‘Sustainable cricket’ at Edgbaston is a run in the right direction

Warwickshire County Cricket Club has announced a raft of measures to try and reduce the impact of September’s IT20 match.

Having already secured some significant climate-related wins in the past year, Edgbaston Stadium has now confirmed a number of initiatives designed to make events more sustainable. Many of these do not involve infrastructure investment, and relate to one of the biggest footprints, the crowd in attendance. 

Deployed for the New Zealand national team’s IT20 match against England, management are taking a two-pronged approach. Emissions, it is is hoped, will fall significantly compared to a normal game, while awareness of sustainability and climate issues linked to sport will increase among fans. 

Free National Express public transport services will be available to ticket holders. The carrier’s standard buses will be included in this, as will a specially commissioned shuttle service from Birmingham New Street railway station direct to the ground. Additional provision for e-bikes and e-scooters has also been confirmed. 

More volunteers will be positioned on major walking and cycling routes from the city to the stadium, with extra signage clearly marking out directions. Meanwhile, the match itself, along with preparation and clean up days, will be powered entirely on locally sourced solar energy.

These steps build on progress already made at Edgbaston, including cutting waste by one-third, serving 80% local produce from kitchens, including items from the Edgbaston allotment, deploying low energy LED lighting and saving 562,000 plastic items through the use of ‘e-cups’. The drive forms part of the Edgbaston Sustainability pledge, with the facility aiming to be the most sustainable cricket stadium in the UK.

‘The aim of the Go Green Game is not only to reduce our emissions but to raise awareness amongst staff, spectators and our community of the influence the sporting and event industry can have on sustainability and climate change,’ said Edgbaston’s Sustainability Manager, Lydia Carrington, who also explained the venue is working with the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in an effort to minimise the impact of players, with the New Zealand team set to fly more than 11,300miles from Auckland to Birmingham for the match.

More on sport, travel and the environment

https://environmentjournal.online/headlines/premier-league-emissions-2023/

https://environmentjournal.online/headlines/business-travel-sustainability-record/

https://environmentjournal.online/headlines/fly-less-climate-friendly-travel/

https://environmentjournal.online/features/can-aviation-ever-be-truly-sustainable/

Image: Warwickshire County Cricket Club