manager, demonstrating a full commitment to ecological practices.
The reported carbon emissions at UEFA events saw a substantial decline, dropping from 39,450 tCO2e to 25,138 tCO2e.
Aleksander Ceferin, UEFA President, said: “As we face environmental and social challenges, we must ask ourselves what we can do collectively to make a positive impact.
“Sustainability is not just a goal for UEFA – it’s a responsibility we embrace wholeheartedly.”
He added: “With the support of our partners and the European football family, we are committed to ensuring that the game we love leaves a positive legacy for generations to come.
“This report reflects UEFA’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and willingness to create lasting change beyond the field of play.
“It is not just about carbon footprint, circular economy and other complicated green metrics — it is about ensuring that the future of football fully embraces environmental and social responsibility.”
The sustainable power of renewable energy
UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, exemplifies its commitment to sustainability.
The organisation's facility is now powered by renewable energy sources, including 900m sq of solar panels, and provides 30 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
The headquarters has successfully achieved 98% renewable energy utilisation.
Its showpiece tournament Euro 2024, which was hosted by Germany and won by Spain last summer, was one of the first to receive rigorous attention to its carbon footprint.
The tournament saw major success in reducing its carbon footprint, with investments totalling €8m (US$8.3m) in carbon reduction strategies.
Notably, 81% of ticket holders used free local public transport and there was a 75% reduction in flights compared to Euro 2016, along with a 36% drop in waste.
Enhanced carbon offsetting strategies
Michele Uva, UEFA Director Social & Environmental Sustainability, explained that the organisation is also looking at better ways to offset its carbon emissions.
He said: “In previous seasons, we offset our emissions generated by our internal organisation through Gold Standard certified projects. This approach alone is no longer the right strategy for us.”
Michele said the focus has moved to “investing in climate resilience projects that generate impact beyond our value chain”.
He added: “This was a crucial decision in the delivery of our emissions reduction plan. For our events, we introduced climate funds that grant financial support to national associations that host UEFA events.
“These funds empower associations to develop strategies and adopt innovative solutions related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation, waste management or smart mobility.
“The funding is directly tied to the emissions generated by the respective event ensuring that we take measurable steps toward a sustainable future.”
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