Wales Rally GB becomes first round of the World Rally Championship to go CarbonNeutral®

The Basics

What is climate change?
The prime cause of global warming is the build up of CO2 in the atmosphere. Every person and organisation produces CO2 – and the amount is known as a ‘carbon footprint’.  Because we all produce CO2, it’s the responsibility of everyone to try to reduce the amount they produce to help slow global warming. Major sources of CO2 emissions include energy used in the home and that produced by driving and flying. 

What does being a CarbonNeutral® event mean?
The CO2 produced by the event has been reduced to ‘net zero’.

What has Wales Rally GB done, then?

• Measured the event’s CO2 emissions, including participants’ energy usage and the travel of officials and marshals to, from and during the event, as well as all spectator travel
• Set in motion plans to reduce CO2 gradually through internal changes
• Immediately reduced CO2 emissions to zero through carbon offsetting

How has Wales Rally GB got to zero CO2 so quickly?
Event organisers are working on a sustainability programme to reduce what emissions they can internally, through initiatives like car-pooling for officials and marshals, replacing battery-powered torches with wind-up alternatives and putting in place a full recycling plan. The remaining emissions have been ‘offset’ through The CarbonNeutral Company – they organise for every one tonne of CO2 to be ‘neutralised’ by one tonne saved somewhere else in the world through a climate friendly project.  One ‘offsets’ the other.

Breakdown of Wales Rally GB’s emissions by activity:

Measurement:
Wales Rally GB produces 4,333 metric tonnes of CO2 – mostly through travel to and from the event (CO2 is traded internationally in metric tonnes)

What are Wales Rally GB’s future plans?
Since the competitors account for such a relatively low proportion of the entire event’s emissions, organisers will be able to significantly reduce the remaining emissions over the next few years through a dedicated sustainability programme. In the coming months, Wales Rally GB is set to announce full details of this plan.

Event organisers have worked hard to put in place a plan to reduce emissions for this year and ensure the event is sustainable for the future. As the internal reductions kick in and the event’s CO2 emissions drop, less carbon credits will need to be purchased to ensure that the event has net zero CO2 emissions.

Who is The CarbonNeutral Company?
Set up ten years ago, The CarbonNeutral Company is the world’s leading carbon offset and climate consulting business, working with over 300 businesses and 60,000+ consumer clients.

Facts and Stats
We all have a carbon footprint and produce a certain amount of CO2 emissions from the amount of energy we use in the home, the distance we drive and the holidays we take. Even at your desk, you can help reduce the amount of CO2 that is produced. If you are interested in calculating your CO2 emissions then log onto www.carbonneutral.com.