Game Zero: Tottenham and Chelsea on the pitch at zero emissions
by Chiara Aruffo
Game Zero’s dream came true: the initiative’s report showed that the Premier League match Tottenham-Chelsea on 19th September was the first zero-emission football match.
English football continues to be at the forefront of sustainability. We have already talked about the ‘greenest team in the world’, Forest Green Rovers, and today we report on another superb initiative.
On 19th September, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium hosted the match between the two London teams Tottenham and Chelsea, but there was more than just a football match at stake. It all started with an agreement between Tottenham and Sky Sports during the summer with a simple but ambitious objective: to play the first football match at zero emissions. The plan is to firstly reduce emissions as much as possible during the match and then to offset the remainder with reforestation projects.
Reducing emissions on match day
Fans have been a key component of Game Zero and, with the support of the club, the results achieved have been remarkable:
- Reduced transport emissions through the use of public transport and bicycles. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is served by four train lines, plus the club reached an agreement with long-distance coach company Big Green Coach to offer a zero-emission alternative. In addition, Tottenham has provided parking for 180 bikes nearby and allowed fans to enter the stadium with helmets and removable seats;
- the teams themselves helped to reduce travel emissions by 80% by using biodiesel-powered coaches;
- during the match it was served 94% more vegetarian food than the average. In general, all food served at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is locally sourced and sustainable;
- on match day, 100% renewable energy (electricity and green gas) was used;
- SkySports (promoter of the initiative) reduced the emissions related to the TV broadcast of the event by 70% compared to the 2019 average. This was achieved using biodiesel for production vehicles and generators, increasing staff working remotely (where possible), and reducing in travel emissions for those who did travel to the venue.
Post-match carbon offsetting
Although these remarkable efforts, emissions were not reduced to zero on the day of the match, therefore a post-match offset plan was implemented. Through an agreement with Natural Capital Partners, Tottenham and SkySports identified reforestation projects to be funded in East Africa. These projects support small local producers to plant trees and plants that serve a dual purpose: on the one hand removing carbon from the atmosphere, and on the other providing a source of livelihood for the local population.
An experiment that works
Game Zero showed that playing carbon neutral is not easy, but it can be done. A lot of work went into calculating the emissions, which is not automatically done for all games. According to the promoters, the most complicated part is having an impact on emissions outside their direct control. Fan travel is the best example because it depends on personal choices, and it varies from match to match depending on the distances to be covered as well as connections available. It is therefore the most difficult part on which to make reduction plans.
Cover picture: SkySports
