A new Alliance in the health, fitness, and activities sectors is set to support the sectors’ move towards a net-zero future. The new organisation, Sport Environment and Climate Coalition (SECC), was launched with the purpose of leading the sector toward a sustained carbon-neutral future.
With the conflict in Ukraine escalating and the increase in energy prices, supporting the sector toward decarbonisation has never been more necessary. The aim of the Alliance will be to harness the influence of the sector in both the commercial and third sectors to create change.
Their first task will be to assess the current level of knowledge in the sector before moving toward creating a long-term plan for environmental sustainability.
The organisations involved represent a cross-collaboration of resources and support, including the Sport and Recreation Alliance, UK Active, the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE), the British Association for Sustainable Sport (BASIS), Sport England, Sport Scotland, Sport Wales, and UK Sport.
Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive, commented on the launch and the importance of the sector in moving toward sustainability:
“The sport and physical activity sector has a responsibility to help address the environmental and sustainability challenges facing our planet. We’re proud to be part of the SECC and we are more determined than ever to lead on this agenda and work with the sector in the modernisation of its operations to help achieve our shared ambitions for net-zero.”
The move comes as many other gym facilities have taken similar steps toward carbon neutrality. The Gym Group has been working with the Science Based Targets initiative for the past few years, and the fitness facility, Gold Gym, has since opened a carbon-neutral gym in Berlin.
To find out more about the progress of SECC, see here.
