IPC continues to offset GHG emissions

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has seen its efforts in combating climate change pay off, as the organisation continues its commitment towards advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

As a signatory of the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework and with the support of International Partner bp and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the IPC offset all its travel and office Green House Gas (GHG) emissions for 2019.

The IPC is a member of the UN’s Climate Neutral Now initiative that encourages to take action to help achieve a climate neutral world by mid-century and helps members measure their carbon footprint. 

Through membership, the IPC works to reduce its emissions as much as possible through its own actions and compensates those which cannot be currently avoided by purchasing UN certified emission reductions (CERs).  

Global Climate Action manager and UNFCCC secretary Niclas Svenningsen said: “With time running out to drastically reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases, we are delighted to see action by the IPC to address its own footprint. The IPC, and sports in general, are in a prime position to lead by example and raise awareness about the urgency and the options to face climate change. We are delighted to continue to have the IPC as a signatory to our Climate Neutral Now initiative.”

The IPC’s continue efforts to tackle climate change are part of its landmark Statement of Intent with the UN SDG Action Campaign in October 2019. The two organisations are committed to increase the visibility of the SDGs throughout the Paralympic Movement and at the upcoming Paralympic Games, while helping to change the narrative of disability.
 
Duncan Blake, bp Head of Brand, said: “We are pleased to support the IPC in reducing and offsetting their emissions through our long established and well-respected programme, bp Target Neutral. It invests in high quality offsets where carbon reduction is real, additional and permanent, and projects that will have a positive impact on both society and the environment.”

The IPC also established a Sustainability Working Group in 2020 to work on internal guidelines to make office operations greener, such as energy, waste, procurement, paper, printing, food and beverages. The internal group researches best practices and standards to define targets and on how to achieve those targets.