The World's First Net-Zero Football Game

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10 September 2021

Tottenham Hotspur has partnered with Sky to host the world’s first net-zero carbon football game at an elite level.

Supported by COP26 and the Premier League, #GameZero, a fixture between Tottenham  Hotspur and Chelsea FC will be held on 19 September at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The game is being played six weeks ahead of the UN’s COP26 Climate Change Conference, hosted by the UK Government in Glasgow, which brings together world leaders to accelerate global action to fight climate change.

Tottenham has previously been named as the most sustainable Premier League football club, by The Sport Positive Summit.

What Makes a Net-Zero Football Game?

At the 2021/22 season-opening fixture against Manchester City, carbon measurement specialists RSK used direct data, including a fan survey to measure regular matchday emissions – fan journeys, squad journeys, energy and waste at the stadium and matchday employee commutes – to create a baseline from which to reduce.

For the Chelsea match to be net-zero, the club and Sky will work to minimise emissions from matchday activity such as energy used to power the game, travel to and from the stadium for both fans and clubs, and dietary choices at the stadium. Hundreds of individuals involved in the game – from Sky Sports’ producers to our stadium chefs – are working to making #GameZero happen.

The Tottenham squad will travel to the match by coach to reduce the number of car movements, and as the away team, Chelsea will also be asking all their staff to travel across London sustainably. Both sets of players will head to the stadium on a coach that is running on biofuel, which is a form of renewable diesel produced from food waste products and reduces carbon emissions significantly. The players from both teams will also be drinking water on the day from cartons provided by Spurs, as opposed to plastic bottles.

For those emissions which remain, Sky is working with Natural Capital Partners to restore natural carbon sinks which remove emissions from the atmosphere, by supporting community reforestation in East Africa, and creating new UK native woodlands to support the UK’s net-zero objectives. The club and Sky will also plant trees locally to the stadium later this year.

Other sustainable measures include  LED lighting (including floodlights) and high-efficiency building services systems in place to reduce energy use and water consumption minimised with waterless urinals and low flow fittings and fixtures.

Fan Action 

Fans attending the Chelsea match will be encouraged to take sustainable actions on the day, including:

• Using public transport – the club has driven significant investment in its local transport infrastructure with the stadium served by four train stations and a free matchday shuttle bus. Recent analysis has shown that the club is close to achieving its target of no more than 23 per cent of supporters travelling by private car on matchdays.
• Cycling to the match – the club has provision for up to 180 bikes to be parked at St Francis De Sales School and Tottenham Community Sports Centre, with our security policy allowing for equipment such as helmets, puncture kits and removable seats to be taken into the stadium.
• Choosing a plant-based food option – all food served inside the stadium is locally and sustainably sourced, with plant-based options available across all outlets and in Premium areas.
• Recycling waste – the club has a zero to landfill waste management programme, with clear recycling instructions for fans on its bins, as well as a reusable beer cup scheme.

Tottenham Hotspur, Sky and the UK Government want the game to raise awareness of the threat of climate change and inspire football fans to make simple changes that will help reduce their carbon footprint.

Tottenham Hotspur Chair, Daniel Levy, said: “We are delighted to be the chosen partner of Sky on this ground-breaking initiative that will demonstrate the role our game can play in addressing the urgent issue of climate change.

“As the Premier League’s greenest club, Tottenham Hotspur is passionate about our planet – we look forward to showcasing our wide range of sustainable measures that are already in place and encouraging our fans to take simple actions that can make a huge difference.”

Jonathan Licht, Managing Director, Sky Sports, said: “We’re proud to be working with COP26 and Tottenham Hotspur to make #GameZero the world’s first net-zero carbon football match at the elite level. We hope that by using the power of sport, we can inspire and support football fans to make simple changes to reduce their carbon footprint and make more climate-friendly choices.”

COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma said: “Climate change affects every aspect of our lives, including the sports that we love to watch and play. We can all take steps to help protect the planet for future generations, including in major sporting events. That is why I am delighted COP26 is working with Sky, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and the Premier League to show how football is going One Step Greener by hosting the world’s first major net-zero football match.”

Picture: a photograph of a football on some grass

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 10 September 2021

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