Luis Vicente’s Post

Glad to report the just Football for sustainability summit that was held in Berlin, Germany on the 11th and 12th of July 2024. It was attended by many significant contributors such as: Rio Ferdinand, Tabea Kemme, Benjamin Adrion and Verónica Boquete, as well as Laura McAllister, Vice President of UEFA, Lise Klaveness, President of the Norwegian Football Federation, Michele Uva, Director Social & Environmental Sustainability of UEFA, Steffen Simon, Director "Public and Fans" of the DFB, Ronan Evain, Executive Director Football Supporters Europe, Joachim Walltin, CEO FIFPRO Europe, and Special Olympics Germany Sven Albrecht, who spoke on the legacy of major sports events following Germany hosting the Special Olympics World Games held in Berlin in 2023.   The Football for Sustainability Summit marked a unique opportunity to use the great potential for cross-sector collaboration between different stakeholders from all over the world – from football to politics, civil society, the private sector and academia – to discuss and decide on joint action towards a more sustainable future. The Football for Sustainability Summit has displayed a great example of how sports and especially football can become a relevant force in contributing to the United Nations Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in all dimensions and all over the world. The results will also inform other major global sport events, such as the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.”   The following, Jürgen Dusel, German Government's Disabilities Commissioner, Daniela Wurbs , Kickin Germany, and Charles Nyambe President and Managing Director Special Olympics International, Africa Region, led a session to explore the role of sport in promoting inclusion and making our global society more inclusive. This session was delivered by discussing best practices and challenges with esteemed experts and the aim is to identify next steps for embedding inclusion into the DNA of sport and sporting events.   This presentation was followed by participants that engaged in small, facilitated group discussions in which they brainstormed initial steps for maintaining the momentum of inclusion discussions. In the next steps, we will explore how to enhance collaborative efforts for a more inclusive practice of sport and use sport as a catalyst for greater inclusivity in society. Special Olympics shared our signature Unified Sports model which has overwhelmingly been identified as the most impactful tool to achieving inclusion.

📖 ➡ A Sustainable Future for Football: Implementing Sustainability Strategies to Drive Progress  🌱As we head to the Social Football Summit this week, in our latest blog we look at the implementation of #sustainability strategies in football to drive progress for #sustainabledevelopment. ⚽️Sustainability is attracting increasing attention in #football and this ambition for a more sustainable future must be translated into tangible actions through robust sustainability strategies which effectively implement #ESG targets. Read our latest blog here 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eKrcwgM8

I have recently conducted research and analysis regarding the sustainability measures taken by German football clubs. The ⚽ Deutsche Fußball Liga’s (DFL) reformative🌳sustainability criteria within the licensing regulations marked a significant step towards integrating environmental and social responsibility in football. 🇩🇪Germany, now considered a climate protection superpower, has extended its commitment to sustainability into its football industry, setting a precedent for other leagues. In late 2021, the Bundesliga International GmbH (Germany's top football league) implemented these sustainability criteria as part of the licensing requirements. This move established the Bundesliga as the first football league to enforce such measures, creating a benchmark in the industry. 📜 Key regulations include, the necessity of a sustainability strategy📗, code of conduct and inclusivity♀️, and environmental reporting.🌏 Critique: Despite these commendable efforts, there are critiques about the actual environmental impact of the Bundesliga's sustainability measures. It is pertinent to note that, from 2022 to 2023, the Bundesliga reduced its sustainability requirements for clubs by half. In recent times, Bundesliga clubs’ sustainability goals have been undermined by their choice of commercial partners. According to an analysis by Euractiv, the energy footprint of Germany's football league remains significant, highlighting areas where further improvement is necessary. The critique suggests that while the Bundesliga has set a standard, more rigorous actions and continuous monitoring are essential to achieve genuine sustainability in the sport. Club Initiatives: While researching, I noted that several Bundesliga clubs have taken significant steps towards sustainability. TSG Hoffenheim Fußball-Spielbetriebs GmbH, for example, has created the PreZero Arena, which became the first European football stadium🏟️ to be certified as a zero-waste arena by TÜV Süd. Bayer 04 Leverkusen has at times put an effort to reduce the carbon footprint of the fans by providing free public transport along with a ticket to their home ground, the BayArena. 👣 Such measures are reflective of Germany's leadership in sustainability as Germany has a long history of stringent environmental regulations and policies promoting sustainability.🤝 There is high public awareness and support for environmental protection, driving clubs and organizations to adopt sustainable practices. A big reason for ♻️development in Germany is its advancements in green technology, facilitating the adoption of eco-friendly solutions in various sectors, including sports.

