Can sporting events have a positive impact on the greenhouse gas emissions of their fans? A new report released by the Planet League and Extreme E claims so.
The behaviour-tech entertainment platform along with Extreme E, a “radical” new racing series, have brought a new term to the fore as sport “continues to take action on climate change”.
Known as ‘Scope F’, it is the influence sports can exert on fans' greenhouse gas emissions and climate impact in their daily lives.
For some sporting organisations that influence can extend to millions of fans, so Scope F could be significant. The Planet League asserts that this fan engagement could increase climate impact 100x beyond what they can achieve ‘in-house’.
Extreme E, which features electric-off-road racing in some of the world’s most remote and challenging environments, aims to pave the way to a lower carbon future through the promotion of electric vehicles. By using sport to draw attention to the impacts of climate change, it aims to inspire fans, companies, and locations in the solutions we can all be part of.
The concept of Scope F was inspired by Scope X, a term coined by Solitaire Townsend of Futerra, who noted in her TED Talk that Scopes 1, 2, and 3 don’t account for ‘emissions of influence’, or what she calls Scope X.
The report highlights how this is already starting to happen and several sports organisations have proven that they can positively encourage fans to make lifestyle changes to reduce their impact on the planet.
“Sports is the most powerful platform in the world for uniting and exciting audiences,” notes Ali Russell, chief marketing officer at Extreme E.
Scope F underlines that emissions should not only be seen as “my responsibility” or “your responsibility”, but also as the consequence of lots of influences across society. To unravel this requires a new level of cooperation, which Scope F brings to life.
Tom Gribbin, co-founder of the Planet League and one of the originators of the report, said: “The report goes into depth on the rationale behind Scope F, its implications, its economics and case studies.”
During its inaugural season, Extreme E joined forces with Count Us In, a group of global companies united in taking action on climate change.
The Extreme E challenge harnesses the power and excitement of sports to call on its fans to take real-life steps that reduce their carbon footprint and to urge governments, cities, and businesses to do more to address climate change. Fans are asked to pledge up to 16 different steps, including avoiding single-use plastic, walking or cycling more, eating more plant-based foods, to drive electric vehicles, among other actions. Keeping sporting competition at the heart of its ethos, every time a fan took a step, they attributed it to their favourite team, creating a sustainable championship alongside the racing.