Golf federations back Sports for Nature initiative

Leading international golf federations have this week become signatories of the Sports for Nature initiative championing the protection and restoration of nature and the environment across sports around the world.

The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) has joined with the International Golf Federation (IGF), the Swiss Golf Federation and the French Golf Federation, along with Le Golf National, the host venue for upcoming men’s and women’s Olympic golf competitions in Paris all became signatories for the Sports for Nature initiative this week.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was one of the founding partners which first launched the initiative in 2022 to deliver transformative action across the sporting world and enable it to champion nature and contribute to its protection and restoration.

Sports for Nature Program Leader, Meredith McCurdy explained “Sports for Nature is honoured to welcome these three signatories, expanding the commitment of both the Olympic movement and the golf communities.

“It’s especially unique that we can officially welcome these organisations at Le Golf National, a course that has made significant efforts towards protecting and restoring onsite biodiversity.”

The LPGA announcement recognised Le Golf National’s commitment to sustainability highlighting a 40% reduction in water usage at the venue and its blossoming biodiversity which includes 409 different species of flora and fauna, including 13 heritage species and 33 species in decline.

According to its official website, the Sports for Nature initiative “aims to deliver transformative action for nature across sports, by 2030 and beyond, enabling sports to champion nature and contribute to its protection and restoration.”

Set up by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy, the initiative boasts a broad range of signatories from all across the sporting world ranging from local clubs and venues to international committees operating on a global scale.

The initiative’s S4N Framework outlines four key principles that can be harnessed “to tap into sports’ enormous potential to take on ambitious goals and drive positive change.”

These are protecting natural habitats and species, restoring nature wherever possible, understanding and mitigating risks to nature in supply chains, and inspiring positive action for nature across and beyond sport.