The International Olympic Committee has recognised the IOF for its action plan to measure and reduce owned greenhouse gas emissions and for joining the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework.
The IOF Environment and Sustainability Commission and the IOF Office have made a carbon emission evaluation and management plan for the activity of the Office itself, of the President and Council and of the Commissions. The IOF Office has quantified the physical quantities involved (km travelled, means of transportation, materials used, energy consumed etc) and the IOF Environment and Sustainability Commission has calculated the corresponding emissions of CO2e.
The report submitted to the International Olympic Committee in September for an initiative sponsored by DOW (an international chemicals and materials Company and partner in the Sports for Climate Action) was awarded a certificate recognising the value of the analysis carried out and for the action plan for further reduction of emissions.
This means that DOW will offset with carbon credits the emissions calculated for the year 2019 investing in projects compliant with the International Carbon Reduction and Offset Alliance (ICROA) code of best practice.
Therefore, the IOF Office, IOF President, IOF Council and IOF Commissions can be considered as having been “carbon neutral” in 2019.
– Apart from the monetary value of the credits, the recognition brings visibility to the IOF as an environment and climate friendly federation, which is good for orienteering worldwide. Of course, this also raises the level of responsibility for our Commission and for the IOF; we must keep up with the expectations set in the action plan, says Stefano Bisoffi, chairperson IOF Environment and Sustainability Commission.