Sport Bay of Plenty's Commitment to Sustainability

Sport Bay of Plenty is proud to lead by example in the sport, recreation, and play sector, demonstrating the power of carbon tracking and sustainability efforts. With the support of BayTrust, we have actively worked to reduce our carbon footprint and inspire other organisations to follow suit.

As global temperatures surpass the 1.5°C threshold, the impacts of climate change—such as extreme weather events and rising sea levels—are becoming more evident. These changes are affecting where and how sports and recreation activities take place, making it crucial for organisations like ours to take action.

Sustainability Action Plan

In 2021, we launched our Sustainability Action Plan, which set clear goals around energy efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainable transport. Partnering with sustainability experts Tadpole (formerly known as Catalyst), we took the following steps to reduce our environmental impact:

• Carbon Footprint Measurement - We implemented a toolkit to measure and report our annual carbon footprint.
• Baseline Emissions Calculation - With expert help, we calculated our baseline emissions and set reduction targets.
• Annual Reporting - We developed a carbon management plan and verified our emissions annually.

Key Strategies for Emission Reduction

Based on our carbon footprint data, Sport Bay of Plenty took the following three targeted actions to reduce emissions:

Hybrid Vehicles

In the 2022-23 financial year, we transitioned 57% of our fleet to hybrid vehicles, cutting both fuel costs and emissions.

Carpooling

We actively promote carpooling among staff to reduce the number of vehicles on the road.

Energy Efficiency

We installed energy-efficient LED lighting in our Tauranga office, contributing to lower electricity consumption.

Climate change poses a growing threat to the sport and recreation sector. Extreme weather will lead to more event cancellations, facility damage, and unsafe conditions for outdoor activities. By mid-century, many Winter Olympic cities may no longer be able to host outdoor Alpine sports due to warmer temperatures.

Sport Bay of Plenty is committed to sustainability, not only reducing our own carbon footprint but encouraging others to do the same. Together, we can ensure a greener future for sports and recreation while minimising our environmental impact.