As part of a longstanding commitment to sustainability, Surrey County Cricket Club and all related subsidiaries are today (Thursday 2 March) pledging to reach Net Zero by 2030.
Surrey has also signed up to the United Nations’ ‘Sports for Climate Action’ framework.
The Club is aiming to reduce its carbon footprint by over 80% with the remaining unavoidable emissions being ethically offset through certified carbon removal credits.
The Club has set an ambitious target of reducing total CO2e emissions by 45% by the end of 2024. The initial focus will be on rapidly reducing the direct emissions that result from the Club and the running of The Kia Oval venue, this includes reducing electricity consumption, improving operational processes at the venue and increasing the quantity of recycling.
The Galadari Stand, opened in 2021, had solar panels installed on the rooftop and Surrey and The Kia Oval are exploring options to generate energy on site including solar, wind and kinetic flooring. Any new developments to the ground will have sustainability at its forefront.
Almost four fifths (78.6%) of the emissions related to the Club and the venue come from external sources. This includes emissions of suppliers to the ground as well as those who come as guests to The Kia Oval. Surrey will be working very closely with all partners to support them to reduce their own emissions and progress on their own journey to Net Zero.
As a popular venue for spectators as well as those who attend events and conferences held at The Kia Oval year-round, Surrey and The Kia Oval are in an influential position to encourage members of the public to make more sustainable decisions over food, transport and waste-reduction.
Surrey County Cricket Club Group (SCCCG) includes Surrey County Cricket Club, Kennington Oval Limited and Oval Events Holding Limited. All these organisations are included in the Net Zero pledge. SCCCG will also work closely with the Surrey Cricket Foundation, the Club’s official charity and the organisation responsible for grassroots cricket in the county, on their own sustainability journey.
The United Nations’ Sport for Climate Action framework is a commitment from sporting organisations to reduce their carbon emissions in a progressive and ethical way. As well as committing to accurate reporting on the journey to reducing emissions.
Surrey CCC and The Kia Oval have a longstanding dedication to improving their sustainability. The Kia Oval was one of the first grounds in the country to stop selling drinks in disposable cups in 2015 and stopped using plastic straws and bags in 2018. The Club and the venue have installed an ORCA food waste system that drastically reduces the amount of waste that is disposed of offsite.
Steve Elworthy, Chief Executive at Surrey Cricket, said “We are under no illusions of the scale of the challenge that we are facing in order to achieve Net Zero by 2030. However, we are fully aware that is an important part of our responsibility as a Club to reduce the impact that we have on the environment, and it is a challenge that we are relishing. This is going to take a considerable amount of hard work but we are fully committed to achieving our target.”
Emily Iveson-Pritchard, Head of Sustainability at Surrey Cricket, said “It is vital that we minimise the impact that we have on the environment. We will be taking our own radical steps to achieve our targets but we also know that it will be crucial for us to bring the hundreds of thousands of people who visit The Kia Oval on that journey with us as well, we cannot reach Net Zero without their commitment.”
Hear more from Head of Sustainability Emily Iveson-Pritchard.
