CARBON NEUTRAL SPORT CLUBS NETWORK
About Us
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
Carbon Neutral Sport Clubs Network
The ‘Carbon Neutral Sports Clubs Network’ (C ZERO SPORTS CLUBS) project, funded by Erasmus+ and the European Union, focuses on implementing eco-friendly practices in small sports clubs across Europe to combat climate change with the partnership of Turkiye, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Italy, Portugal and Greece. Its goal is to encourage small sports clubs across Europe to adopt sustainable practices and take climate action. The project aims to create a network of carbon-neutral sports clubs, promoting environmental activities such as using recycled materials, eco-friendly lighting, bicycles for daily activities, and organizing planting activities.
Project partners consists of:
- Kargenc Environment Sport Club from Türkiye
- Bulgarian Sport Development Association from Bulgaria
- Educons University from Serbia
- Dubrovacka Zajednica Sportova from Croatia
- Ginasio Clube Portugues from Portugal
- Kinitiko Ergastiri Sport And Recreation Association from Greece
- L’ORMA SSD ARL
The aim of the project and carried activities in the scope of the project is to make the sport clubs have some actions for climate change and to promote them to organize environmentalist activities, To create a eco-friendly design and governance of in the sport clubs, to attract people’s attention on climate change with their volunteers, athletes, stakeholders, etc. by using their power in their region, to make the sport clubs to organize eco-friendly activities, to decrease the carbon emission and have more eco-friendly and environmentalist activities in the sport clubs, and to support the climate institutions with the network and be a power to fight against climate change with sport clubs.
In the scope of the project, firstly, Climate Footprint Measurement Program was developed to calculate sports clubs’ climate footprint using the GHG Emission Calculation and after 4 months implementation of the program by the sport clubs, the program was turned into C- Zero Sport Club released on Google Play Store to enter data of the sport clubs related to fuels, bioenergy, electricity grid, heat and steam, own or controlled vehicles, waste disposal, business travel, employees commuting, food consumption, water supply, hotel, and flights.
The project’s primary outputs related to environmental sustainability are as follows:
- Eco-Friendly Operations in Sports Clubs:
- Reduction in Carbon Emissions:
- Behavioral and Organizational Changes:
- Environmental Compensation Activities:
- Creation of C Zero Sport Clubs Network:
The Carbon Neutral Sports Clubs Network (C ZERO SPORT CLUBS) is actively inviting diverse sports clubs from across Europe to join its pioneering initiative aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and carbon neutrality within the sporting world. With a commitment to transforming the environmental practices of sports clubs, the network offers a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and collective action towards a greener future in sports.
These actions are designed to create a sustainable network of sports clubs actively contributing to the fight against climate change through practical, eco-friendly initiatives. The project outputs contribute to carbon neutrality and provide a replicable model for other sports clubs and NGOs in Europe.
Work Performed And Main Achievements
- Climate Footprint Measurement Program and Implementation of the program:
The Climate Footprint Measurement Program aims to help shorten the inevitable learning curve by providing sports clubs with detailed guidance on implementing environmental activities in their sports clubs (to club members, athletes, and fans). The program includes the values a sports club should have regarding an environmentalist approach: what kind of activities the sports clubs will arrange, which materials they will use, if they will plant a tree, what its value for the environment, etc.
This program is an evaluation program of the sports clubs’ governance and activities, and it helped the sports clubs to observe and evaluate themselves regarding the environmentalist approach and an encouraging/motivating program for environmentalist activities.
Development of the Climate Footprint Measurement Program, enabling clubs to track their carbon emissions using the GHG Emission Calculation methodology.
Pilot implementation over 4 months with various green ativities, where participating clubs collected data on:
– Energy consumption (electricity, heating, fuel use)
– Transportation (club vehicles, business travel, athlete commuting)
– Waste management (single-use plastics, recycling)
– Water and food consumption
- Transformation of the program into a mobile application(C-Zero Sport Club App) on Google Play Store, allowing clubs to monitor and optimize their sustainability practices.
- Establishment of the Carbon Neutral Sports Clubs Network
– Formation of the C ZERO SPORT CLUBS NETWORK, creating a platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and scaling sustainability efforts across Europe.
– More clubs beyond the initial partners joined the network, expanding the project’s impact.
– Establishment of partnerships with environmental NGOs, municipal authorities, and grassroots sports organizations.
Carbon Neutral Sport Clubs Network In Action
The Carbon Neutral Sport Clubs Network (C ZERO SPORT CLUBS) is actively inviting diverse sports clubs from across Europe to join its pioneering initiative aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and carbon neutrality within the sporting world. With a commitment to transforming the environmental practices of sports clubs, the network offers a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and collective action towards a greener future in sports…
RESULTS AND IMPACTS
– Development and Implementation of the Climate Footprint Measurement System
– Launch of the C-Zero Sport Club App on Google Play Store
– Improved Environmental Practices in Sports Clubs
– Expansion of the C-Zero Sport Clubs Network
– Positive Behavioral & Organizational Changes
– Knowledge Sharing & Replication Potential
The activity results effectively addressed and served the needs of the target groups. By engaging athletes, coaches, and sports organizations in eco-friendly activities, the initiative raised awareness and promoted sustainable practices within the sports community. Participants gained valuable knowledge about environmental conservation and practical tools for implementing climate-friendly actions, aligning perfectly with their aspirations for a greener and more responsible sports culture. The enthusiastic involvement and positive feedback from all stakeholders underscore the success of the initiative in meeting its goals.
Throughout the project, local activities such as workshops, community events and awareness campaigns were designed to engage participants, raise awareness and promote the project objectives. Feedback from participants was positive, indicating that the activities successfully met their expectations and needs. By focusing on relevant themes, including sports and community engagement, the project promoted greater participation and engagement among target groups. Overall, the activities were well received and had a significant impact, contributing to the project objectives.
The C ZERO SPORT CLUBS project successfully demonstrated that sports organizations can play a critical role in combating climate change by implementing practical and measurable sustainability strategies. The initiative not only reduced the environmental footprint of participating clubs but also established a lasting network for continued climate action in European sports. With its replicable model, digital tools, and engaged network, the project sets a benchmark for future environmental sustainability initiatives within the sports sector.
COORDINATOR CONTACT DETAILS
Kargenc Environment Sport Club
Address: Köprübaşı Mh. Mehmet Akif Ersoy Cd. Serdivan Spor Salonu Serdivan/Sakarya
Email: kargencclub@hotmail.com
Strategic Blueprint
for the Carbon Neutral Sport Clubs Network:
Vision, Mission, Principles, Ethical Values, and Goals
