What does Net Zero mean for the AELTC?

To avoid the worst climate impacts, global emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) need to drop significantly: by half by 2030 and then reach ‘net zero’ by mid-century.

Net zero means that any human-caused emissions are are reduced to as close to zero as possible with any remaining emissions balanced by absorbing an equivalent amount from the atmosphere. Several countries, including the UK, have committed to net zero targets.

We’re proud to have made a net zero commitment for our operations and are aware that this is a stage on a longer-term journey to address wider emissions beyond those in our operational 'footprint'. We’re using information from a ‘baseline’ year of 2018-2019 to understand our starting point and plan our journey to net zero operational emissions in 2030. Below are the components of our operational footprint.

Click here to view our operational emissions (PDF)

Our first priority is to bring down our emissions by operating our estate as efficiently as possible. We also intend to eliminate as far as possible our ‘scope 1’ emissions, those associated with use of fuel and gas, by taking steps to electrify our vehicle fleet and removing gas from our operations. We will continue to buy renewable electricity and we will be more efficient in our use of it, and will generate electricity renewably where we can.

We will take action to address remaining emissions for which no current alternative exists, for example international flights of players, staff and tournament officials, or those which we have been unable to eliminate, by contributing to climate and biodiversity projects, in line with SBTi best practice guidance.

We are incorporating this into our plans for the future regeneration of our estate, and engaging with construction partners to understand and minimise other emissions, for example those arising during construction projects, which are not incorporated in our operational footprint.

This will all take time and will involve a challenging transition over several years for us - as for everyone - but we are excited about the opportunities it presents to innovate and by the positive outcome that taking action will deliver.

Longer term commitment for emissions beyond our direct operations

We know that we influence a far wider range of third-party emissions (classified as 'Scope 3') associated with our activities, for example through the goods and services that we buy and that these commonly exceed direct organisational emissions.

As part of our commitment to the UN Sport for Climate Action Framework we also have a goal to reduce these emissions by 50% by 2030 and to net zero by 2040. We are enhancing our data collection and widening the scope of what we measure and report to the Sport for Climate Action following the Framework's guidance as we continually seek to understand and improve.

Construction projects adhere to guidance and requirements as set out by applicable planning policy frameworks. Our aim is always to follow best practice, to innovate and minimise impact through consideration of sustainability throughout the design and build process.

This is a genuine and long-term commitment for the AELTC.