Automotive

Formula 1 announces plan to go carbon neutral by 2030

Formula 1 announces plan to go carbon neutral by 2030
Formula 1 has laid out a plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030
Formula 1 has laid out a plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030
View 1 Image
Formula 1 has laid out a plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030
1/1
Formula 1 has laid out a plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030

It may not come as a huge surprise that the Formula 1 World Championship generates massive amounts of CO2 by flying drivers, teams, cars and infrastructure to more than 20 countries across each racing calendar. It has today, however, pledged to clean up its act in a big way, with a commitment to become entirely carbon neutral by 2030.

Formula 1’s own figures place its carbon footprint for 2019 at a total of 256,551 tonnes of CO2. What’s interesting is how little of that comes from the cars themselves through testing and race day, which account for just 0.7 percent of the total. The majority, it turns out, comes from transporting all that freight and personnel around the globe, which amounts to more than 71 percent.

The new sustainability plan aims to wipe out the carbon footprint entirely, with plans to move to “ultra-efficient logistics and travel.” F1 will also work towards offices, team facilities and factories that are 100 percent powered by renewable energy. Those carbon emissions that can’t be eliminated will be offset through “biological and technical sequestration programmes.”

That’s not to say that more efficient race cars won’t be part of the mix. As part of the strategy, F1 aims to equip its vehicles with net-zero carbon power units driven by sustainable fuels.

“We believe F1 can continue to be a leader for the auto industry and work with the energy and automotive sector to deliver the world’s first net zero carbon hybrid internal combustion engine that hugely reduces carbon emissions around the world,” says Chase Carey, Chairman, and CEO of Formula 1.

As part of the new strategy, F1 is also aiming to make its events sustainable by 2025. It says that will mean no single-use plastics, while all waste will be re-used, recycled or composted. It also plans to offer incentives for fans traveling to the track in sustainable ways, such as cycling, walking or traveling in electric vehicles.

“In launching F1’s first-ever sustainability strategy, we recognize the critical role that all organizations must play in tackling this global issue,” says Carey. “By leveraging the immense talent, passion and drive for innovation held by all members of the F1 community, we hope to make a significant positive impact on the environment and communities in which we operate. The actions we are putting in place from today will reduce our carbon footprint and ensure we are net zero carbon by 2030.”

Source: Formula 1

5 comments
5 comments
aksdad
Ha ha haaa! Formula 1 concerned about CO2 emissions? Sure thing. It wouldn't have anything at all to do with the superior power, torque, and acceleration of electric motors that drive all of the record-shattering multimillion-dollar hypercars today, no siree!
Nobody
Motor sports are doomed to become totally uninteresting.
neoneuron
10 Years?? Sounds like they are kicking the can down the CO2 road. Looks like it's going to happen when elephants can fly.
Bill S.
Boy , I sure will sleep better tonight knowing F-1 will make the world a cleaner and safer place for generations to come. Maybe we can now get NASCAR to give up stock car racing in favor of "soap box derby" . How about getting the Chinese and Indians to clean up their act. They are the real polluters of the planet, not a bunch of zillionaires driving in circles.
paul314
You can buy carbon offsets at retail for $10 a ton in onesies. Figure half that or less for quantity purchases. So offsetting their entire carbon footprint would be $1-2 million. Out of total F1 spending of roughly $2.5 billion. We're talking about rounding errors here. (Imagine for a moment if they promised 10% of their budget to rewewables and carbon offsets instead of less that 0.1%.)