Hockey Australia signs UN Climate Change Framework

Hockey Australia (HA) is proud to announce it has signed the UN Climate Change Sports for Climate Action Framework, pledging the organisation’s commitment to environmental sustainability.

HA’s commitment to fulfilling the five principles outlined in the Framework aligns with a key action in the Sustainability pillar of the Australian hockey whole of sport 2023-24 strategy.

To join the UN Climate Change Sports for Climate Action Framework, organisations must commit to adopt the target of reaching net-zero by 2040, facilitate and plan action towards emission reductions, take immediate steps towards achieving climate goals, and publicly report annually on the steps that have been taken.

“Understanding the requirements and process to align and sign the UN Climate Change Sports for Action Framework was one of the actions that were identified in our whole of sport strategy, so to have this completed and now focus on what that means and what we put into place is really pleasing,” said HA CEO David Pryles.

“This is about how we as a sport can make smarter and impactful decisions on sustainability and contribute to making hockey more sustainable by lowering our environmental footprint across every facet of the organisation and the sport.”

“As outlined in the Framework, sport is a significant contributor to the negative impact of climate change through a variety of means.”

“By acknowledging this and pledging to do something about it, we are putting in place a dedicated plan and moving towards achieving net-zero.

“It is also acknowledged the capability sport has to be a platform to inspire and engage people to take action, be more sustainable and recognise how we can all do our bit to lessen our impact on the environment.”

The five principles of the UN Climate Change Sports for Climate Action Framework are:

• Undertake systematic efforts to promote greater environmental responsibility.
• Reduce overall climate impact.
• Educate for climate action.
• Promote sustainable and responsible consumption.
• Advocate for climate action through communication.

The UN Climate Change Sports for Climate Change Framework was formed from the goals set in the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which seeks to accelerate and intensify the actions and investment needed for a sustainable, resilient and net-zero emissions future.

“We welcome Hockey Australia as a signatory of Sports for Climate Action Framework and look forward to working with them alongside other signatories to set the pace for climate action,” said Danielle Magalhaes, Communications and Engagement Team Lead, at UN Climate Change.

Claire Poole, CEO of Sport Positive commented, “Australia is already experiencing severe impacts from the climate crisis, and with 4 out of 5 Australians agreeing sport is a significant part of their culture, sporting organisations are critically well placed to help drive the changes needed to mitigate climate change. Hockey Australia showing this commitment is a great example of Australian sport commitment and leadership.”

The HA Environmental Sustainability Working Group is in the process of finalising a strategy to be released later in the year. The objective of this strategy is to understand and reduce the environmental impact of Australian hockey from a whole of business design perspective, including facility development, program and event delivery, plus management, staff and participant actions.

Hockey Australia’s allegiance to the Framework follows the International Hockey Federation (FIH), who joined the UN Climate Change Sports for Climate Action Framework last month.

Some examples to be implemented by world hockey’s governing body include:

• The Paris 2024 Olympic hockey pitch being a carbon zero turf, with more than 60% of the artificial turf made out of materials from re-growable sugar cane.
• The need to water fields that are used in top level competitions will stop after the Paris 2024Olympic Games, with the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup the first to be played on ‘dry’ turf.