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I write in response to David Minton’s article in the previous issue (HCM issue 8 2021, page 55), with an update on ukactive’s environmental commitments.
In June 2019, the UK government announced it would became the first major economy in the world to pass laws to end its contribution to global warming.
The ensuing Climate Change Act set a legally-binding target to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. Earlier this year, the UK pushed the envelope further, setting in law the world’s most ambitious climate change target to date, which aims to cut emissions by 78 per cent by 2035 when compared to 1990 levels.
As the government continues to progress the sustainability agenda, the physical activity sector must also make headway in this space. The sector’s commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2040 is an important first step.
ukactive is working with pan-European consortium ‘Green Sports Hub Europe’ to identify barriers to sustainability in sport and physical activity and the 2021 Survey on Existing Barriers on Sport and Sustainability – powered by ukactive – aims to reduce the existing knowledge gap, by gathering firsthand information about physical activity and sustainability from people and organisations directly involved in the sector.
The survey has been designed to generate new knowledge of existing barriers and issues, along with what is working well, which we can then take forward with relevant government organisations.
Everyone understands there’s much more to be done, from the management of major events, the implementation of sustainable travel policies and the selection and use of recyclable materials, to the creation and operation of low energy and low resource-hungry facilities.
There’s a keen interest in and awareness of environmental sustainability across the physical activity sector and a willingness to promote change where needed. Physical activity organisations should continue to lead by example, taking a critical look at how they operate, quantifying and recording consumption and waste and setting challenging targets to reduce or eliminate their carbon footprint.
As hosts of the upcoming COP26 in November, the UK Government and wider business community will be under increased scrutiny and pressure to act against climate change.
ukactive will be attending the conference in Glasgow to speak and also to represent the physical activity sector and identify what other sectors and countries have done to embed sustainability into their policies and practices.
Over the past 18 months, the sustainability agenda took a backseat as the sector directed its energy and focus towards managing and mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we’re fully aware that operators are already working on sustainable and carbon neutral models, and that our sector can demonstrate a number of great examples and case studies in this space.
The sector is not looking at sustainability as a ‘standalone’ issue relating to facility design and operation, we continue to work with various departments across the Government to showcase the many ways in which our sector supports the Net Zero agenda, as well as other closely linked policy areas such as ‘Build Back Better’ and the Government’s ‘Plan for Growth’, ‘A Fairer, Greener Scotland’ and the wider work of the Climate Change committee.
Responding to climate change is not an easy task but there’s no choice here. The sport and physical activity sector is a force for good and has a major contribution to make.
Take part in the survey: www.ukactive.com/projects/sustainability
Pete Wells, ukactive
David Minton’s informative article in HCM issue 8 2021, (page 55)about two of the biggest challenges facing the world – the health of the planet and the health of individuals – was a fascinating read and really struck a chord. And it’s evident to me that in their own way, public sector providers are playing a key role in helping to overcome both of these challenges.
The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report (www.HCMmag.com/IPCC) shows that human activity is unequivocally the cause of rapid changes to the climate, resulting in extreme heatwaves, droughts and flooding.
We’re working with public sector leisure providers across the UK to help the government meet its net zero targets by decarbonising their activities through targeted investment in equipment and infrastructure.
Many of the UK’s sports and leisure centres were built in the 1970s and are extremely energy inefficient, generating levels of high carbon emissions. By improving energy efficiencies and cutting emissions, local authorities are having a significant impact on sustainability targets, while providing physical activity facilities that support healthy, active communities.
As an example, we’re working with Hambleton District Council to cut carbon emissions across four leisure centres in Northallerton, Stokesley, Bedale and Thirsk. We helped the council to secure a £4.7m Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme grant to fund the installation of new heat pumps, solar panels and LED light fittings. Projections indicate these collective efficiencies will result in 57 per cent per annum reduction in the carbon output for each centre, with the added bonus of a £38,985 projected cost saving per year.
The government’s Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme is designed to help councils improve efficiencies and cut carbon emissions from public sector buildings. Both rounds of the fund were a huge success, with phase two closing after just one week, because applications worth more than £150m were submitted for the £75m fund.
This demonstrates just how proactive local authorities are being in delivering on the net zero agenda to help avert a climate catastrophe, while they continue to serve the public health agenda.
