
16 Apr 21
To ensure we continue to advance against our vision and objectives, we report and evaluate our progress annually and use recognitions to reinforce and legitimise our efforts.
After each season, we produce a sustainability report that shares our contributions and impact on society, the economy and the environment. We also highlight our major sustainable achievements and outline our objectives for the next season. Our reports highlight our commitment to benchmarking and improving on our sustainability performance whilst being honest about the challenges we face in the future.
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is the first sport series to have a net zero carbon footprint from inception, investing in internationally certified projects in all race markets to offset emissions from six seasons of electric racing.
Formula E’s announcement was made during the launch of Climate Week NYC 2020. Following the recommended approach set out by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Formula E has followed three key steps to achieve a net zero carbon footprint: effective measurement of carbon output, prioritising reducing its footprint and offsetting remaining unavoidable emissions.
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship became a signatory to the UNFCCC's Climate Neutral Now initiative in 2020. Climate Neutral Now was launched by UN Climate Change in 2015, and is aimed at encouraging and supporting all levels of society to take climate action to achieve a climate neutral world by mid-century, as enshrined in the Paris Agreement adopted the same year.
In July 2018, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship became the first motorsport championship to achieve third party ISO20121 certification, by certification body SGS.
This certification helps us to manage our events in a sustainable way, promoting social inclusivity, economic prosperity and environmental protection. Annual monitoring keeps us competitive and committed to challenging business as usual, and three specific objectives help to keep us on track:
We were the first championship to be awarded FIA’s Environmental Accreditation at three-star level. We are continuing to use the tools and support made available to us from FIA’s sustainable body to build upon this.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Sports for Climate Action programme was developed to work towards two overarching goals:
As one of the first signatories to this agreement, Formula E has committed to measuring, reducing, and reporting greenhouse gas emissions, in-line with science based targets, and well below the 2-degree scenario in the Paris Agreement.
As part of our commitment to the UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action programme, Formula E will adhere to the following five principles:
See Formula E’s progress against this framework so far.
In 2017, Formula E signed a three-year sustainable charter together with WWF and the French Ministry of Sport highlighting 15 sustainability commitments for the Paris E-Prix, with targets and actions for each. The commitments cover a wide range of topics from catering, transport and waste to accessibility, inclusiveness and treatment of volunteers.
Formula E is also a signatory of The Climate Group’s RE100 initiative with CDP, to support influential companies working towards 100% renewable energy targets. We partner with The Climate Group to work towards a future of net-zero emissions.
Our efforts to address the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cut across every area of our business practise. Our work directly contributes to 9 of the 17 SDGs, thanks to our promotion of electric vehicles, partnerships to fight climate change and support of technological advancements.
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship signed the EU 2030 letter in September 2020, supporting the UN’s global Race to Zero campaign for a decarbonised economy that guards against future threats, creates quality employment opportunities and nurtures inclusive, sustainable growth.
Formula E was one of almost 150 businesses invited by the UN to sign the letter, which calls for the support of European leaders in avoiding the worst effects of climate change and securing a sustainable, competitive economic recovery by:
Return to the Sustainability homepage to learn more about our sustainability initiatives.