Extreme E has released its first-ever sustainability report detailing the series’s journey to becoming net zero by the end of the first season.
The international off-road racing series that brings electric SUV racing to some of the most remote corners of the planet to highlight climate change ran from 01 January 2021 to 31 December 2021, culminating in Dorset for the final race, won by Nico Rosberg’s RXR team.
“Extreme E’s sustainability report is one of the most important pieces of communication we have released to date,” said Alejandro Agag, Extreme E’s chief executive and founder.
“As a sport for purpose championship, which aims to pave the way to a lower carbon future through the promotion of electric vehicles, and accelerate gender equality in motorsport, it’s important we are open and transparent about our methods and our impact.”
ALLCOT, a UN certified world-leader in carbon project development, helped Extreme E achieve net zero by having it take a series of measures that “minimised its carbon footprint, measuring this emissions inventory and detailing Scope 1, Scope 2 and quantifiable Scope 3 sources, and then offsetting in full what could not be avoided,” said Extreme E.
Highlights from the report include powering the SUVs used in the races with AFC Energy hydrogen fuel cells; refurbishing a former Royal Mail ship to carry freight and logistics instead of air travel; opting to engage fans through innovative broadcasting rather than having them onsite; and capping the racing team personnel to just seven people – two drivers, one engineer and four mechanics.
To offset the 8,870 tCO2-e emitted during Season 1, Extreme E invested in environmental certificates for a wind farm in Patagonia, Argentina.
Another successful initiative was Extreme E’s partnership with Count Us In, which inspires ITN fans to pledge to live a less carbon-intensive lifestyle and reduce their individual environmental impact.
The result was that 1,231 Extreme E fans made 3,207 pledges, equating to a carbon saving of 1,241,223 kg CO2e.
To put this into perspective, that is enough CO2 to power over 1,200 flights from London (LHR) to New York (JFK).
Alejandro Agag added: “Together with the commitment and expertise of our partners, we are delivering a platform which challenges the way sport is traditionally run; offers tangible solutions which reduce the impact of live events; and which educates our audience on the effects of climate change, inspiring them to make positive choices about their impact on the planet.”