FOOTBALL4GOOD MAGAZINE | MARCH 2020

Beyond the football banter from away fans, singing food-based jibes such as “Where’s your burger gone?” some fans believe the message is too radical, to the point of preaching, and have been left feeling genu- inely excluded. To those nostalgic fans, reminiscing about the past days playing in black and white, news of this year’s kit launch was another bitter pill to swallow. The zebra-inspired shirt, donning the modernised colours of green and black, sold out in minutes, with orders placed from around the world. For every fan lost, Vince claims the club has gained ten. Attendance levels are at an all- time high, growing fourfold in the last nine years and with fan clubs popping up in more than 50 countries. The club is experiencing its most successful period in its history and with its sights set on England’s second division suddenly seeming realistic, it is hard to deny there’s not an appe- tite for clubs acting ethically and environmen- tally responsibly. Hardly a footballing financial heavyweight, the club is quietly playing advocate to football one day introducing the environmental equivalent to UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP). While exposing football as a polluter, simul- taneously Vince has offered the game as a vehicle to one day achieving net-zero green- house gas emissions and contributing towards planetary repair by 2030. UEFA, itself a signatory of the Sports for Climate Action framework, originally introduced FFP to curb club spending beyond their earnings “in the pursuit of success and in doing so getting into financial problems which might threaten their long- term survival”. However, in the midst of a climate emergency, is it time clubs also pursued success in alignment with the planet’s long-term survival? Given the scarcity of silverware in football, the club’s rise to global acclaim is proving alternative routes to being championed do exist. Picking up the mantle as a modern and socially engaged organisation is proving to be shrewd decision-making. From Real Betis to VfL Wolfsburg, some of the world’s top clubs from across Europe are now following in their carbon-free footprints. When VfL Wolfsburg became the first major European team to adopt the UNFCCC Sport for Action Framework in late 2019, managing di- rector Michael Meeske said: “At executive level, we have placed climate change alongside pick- ing up Bundesliga points as a crucial element of our social and ecological behaviour.” “We are not going to just talk about climate change at the club,” declared Meeske, “we intend to live and breathe it.” Wolfsburg joins fellow compatriots TSG Hoffenheim, Werder Bremen, FC Augsburg, and FSV Mainz 05 in Germany’s pursuit as the lead- ing nation in reducing CO2 emissions and chan- neling their widespread fan bases to action. A little over a decade ago FSV Mainz 05 initiat- ed “Mission Climate Defender” before switch- ing to green energy. They started rewarding fans travelling by bike to home games and subsidising matchday tickets for away games to those travelling by bus and avoiding indi- vidual car travel. In 2008 Werder Bremen also switched to renewable energy, making the Weserstadion Europe’s largest solar-powered stadium - able to produce enough surplus energy to power 400-500 houses every year. From Hoffenheim’s ‘climate ticket’ to FC Augsburg’s carbon neutral WWK Arena, these initiatives are helping offset the 7,753 tonnes of CO2 emissions produced on aver- age per Bundesliga match day as reported by Deutschlandfunk. However among clubs, leagues, and governing bodies, consistency is lacking. Travel remains football’s biggest culprit. While unavoidable, much more could be done for football to shoulder its environmental burden. Ahead of the upcoming Euro 2020, the first to be hosted across 12 European cities, UEFA have announced major climate action. The news comes after mounting criticism directed at the governing body for increas- ing travel distances among fans for the 2019 Europa League and Champions League finals. Activists warned that staging games between English clubs Arsenal and Chelsea in Baku, Azerbaijan and Liverpool and Tottenham in Madrid would trigger an estimated 35,000 tonnes in unnecessary emissions through flights alone. In response to similar claims aimed at this summer’s new transcontinental format, UEFA have partnered with carbon finance consul- tancy organsiation South Pole in attempts to offset the expected 405,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Together they aim to plant more than half a million trees across the continent, with 50,000 promised in each host country, marking the first time all fan travel will be compensated for. Alongside investing in high-quality Gold Standard renewable energy projects, their bid to leave a lasting legacy for tournament THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF A MATCH IN ENGLAND* STADIUMENERGYUSE: 60 tonnes ALCOHOLIC DRINKS: 20 tonnes SOFT DRINKS: 5 tonnes FOOD: 75 tonnes TRAVEL: 5,000 tonnes TOTAL C0² EMITTED: 5,160 tonnes Equivalent to the total annual emissions from energy use for around 1,000 UK households *Numbers based on England’s Biggest Stadium (Wembley’s Carbon Bootprint) during the FA Community Shield game between Manchester United and Wigan, on Sunday, 11 th August 2013, with a 80,235 attendance (The Carbon Trust). “WE’VE GOT 10 YEARS TO SAVE THE PLANET ANDWE HAVE TO TREAT THINGS LIKE AN EMERGENCY.” and planet is boosted by avoiding the envi- ronmental costs of building new stadiums and transport links. If football is to successfully straddle ambitious aims of never-ending growth and act in ac- cordance with environmental responsibilities, future decision-making must be bold. However, Forest Green’s ability to galvanise their fans around environmental activism has opened up a future for football where the tra- ditional Saturday afternoon kick-off could play a part in climate action. In December, the club’s controversial move from their current home to an all-wooden built Eco Park stadium was granted planning permission. To the dismay of some fans, still settling into life at their New Lawn Ground, they’ll soon be on the move. In what Vince believes will be the “greenest stadium in the world” his irreverence toward the business as usual attitude has yet again prioritised putting sustainability on the map ahead of tradition. Like being boycotted or Extinction Rebellion’s methods of protesting, to Vince, these are necessary measures when compared to the wider goal. Above: Dale Vince at The New Lawn stadium Right: Vince addresses the Forest Green Rovers fans SECTION 40 41 FOOTBALL4GOODMAGAZINE | MARCH2020