2024-09-28 00:38:09
The winners of the Climate Action Awards competition have been announced 2024
Olympic rower Imogen Grant of Great Britain, Olympic beach volleyball player Lina Taylor of Bulgaria, the Swiss Olympic Committee and the International Field Hockey Federation have been announced as winners of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) 2024 Climate Action Awards competition. , in recognition of their efforts to help tackle climate change and make the world of sport more sustainable. Lina is one of the two sisters, Tsvetelina and Petya Yanchulovi, who represented Bulgaria in beach volleyball at the Olympics in Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004, reminds the official website of the BOK.
Supported by global Olympic and Paralympic partner Deloitte, the IOC Climate Action Awards recognize innovative projects by National Olympic Committees (NOCs), International Federations (IFs) and athletes that aim to reduce the environmental impact of sport, while inspiring the Olympic movement to take active action. In addition to the four winners, the NOC of Mauritius and the International Biathlon Union (IBU) were recognized in the Highly Commended category for the innovative nature of their efforts to reduce emissions.
The announcement was made by the IOC and Deloitte during Climate Week in New York, an annual event that brings together business leaders, decision-makers and civil society to drive action to tackle climate change.
“As climate change accelerates, the Olympic Movement is accelerating its efforts to tackle it,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “This year’s winners of the IOC Climate Action Awards show that the Olympic Movement takes its responsibilities seriously: reduces our impact while inspiring others to take active action.”
We congratulate the winners for their innovative and impactful projects that make the world of sport more sustainable. We hope these efforts will inspire others – in sports and beyond – to join the collective effort to tackle one of the most difficult challenges facing our world today,” Bach added.
The four winners were selected from among the 15 finalists announced during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games:
In the category for athletes
Imogen Grant (rowing, UK) helped launch the Clean Water Sports Alliance to improve river health and water quality. Additionally, as part of the UK National Training Centre’s Sustainability Group, Imogen has helped to introduce measures such as food waste composting, plastic waste recycling and regular water quality testing at the National Training Center in Caversham. As a Rivers Trust ambassador, Imogen has also contributed to over 2,400 river surveys and inspired people to take part in water testing campaigns and initiatives, with over 9,000 people taking part in the Great River Watch in September. She has spoken at a number of events across the UK to raise awareness and educate athletes about sustainability.Sport is a team effort and so is sustainability.
“I’m so grateful to the amazing people and organizations that have helped me speak up and use my athlete voice for more than just sports. I hope to continue to inspire others to take action, both on and off the pitch,” said Imogen Grant.
Lina Taylor (Beach Volleyball, Bulgaria) uses her experience as a scientist, Olympian and coach to help tackle climate change. Through her nonprofit Climate Executive Coaching, Lina helps accelerate climate action through science-based climate education, professional training, and collaboration with government, corporate, and non-governmental professionals. In just two years, Lina has worked with over 2,000 people in 30 countries and 60 organizations. Lina also supports fellow athletes and NOCs by coaching them individually on climate solutions.
“The path to becoming an Olympian has taught me that challenges are the very catalysts that propel us to greatness. Today, as we face the greatest challenge of all—the climate crisis—this lesson is more urgent than ever. Solving the problem will require each of us, in our unique role, to make decisions through the lens of sustainability and contribute to the solution. I am grateful to the IOC and Deloitte for creating a platform that fosters strong leadership and collaboration,” shared Lina Taylor.
In the NOC category
The Swiss Olympic Committee has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 by 66% compared to 2022, largely due to the fact that it chose the train over the plane for travel related to the games in Europe. In addition, the NOC focuses on providing funds to its national federations and their clubs, as well as to partner organisations, through the “Swiss Olympic Climate Fund”, to support their efforts to reduce carbon emissions. For example, the NOC has contributed to the funding of a heat pump system for a 50-year-old swimming pool in Thurgau, which has the potential to save 500 tons of CO2 per year.The Swiss Olympic Climate Fund also helped finance an electric bus for the blind and visually impaired athletes in Ticino The NOC aims to support a further 100 projects across all its member organizations and partners, which will lead to a long-term plan to reduce emissions across all sports in Switzerland in areas such as energy, athlete mobility and construction.
“We are thrilled to receive the IOC Climate Action Award. It shows us that we have chosen the right path with our innovative Swiss Olympic Climate Fund and we hope to inspire other sports organizations to take action against climate change,” said Roger Schnegg, Executive Director of the Swiss Olympic Committee.
In the International Federations category
The International Field Hockey Federation (IFH) has reduced water consumption by around 60% since 2012 through the development of the innovative “Dry Turf” technology, which reduces the amount of water needed for elite hockey pitches. This new technology has already led up to a 40 percent reduction in water use between London 2012 and Tokyo 2020, and what is estimated to be a further 20 percent reduction by Paris 2024. The ultimate goal is to replace around 2,000 artificial hockey pitches with water-based ones worldwide with dry grass surfaces, thus saving approximately 7.6 billion liters of water per year. MFH is also developing other innovative solutions, including “self-wetting balls” that release water at the point of contact between the ball, the surface and the stick to the sport can be played at the highest level on dry grass. The project is part of the IFC’s overarching sustainability strategy and comprehensive plan to reduce and mitigate carbon emissions, which includes the first-ever zero-carbon artificial turf unveiled at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the global planting program of trees “Let’s bring back the forest”.
“We are extremely honored and grateful to receive this very high award from the International Olympic Committee for efforts to reduce the environmental impact of our sport. Sport plays an important role in building a better future for society, and this includes protecting the environment. We are determined to be an important stakeholder in this area,” said Tayab Ikram, President of MFH
The following two finalists were honored in the Highly Commended category:
The Mauritius National Olympic Committee has developed a comprehensive plan to reduce its carbon footprint with a focus on travel and public procurement, achieving a 40 percent reduction in emissions in 2023 compared to the 2022 baseline. Key initiatives include a project by the local community that has encouraged around 50,000 people to switch from plastic to glass bottles to reduce plastic waste, as well as the design of a ‘bioclimatic gym’ using PEFC-certified sustainably sourced wood, a self-sustaining system for waste, climate-resilient architecture and 100% renewable energy and natural air ventilation instead of heavy carbon-emitting air conditioning – a first of its kind in Mauritius.The International Biathlon Union (IBU) is working with the broadcasters, in collaboration with the European Radio Union and television, to measure their carbon footprint during the 2023/24 World Cup season and to identify initiatives they can implement to reduce emissions in the future, with the aim of providing lessons for other sports. The IBU is the first Olympic International Federation to systematically look at reducing emissions from broadcasting its major events, an area often seen as difficult to tackle. The project is part of the IBU’s overall sustainability strategy, which includes a commitment to reduce sport’s climate impact by 50%. The strategy takes into account the IBU’s own activities, but also IBU events and the activities of member federations, partners, sponsors, media and fans.