Sports Environment Alliance's 2019 Summit to explore practical change

With an agenda focussed on practical ways the sporting industry can take a leadership position by limiting its impact on the environment, the third Sports Environment Alliance (#SEASummit) will see change and decision makers gather together at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Tuesday 5th March.

The Summit will see national, state, community and professional sporting associations join with all levels of sport and government, as well as facility managers, and sustainable service providers to explore what a zero net carbon future may look like for the sporting sector.

With the recent environmental commitments from global sporting organisations announced at COP24 under the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, the 2019 SEA Summit will turn its efforts towards creating the first ever climate commitment by the Australasian industry - an explicit commitment that SEA Executive Director, Dr Sheila Nguyen hopes will spur further action towards a clean future.

Dr Nguyen explains “our clean future needs leadership from a voice that matters, and for many in Australasia sport is a trusted voice.

“Sport leads on many social issues, and environment is one that matters to us. Without healthy, clean spaces, we are without a home for sport and we are stepping up to the plate this year in focusing our energy towards developing a promise to our clean future.

“This year we will be developing the first ever climate commitment for sport in Australasia as a direct response to the United Nations Sports for Climate Action framework released at COP24 late last year.”

Among featured speakers at the event is the Victoria Racing Club’s Executive General Manager Operations, James Reid, who believes that the Summit and the creation of an Australiasian Climate commitment will help to unite and provide direction within the Australian sporting industry.

Reid advised “we operate on a global platform so it makes sense to create a meaningful extension of world sporting efforts by organisations like the UN, to apply it to a Victorian and Australian context.

“Solutions that we will all rely on down the track are often seeded at events like this. It’s important to be part of that conversation in order to contribute ideas and experiences, and learn from others.”

As part of the Summit, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in eco-tours of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Margaret Court Arena and the Victoria Racing Club, highlighting how these major sports infrastructure SEA members work to limit their environmental impact.

The #SEASummit's own carbon footprint will be offset by CBL Markets, a global exchange platform for energy and environmental commodity markets.

Click here for event and registration details in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

Images: The MCG, venue for the #SEASummit and a consistent leader in sustainability initiatives (top) and Dr Sheila Nguyen (below).