Udinese is proud to announce that we have joined the UNFCCC’s Sports for Climate Action initiative as a signatory to the Sports for Climate Action Framework.
The Sports for Climate Action initiative calls on sporting organizations to acknowledge the contribution of the sports sector to climate change and our responsibility to strive towards climate neutrality for a safer planet.
Through collective action and bold leadership, we have the power to make this fast and drastic transformation. By signing the Framework, we have demonstrated our commitment to playing our part to ensure the sports sector is on the path to a low-carbon future.
In line with the five core principles enshrined in the Framework and the aims of the Paris Agreement, our organization will strive to:
- promote greater environmental responsibility;
- reduce the overall climate impact from sports;
- use our platform to educate for climate action;
- promote sustainable and responsible consumption; and
- advocate for climate action through our communications.
- reduce the overall climate impact from sports;
- use our platform to educate for climate action;
- promote sustainable and responsible consumption; and
- advocate for climate action through our communications.
Speaking at the launch event for the Framework, UNFCCC Executive Secretary, Patricia Espinosa explained that sports organizations and athletes are in a unique position in the race against climate change “because sports touches on every cross-section of society”.
With this in mind, we hope our commitment will inspire our fans, community and government to raise their climate ambition in a united effort to limit global warming to 1.5oC. This is a race we can—and must—win to avoid significantly worsening the risk of droughts, floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people.
“We are honoured to be among the first clubs in Italy, to join this United Nations programme to support environmental sustainability and fight climate change," said Udinese Calcio Strategic Marketing Director Magda Pozzo. "Our signing up for the Sports for Climate Action Framework is further demonstration that our club is synonymous with innovation and progress and wants to send out positive social messages. The involvement of top clubs such as Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain – to name but a few – is a clear indication of the reach of this initiative and our intentions.
"We began implementing a structured green policy over a year ago seeking to actively involve all our partners, who welcomed our interest in environmental sustainability – an issue we can no longer ignore and an area where football can help to drive change. We were very keen to make this further commitment with the United Nations, keeping Dacia Arena at the centre of our green policy. Our jewel of a stadium – which has been held up as a model both nationally and internationally – is already the focus of a solid energy-efficiency policy with the aim of achieving a carbon-free facility and we will strive to ensure it is increasingly environmentally friendly.
"What's more, we have separated waste collection at Dacia Arena and our club offices for years and are working towards progressively eliminating the use of plastic and limiting the use of paper.
"Signing up for the United Nations initiative is the latest step forward on our environmental and climate-neutral journey and we hope that our brand and our vision can help to further raise awareness among our fans and partners.”