Why net zero is a good goal for football clubs
RESEARCHERS and students are working with two football clubs to help them achieve their ambitions of becoming net zero.
Leicester Nirvana wrote to the United Nations Academic Impact Initiative (UNAI) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Hub at De Montfort University, asking for a partnership to achieve their green ambitions.
Shortly after, the university was connected with SG Eintracht Peitz, near Cottbus, in Germany, a team that also has the same vision.
The project to create a net zero amateur football club is believed to be a first in both the United Kingdom and Germany.
Researchers have already begun work with Leicester Nirvana to identify how a team from a city centre estate with many social challenges begins the process of decarbonisation.
The aim is to help both clubs become net zero in carbon emissions in all aspects of the game.
This includes travel to games, the players’ diets and nutrition, the kits the players wear to train, clubhouses and lighting, recycling practices and inclusive values.
Both teams want to use the SDGs as a framework for collaboration to achieve their visions.
Mark Charlton, associate director of SDG impact, said: “This is a very exciting project, whether you like football or not.
“There are so many aspects to amateur sport that will need addressing as we all work towards a net zero future.
“I hope looking at it through the lens of community sport will inspire more researchers and students to get involved and bring their expertise to this project.”
Kirk Master, who leads Leicester Nirvana, said: “We are really excited to partner De Montfort University on our ambition to be the UK’s first net zero amateur football team.
“We need the research to innovate ideas to enable us to live greener lives and also, as a club, we believe there is a need to educate our squads of more than 1,000 boys and girls in Leicester on how to lead a net zero lifestyle.
“We are also delighted to be partnering with Eintracht Peitz – they have already shared us some interesting ideas.”
SG Eintracht Peitz chairman Sebastian Bubner said: “After much regional support, we are now pleased to meet like-minded people internationally.
“Together we can learn from each other and make new contacts.
“Besides the climate goals that unite us, there are certainly many more synergies.
“We are already very close to climate neutrality, for example, by heating only with 100 per cent renewable gas.
“It is also special that all projects to reduce and offset emissions are located in our sports grounds and with our teams, and that we don’t have to invest elsewhere to achieve net zero.”
The early stages of this project have received a lot of interest and support locally and nationally including from League One Forest Green Rovers,described by FIFA as “the greenest football club in the world”.
UNIVERSITY IS HELPING TWO TEAMS AMING TO BE FIRST