Motorsport UK is pleased to announce a significant milestone in its commitment to sustainability after adopting the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework.

The framework, which unites 270 signatories including sporting organisations and their communities in working towards the low carbon economy target established by global leaders with the Paris Agreement, has helped inform the development of the Motorsport UK Sustainability Strategy.

Participants of the framework commit to adherence with five key guiding principles, which are then incorporated into an individual organisation’s strategies, policies, and procedures, thus setting the stage for a wider dissemination of the message and long-term success.

These principles are:

Principle 1: Undertake systematic efforts to promote greater environmental responsibility

Principle 2: Reduce overall climate impact

Principle 3: Educate for climate action

Principle 4: Promote sustainable and responsible consumption

Principle 5: Advocate for climate action through communication

Each of these five key principles feeds directly into and is enhanced by Motorsport UK’s Sustainability Strategy, which focuses on the governing body and membership organisation’s desire to lead, inspire, and enable sustainable, accessible, inclusive, and safe motorsport throughout the following four main areas of activity:

• Community engagement, equality, diversity and inclusion
• Climate action
• Leadership and resilience
• Legacy and education

The full strategy will be launched in the run-up to COP26, the United Nations Climate Change Conference to be hosted in Glasgow this November. With over 170 world leaders set to meet across two weeks to debate key commitments and actions, a total of 30,000 delegates will participate in presentations, debates, and negotiations in this landmark event, with the impact sure to have a knock-on effect on future government legislation.

Motorsport UK CEO Hugh Chambers said: “We have spent a lot of time this year carefully creating a comprehensive strategy with a roadmap containing over 50 objectives up to 2030 aimed at creating a sustainable future for UK motorsport. An important part in building our strategy was benchmarking what other sporting federations are doing around the world and ensuring we are aligned with global best practice.”

“Committing to the UN Sports for Climate Change Framework was a logical step in this respect and our targets will align with and make a contribution to the global climate change effort.”

“Our strategy has now been endorsed by the board unanimously and I look forward to communicating more about this in the coming weeks.”

Lindita Xhaferi-Salihu, UNFCCC Secretariat – UN Climate Change, said: “UN Climate Change welcomes the leadership of Motorsport UK in contributing to key areas of action with this movement, and invites other governing bodies, sport federations, leagues and clubs, to join and jointly develop the climate action agenda in sports, by leading and supporting specific working groups and by bringing their expertise, tools and best practices into this framework.”