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Sport Events and Emissions Reporting: An Analysis of the Council for Responsible Sport Standard in Running Events

Author

Listed:
  • Brian P. McCullough

    (Laboratory for Sustainability in Sport, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA)

  • Andrea Collins

    (School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3WT, UK)

  • Jack Roberts

    (WSP USA, Seattle, WA 98154, USA)

  • Shelley Villalobos

    (Council for Responsible Sport, Portland, OR 97229, USA)

Abstract

The use of fossil fuels has pushed the world towards crucial ecological tipping points and a climate crisis. The rapid decarbonization of all sectors is necessary to limit the worst impacts of this. Within the sports and sport-tourism sectors, event organizers and policymakers are increasingly interested in assessing the environmental impacts of events and identifying the types of strategies needed to reduce their carbon footprint. This paper responds to calls for studies to examine and compare the environmental impacts of multiple sport events and contribute towards providing an enhanced understanding of key factors influencing the scale of those impacts. It focuses on assessing the carbon footprints of 28 mass participation running events in North America. The paper uses a methodology developed by the Council for Responsible Sport as part of its Responsible Sport Standard for Events accreditation process. The results highlight that variations existed between the events in terms of their reporting of GHG emissions. The average event generated 3363 MtCO 2 e (0.23 MtCO 2 e per capita), with Scope 3 emissions accounting for 99.9% of the total emissions, and 98.9% being attributable to participant travel. This demonstrates how the Council’s methodology can assist event organizers by providing valuable insights into the carbon footprint of their events and its potential value as an environmental management tool. The paper also discusses some of the challenges faced by event organizers in measuring the carbon footprint of their event, suggests strategies for reducing event emissions, and provides recommendations for strengthening the Council’s methodology and its contribution to global sustainability efforts.

Suggested Citation

  • Brian P. McCullough & Andrea Collins & Jack Roberts & Shelley Villalobos, 2023. "Sport Events and Emissions Reporting: An Analysis of the Council for Responsible Sport Standard in Running Events," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-12, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:19:p:14375-:d:1250947
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Matt Dolf & Paul Teehan, 2015. "Reducing the carbon footprint of spectator and team travel at the University of British Columbia's varsity sports events," Sport Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(2), pages 244-255, April.
    2. Calvin Jones, 2008. "Assessing the Impact of a Major Sporting Event: The Role of Environmental Accounting," Tourism Economics, , vol. 14(2), pages 343-360, June.
    3. Barbara Haya & Danny Cullenward & Aaron L. Strong & Emily Grubert & Robert Heilmayr & Deborah A. Sivas & Michael Wara, 2020. "Managing uncertainty in carbon offsets: insights from California’s standardized approach," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(9), pages 1112-1126, October.
    4. Laurent Castaignède & Frederic Veny & Johnathan Edwards & Véronique Billat, 2021. "The Carbon Footprint of Marathon Runners: Training and Racing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-10, March.
    5. Brian P. McCullough & Jamee Pelcher & Sylvia Trendafilova, 2020. "An Exploratory Analysis of the Environmental Sustainability Performance Signaling Communications among North American Sport Organizations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-17, March.
    6. Dolf, Matt & Teehan, Paul, 2015. "Reducing the carbon footprint of spectator and team travel at the University of British Columbia's varsity sports events," Sport Management Review, Elsevier, vol. 18(2), pages 244-255.
    7. Stavros Triantafyllidis & Robert J. Ries & Kyriaki (Kiki) Kaplanidou, 2018. "Carbon Dioxide Emissions of Spectators’ Transportation in Collegiate Sporting Events: Comparing On-Campus and Off-Campus Stadium Locations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-18, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dante M. Gandola & Francesco Asdrubali, 2024. "A Methodology to Evaluate GHG Emissions for Large Sports Events," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-21, February.

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