Attending the Football for Sustainability Summit 2024 in Berlin amidst the UEFA Euro Men's Football Championships was a profound experience that highlighted the urgent need for action. While the discussions on collaboration, trust, and transformation in sports were inspiring, it also sowed the seeds to move beyond words and take concrete steps. Many shared stories reminded us that collaboration is essential in the face of adversity. Yet, why do we still see fragmented efforts and disunity in our initiatives? This fragmentation often stems from a reluctance to let go of control. Letting go of control can foster trust and create a safe space to be your authentic self - not only for yourself, but for the people around you, too. But are we truly ready to relinquish that control? In too many communities, voices are still silenced. We must find ways to compromise without compromising our core values, and we need to embrace the discomfort that comes with building genuine trust. Transformation and community were central themes, urging us to transcend borders and embrace our collective identity. Sports, especially team sports, show us the power of collaboration and shared experiences. Why then, do we struggle to apply these lessons off the field? Creating safe spaces in sports where everyone can truly be their authentic selves requires allies. Are we ready to be those allies and challenge harmful practices sometimes even disguised as cultural traditions? Empowering marginalised communities begins with ensuring freedom of speech and providing platforms for their voices. Yet, many still face censorship and oppression. Understanding diversity means recognising the dynamics of privilege and power. Are we willing to confront and dismantle these power structures? Democracy thrives on inclusion, and it is the duty of leaders - on every level at work and in life - to ensure everyone's rights are respected and upheld. Because we ARE all equal and have the same rights, and leaders are obligated to ensure people can truly LIVE those rights. But democracy is failing if we do not act. Inspiring words and speeches will be meaningless if the pledges, commitments, and, most importantly, the actions to implement initiatives that can create real, impactful changes do not come to fruition. It's time for us to open our eyes, let our egos outside the room and finally act on what we preach. The future of sports, and indeed our collective future, depends on it.   Thank you to all the many incredible speakers, and Common Goal for organising the summit. Hamzah Sarwar Dr Kate Simpson Dorcas Amakobe Maja Göpel Zoe-Jane Littlewood Gilson da Costa Isabella Echeverri OLY Moya Dodd AO Jürgen Dusel #equality #intersectionality #sustainability #fss2024 #footballforsustainability

🌱 How can sport play its part in the transition? 🌍 Today, we were delighted to welcome Henri Landes on HEC Paris campus—a former professional tennis player, entrepreneur and speaker on sustainable development and the preservation of the living. On the eve of an Olympic year, Henri shared his vision of Sport, a strategic sector with multiple interests, whose responsibility in terms of environmental and social impact, is often fraught with contradictions and stiff positions. Henri explained how Sport, which also federates positive imaginations, can be a vector for the Transition and shape a desirable future. He talked about his involvement with Landestini, la terre est notre destin. an association that provides a space for experimentation and innovative projects, the latest of which being "La Coupe de France du potager des clubs de tennis" in partnership with @Terre d'Impact, a fund of the French Tennis Federation. Henri shared key insights: 🤾♀️ The powerful role athletes Thet can play as symbols of commitment. While sports and athletes inspire youth on social issues, there's untapped potential to connect them with environmental causes through food consumption. 🏆 Sport business as opportunities to change models and innovate He delved into the business side of sports, highlighting the need to reshape models driven by large events. A shift from a linear to a functional economy involves reconsidering the entire value chain and engaging sponsors. Progress is evident, especially in outdoor sports, showcasing the positive impact sports can have on the environment within the business realm. 👌 He emphasized his mission to bring the economic world into the NGO and education sphere, coaching stakeholders in the sports world toward more eco-friendly behaviors. To achieve systemic change, he highlighted the crucial role of disruptive actors—companies, entrepreneurs, and citizen consumer pressure. Let's embrace the transformative power of sports in shaping a sustainable and desirable future! #SportsForTransition #SustainabilityInSports #PositiveImpact #OlympicGames2024 Know more about his initiative: https://lnkd.in/gP4q2Fwn with Marie-Pierre Lethiec - Seyfried, Jérôme Flammier, François Gemenne, Pauline Laravoire

Strengthening the Amalgamation of Sport for Development and Competitive Sport After the geopolitical shifts that started around 2014 or thereabouts and that saw some of the original supporters of SDP pivoting to what may best be described as ‘sport diplomacy’ agendas, many SDP organisations have struggled to continue their missions. Some of this no doubt is rooted in the reality that most of the SDP orgs were/are based in challenging developing contexts that led to some levels of dependency on the big brother/sister supporters (Aussie Sports Commission, UK Sport, NIF and others). In retrospect, even when efforts were made to establish strategies for independent sustainability, the reality of SDP orgs’ lack of influence within the local (and global) sport eco-system demanded a different approach. After reading @NormanBrook's post today (and a recent post on the Sport & Dev platform), I thought it may be useful for us to revisit the notion that SDP stands on its own… as an add-on to the wider sport sector. I’m also thinking that the suggestion in the Sport & Dev post re addressing the gaps between funding for competitive sport versus SDP may not be the most effective approach to addressing the issue. We may wish instead to consider a stronger amalgamation of competitive sport and SDP (as is happening… albeit at a much slower pace and scale than we would want). I fully agree that unifying the SDP agencies is a step in the right direction, but I also believe that it is critical that we seek to strengthen the amalgamation of competitive sport and SDP in more meaningful ways. The Olympism365 project is a good example of the commitment of the IOC to SDP… the challenge is how do we get the IOC and other mega sport stakeholders to increase (and embed) the scope and scale of support for SDP as part of their core sport mandate… and then how do we facilitate a similar culture that trickles down to the local sport governing bodies… and government departments of sport.

