The Global Forum for Sport and Environment 2008

A major United Nations conference on sport and the environment held in Alicante from 4-6 October to coincide with the start of the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09.

The Global Forum for Sport and Environment (G-ForSE) is an event that focuses on the links between sports and climate change and seeks to inspire stakeholders to take action to reduce their carbon footprint.

Organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and NPO Global Sports Alliance (GSA), G-ForSE 2008 was sponsored by Volvo and held in Alicante in conjunction with the launch of the Volvo Ocean Race.

The forum attracted up to 200 delegates from international sports organisations and federations, sports clubs, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), sporting goods manufacturers, civil society organisations and the media.

Highlights of the event include: The first plenary session which focused on opportunities and challenges in greening sports and saw representatives of Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010, South Africa 2010 and Sochi 2014 outline measures they’ve incorporated to reduce the impact of their events on the environment.

The Formal Opening Session with opening speeches from Ms. Teresa Ribera, Secretary of State for Climate Change, Spain; Mr. Leif Johansson, President AB Volvo, CEO Volvo Group; and Mr. Achim Steiner, UNEP’s Executive Director.

In the afternoon sessions, delegates tackled different topics amongst which is the impact of climate change on sports, such as skiing, and how sporting events, both large and small, can offset or reduce their emissions. The final session of the day then turned to question of ‘raising public awareness on the environment and climate change through sport’.

The final plenary which was held at the Hotel del Alba focused on solutions for climate change through sport and discussions about the wording of an “Alicante Declaration on Sport and Climate Change.

Since the first G-ForSE was held in Tokyo in 2001, the forum has proven to be an avenue for showcasing best practices on sport and the environment. It has also over the years enabled and encouraged sports organisations, events organisers and the sporting goods industry to integrate environmental issues into their activities and events.