The final conference of the OCEAN project, entitled “Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Sport Organizations: Understanding our Impact and Acting for Change,” brought together leaders from across Europe on Tuesday to consolidate European sport’s commitment to climate action. This event, coordinated by the EU Office of the European Olympic Committees (EOC), represents a significant step towards sustainability in sport.
The OCEAN project, which has lasted two and a half years, has involved 18 European National Olympic Committees (NOCs), the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and the Öko-Institut as scientific partner. Its main objective has been to enable sports organizations to measure and reduce their environmental impact.
Climate action in sport
One of the most outstanding achievements of the project has been the training of 18 Climate Action Officers, one for each participating NOC. These professionals have received specific training to address climate change in sports organizations. Thanks to their work, each NOC has measured its carbon footprint and adopted a reduction strategy, setting a precedent for other sports organizations in Europe and beyond.
Folker Hellmund, director of the EU Office of the EOC, highlighted the importance of this collective effort: “Sport has both a responsibility and an interest in taking climate action. Our impact on climate change is not negligible, and we depend on a stable climate to preserve our competitions, infrastructure and the well-being of those who play sport.”
Sustainability in sport
During the final conference, several practical resources developed throughout the OCEAN project, designed to help sport organizations reduce their environmental impact, were presented. These resources included:
- The OCEAN Sport CO2 Calculator, a tool for measuring carbon emissions.
- A guide for Climate Action Officers.
- An analysis of the carbon footprints of the 18 participating NOCs.
- A set of best practice actions to reduce emissions.
- 18 carbon footprint reduction strategies.
These resources are available to all sports organizations interested in taking sustainable action and contributing to global climate goals.
Commitment to climate change
Eva Rebmann, OCEAN project manager, highlighted the progress made: “When we started, the level of preparedness of the 18 NOCs was very diverse, but through shared learning, training and constant collaboration, we have built a network of skilled and committed Climate Action Officers.” For their part, Julie Duffus, head of sustainability at the IOC, and Andres Santi, senior manager of events and projects at ANOC, noted that this community is now ready to pass on its expertise and continue to drive climate action both nationally and internationally.
The final conference also served as a platform for Climate Action Officers to share their experiences and learnings. Maya Djuric, NOC Bosnia and Herzegovina, summarized the impact of the project: “Through OCEAN, we have fully taken on board our carbon footprint and are ready to move from planning to implementation. The exchange with colleagues from all over Europe has been invaluable.”
