Even though the current news is dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the fact remains: Climate change is one of the most urgent issues of our time. Heat records, droughts, and floods are on the rise, and developing and emerging countries are already suffering disproportionately from the consequences of climate change. The majority of historical emissions can be attributed to industrialized nations.
To address global challenges, unusual social alliances and new partnerships are needed. Now, there is a collaboration between the Alliance for Development and Climate Foundation and Sports for Future. Today, the "Sports4Trees" campaign is being introduced.
German Development Minister Gerd Müller: "Sports for Future is a great initiative. It shows: Don't wait, start yourself. 22 million athletes have already gathered under the umbrella of Sports for Future. Many of them are already involved in climate protection, with sports clubs becoming climate-neutral, supporting reforestation projects, or offering sustainable fan merchandise. I hope that we can inspire many more actors from the sports environment for development and climate protection."
The Alliance for Development and Climate Foundation continues the work of the alliance that the federal minister initiated in 2018. The alliance mobilizes non-governmental engagement for the promotion of development and international climate protection through voluntary CO2 compensation.
Stefan Wagner launched the Sports for Future initiative in July 2019, aiming to use the connecting power of sports to address the challenges of the climate crisis together with athletes, clubs, and associations. Co-initiators included TSG Hoffenheim, Werder Bremen, VfL Osnabrück, Deutsche Sportjugend, Global United e.V., as well as individual athletes such as Fabian Hambüchen and Anni Friesinger-Postma. The more than 250 supporters, including the hockey national teams and the German Football Association (DFB), collectively represent over 22 million athletes.
With the support of the Dietmar Hopp Foundation, Sports for Future has already initiated the first projects. Dietmar Hopp says, "We are the ones who can still avert a climate catastrophe. It is our duty to protect this planet for future generations. The idea of using the possibilities of sports through Sports For Future to gather as many supporters as possible for tackling the climate crisis – making a big impact out of many small impulses – immediately excited me."
With the new reforestation campaign "Sports4Trees", Sports for Future aims to demonstrate what is possible as a sports community to actively shape the necessary change. The first tree planting and education projects in Senegal, Nigeria, Congo, Tanzania, and Kenya are already in progress with partners such as myclimate, WWF, or the Zenaga Foundation.
"People can easily engage in climate protection in their everyday lives and support our reforestation projects: for example, putting the euro change at the checkout of the local club into a donation box provided by us, purchasing an online climate ticket, as TSG Hoffenheim already offers, organizing fundraising runs, and much more. Clubs or sports events can also use the campaign as a vehicle on the path to climate neutrality," says Stefan Wagner, emphasizing, "For all of this, we need a strong network of supporters."
The Alliance for Development and Climate Foundation is an essential partner for additional offerings for companies, institutions, and clubs: "We mobilize for high-quality projects in developing and emerging countries that promote local development and protect the climate," says Peter Renner, Chairman of the Foundation.
There are many examples of implementation by the Alliance for Development and Climate: from biogas from residues in Honduras to sustainable forestry in the Amazon region to the renaturation of tropical rainforests in Uganda. In 2019, 2.5 million tons of CO2 were compensated by Alliance supporters. This corresponds to the CO2 emissions of 300,000 EU citizens per year.
All interested parties have the opportunity to follow the live conversation.
Further information about Sports4Trees: www.sports4trees.com and on social media channels Instagram and Facebook. #readysteadygrow
Statements from Sports4Trees supporters
See also as a video compilation here: www.sports4trees.com
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, FC Bayern Munich:
"Ecological sustainability is a very important topic for our club. We use natural resources sparingly, try to avoid waste, and have the vision to offset our CO2 footprint at home games by 2030. [...] Only together can we make a significant contribution to climate protection."
Benjamin Folkmann, German Sport Youth:
"Together through sport [we want] to make a contribution to climate protection. With enthusiasm for a great cause with organized children's and youth sports in Germany."
Jörg Förster, Board of the General German University Sports Association:
"The university sports of Germany can and wants to make a contribution to climate protection [...]. We not only bring in our network of 202 member universities but will also put future events into the context of Sports4Trees. We are pleased to be part of a strong alliance for our common future."
Dr. Peter Görlich, Managing Director of TSG Hoffenheim:
"Our climate ticket is [...] a proven medium [for climate protection]. We have already been able to plant 25,000 trees in Uganda [...]. It's about our future."
Boris Herrmann, Team Malizia, current participant in the Vendée Globe:
"In the Philippines, we have started setting up a mangrove park together with Mama Earth, and our goal is to plant a million mangroves here by the end of the Vendée Globe, and thanks to your help, we are getting much closer to this goal."
Torsten Weber, Cologne Business School (scientific partner):
"We support Sports4Trees through scientific analyses and studies."
Ralf Kröger, Board of Grün-Weiß Mühlen:
"Our small village club focuses entirely on youth work. Because that is our future. But our future also needs a clean climate. [...] We will celebrate our centenary next year. One hundred years – one hundred trees. That's our action. It's just a small beginning, and there is still much to do."
Nike Lorenz, hockey national player:
"We, as athletes, support Sports4Trees. Together through sports [we want] to make a contribution to climate protection."
Marc Lampe, Managing Director Butterfly-Store Berlin:
"[...] In the first step, we will, together with other table tennis stores, place tree saving cans at our checkouts so that our customers can also participate in this great reforestation project. [...] Team spirit is the ultimate for athletes. Together, we can achieve this."
Michael Walther, Water Extreme Athlete:
"With my Zero Emissions project and the whole network, I am supporting Sports4Trees. [...] Let's tackle this."
For more information about Sports4Trees, visit here.
