Envision Virgin Racing has today become the first motorsport team and 159th signatory of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Sports for Climate Action Framework.
The team joins the ABB FIA Formula E Championship and world motorsport's governing body, the FIA, as signatories to the UN's framework.
The framework's goals
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Sports for Climate Action programme was developed to work towards two overarching goals:
- Achieving a clear trajectory for the global sports community to combat climate change, through commitments and partnerships according to verified standards, including measuring, reducing, and reporting greenhouse gas emissions, in-line with Paris Agreement
- Using sports as a unifying tool to federate and create solidarity among global citizens for climate action
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. Envision Virgin Racing has taken on the same obligations and will adhere to the framework's five core principles:
- Undertake systematic efforts to promote greater environmental responsibility
- Reduce our overall climate impact
- Educate for climate action
- Promote sustainable and responsible consumption
- Advocate for climate action through communication
See Formula E’s progress against this framework so far.
Racing against climate change
The team announced carbon neutral certification earlier this year at its Race Against Climate Change LIVE event. This covers the outfit's operational facilities in Silverstone and London, as well as its race and business travel.
Furthermore, the team uses 100 percent renewable energy at both sites, has installed EV charging points at its Silverstone headquarters, recycles 69 percent of its total waste and has a zero tolerance on the use of single-use plastics and red meat at events.
“This is an exciting announcement for the team and one I’m incredibly proud of – to become the first motorsport team to have signed the UNFCCC Framework alongside our carbon neutrality status marks another great step in what we’re trying to achieve as a business with the Race Against Climate Change," said Jennifer Babington, Operations Director at Envision Virgin Racing.
“Additionally, I’m excited to announce that I’ll be representing Envision Virgin Racing within the UN working group ‘Educate and Advocate for Climate Action’, this is an amazing opportunity to work with the global sports community to combat climate change.”