Had a really impactful Teams Meeting this afternoon with Caroline Carlin AIEMA who works at Enovation Consulting | BCorp | ESG in Sport. The topic of discussion - Sustainability in Sports. It was really interesting to hear Caroline’s perspectives and background of championing sustainability in sports from her time at Southampton Football Club, to more recently inspiring the momentum of best practice strategies in the Serie A Italian Football League. Caroline’s expertise did not go unnoticed and she is a great example of how the sports industry can be a catalyst for the sustainability transition. By harnessing environmental accreditations and circular economy initiatives (our discussion of Formula 1), we can take positive steps in protecting the sports we value. As many things do, financial resources and investment plays a substantial role in achieving sustainability, however, through the development of tangible projects NOW, we can really make a difference instead of prosponing the challenge we inevitably face through commitments like Net Zero by 2050. Sport attracts millions of people every year through global events, so we should utilise this platform to align stakeholders and prosper climate action. Thank you Caroline for the enlightening discussion, I would love to talk again in the near future. #sustainability #sustainabilityinitiatives #climateaction #esgstrategy #collaborationforchange #socialresponsibility #football #formula1

Could a slight repositioning of sustainability alter how it's perceived and tackled by leaders in the sports industry? Instead of treating environmental responsibility as an isolated concern, what if we viewed it as a means to bolster other crucial strategic goals in #sports? After attending a great Leaders in Sport Summit last week, I emerged with a newfound sense of optimism and the notion that by reshaping the narrative around #sustainability in sports, we might see it climb higher on the priority list for industry leaders. What struck me most was how, in almost every session and panel, speakers indirectly alluded to sustainability. While they weren't explicitly discussing climate action and environmental purpose, their conversations about sponsorship, engagement, technology and investment hinted at how these areas could be enhanced through a genuine commitment to sustainability. I reflect on this a bit more in the comments.

Football: A Catalyst for Sustainable Development As UEFA EURO 2024 started we are thrilled to see the impactful strides being taken in the realm of football to champion environmental sustainability. Simon Rasch innovative efforts at the German Football Association (DFB) are a testament to how sports can lead the way in integrating eco-friendly practices into their core operations. Here are some key highlights: 1. Sustainable Mobility Initiatives: Encouraging fans to use public transport for UEFA EURO 2024 is a commendable step towards reducing the carbon footprint of major events. This initiative promotes greener transportation options and raises awareness among millions of fans about the importance of sustainable travel. 2. Empowering Local Clubs: The climate fund supporting German amateur clubs' climate protection projects is fostering a culture of environmental responsibility from the grassroots level. Tools like the "Kick-off for Green" project provide practical resources, including a carbon footprint calculator, making sustainable practices accessible and actionable for all clubs. 3. Education and Employee Engagement: Integrating sustainability into the DFB employee mindset through workshops and initiatives ensures that change starts from within the organization. By educating staff and embedding environmental principles into their daily operations, the DFB sets a strong example for other sports organizations to follow. 4. Sustainable Event Management: Initiatives such as a free carpooling platform and the promotion of vegan and regional catering options at events demonstrate the DFB's commitment to reducing the environmental impact of football matches. The significant increase in sales of vegan sausages at women’s cup finals highlights how sustainable choices can be embraced by fans when provided with appealing options. 5. Strategic Framework and KPIs: The inclusion of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria in the DFB’s licensing scheme and the establishment of key performance indicators for sustainable mobility, carbon management, and waste at UEFA EURO 2024 provide a structured and measurable approach to achieving sustainability goals. UEFA EURO 2024: A Global Stage for Sustainability UEFA EURO 2024 presents a unique opportunity to amplify these efforts on a global stage. By making sustainability a key pillar of the tournament, UEFA not only enhances the event's environmental credentials but also inspires other sports organizations and fans worldwide to adopt greener practices. Football, with its vast reach and influence, can indeed be a powerful force for promoting sustainable development. As we look forward to UEFA EURO 2024, the initiatives undertaken by the DFB and UEFA will hopefully set a precedent for future sporting events, showcasing that sustainability and sports can go hand in hand for a greener future. #sustainability #biodiverstiy #education #EUROcup #EURO2024 #Football #event #UEFA #sports #Europe

A summer of sports... and sustainability 🌱🥇 The Euros, Copa America, Tour de France, The Olympics and other mega sports events are on the cards this summer. These events and sports in general are big business. But what happens when you add sustainability to the complex cocktail of sports? In this piece, our experts Patrick Moloney, Thomas Trier Hansen and Gustav Plantin explain how embracing sustainable strategies isn't just a choice but a vital path to maximising revenue and securing eco-conscious partnerships: https://lnkd.in/d4rtpM_D #SportsBiz #SustainableFinance #SustainableChange