Munster Rugby has published its second annual Environmental Impact and Sustainability Report.
The 66 page report reviews the province’s ongoing work in environmental sustainability and climate action and is an example to other sporting bodies on what can be done and why it is important.
Philip Quinn is part of our Sport for Business Sustainability Group in partnership with SSE Airtricity and we hope to look at the report with Philip and Laura Lahiffe at our next gathering of the group in April of this year.
“The report is crucial to state our commitments clearly,” said Quinn, “and is an honest appraisal of the things we have done to date. It outlines our carbon emissions, overall targets and action plan, and highlights our achievements and progress.
“As we grapple with more intense weather events across our rugby seasons, we want to inspire collective climate action. Using our own rugby language, our Environmental Impact and Sustainability Report 2024 aims to go further with our communication of this complex issue already impacting our people and our communities.”
“We delve into our ‘why’, our ‘how’ and share what happens behind-the-scenes to encourage others to join us and help us on our journey.”
Action highlights and data insights:
• Our total carbon footprint was 6,892 tCO2e in 2022-23
• 70% of emissions were generated by fan travel and 30% from operations
• Carbon emissions from energy and fuel down 23%
• 644 solar panels installed on Virgin Media Park stadium’s roof
• 77% of car fleet transitioned to fully electric
• Introduced reusable cups in Thomond Park’s west stand
• Launched Munster March campaign, engaging supporters on travel to stadiums
• Developed a Climate Transition Action Plan
• Retained UN Sport for Climate Action Framework signatory status
• Signed up to UN Global Compact
Munster is also calling on fans to get involved by inputting their ideas and the actions they want to see to turn Munster Rugby into a sustainability trailblazer in the world of rugby, in Ireland and for its local communities.
The report outlines the importance of what is being done saying “We want to continue to develop the sport we love in the places we love, and to be a force for delivering positive environmental and social impacts in our local communities, creating this vastly different world we know we need. What we do in the next five to ten years, will determine all our futures.”
SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
This is sustainability in sport in action. Identifying where things can be done better and making incremental improvements while all the time explaining why.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
We will be bringing our Sport for Business Sustainability Group together for a first meeting of 2025 in April with details to follow this week.
MEMBERSHIP AND EVENTS
Munster Rugby are among the 300+ organisations that are members of the Sport for Business community. SSE Airtricity are our partners in Sustainability
