Sky to make Spurs v Chelsea first net zero major football match

Sky and Tottenham Hotspur are working together to make Spurs v Chelsea the first net zero carbon major football match.

The 19 September clash is backed by the Premier League and COP26, with reduced emissions and carbon offsets combining to reach the stated goal. Reductions will be made through the energy used to power the game, travel to and from the stadium for both fans and clubs, and dietary choices at the stadium.

Sky is working with Natural Capital Partners to offset the other emissions from the game, and alongside Tottenham will plant trees locally around the stadium.

Branded #GameZero, Sky, Tottenham, and the UK government are using the game to raise awareness of the threat of climate change ahead of COP26 summit later this year in Glasgow. Sky has already committed to being net zero by 2030, aiming to cut its own emissions, and those created by customers using its products, by 50% in that time.

Its productions are all albert certified, and its production will have net zero impact. Earlier moves such as moving all UK and Irish OB Generators to biofuel, making Sky Sports Studios powered by 100% renewable electricity, and making, since January 2021, all Sky Sports UK productions carbon neutral have helped towards this.

Jonathan Licht, managing director at Sky Sports, said: “We’re proud to be working with COP26 and Tottenham Hotspur to make #GameZero the world’s first net zero carbon football match at the elite level. We hope that by using the power of sport, we can inspire and support football fans to make simple changes to reduce their carbon footprint and make more climate-friendly choices.”