Tennis Europe has joined the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Sports for Climate Action initiative as a signatory of the ‘Sports for Climate Action’ Framework.
The Framework was created to help sports organisations reduce emissions caused by their operations and to leverage the worldwide popularity of sport to engage millions of fans and players in the effort to build a more sustainable future.
Tennis Europe Vice-President Cem Tinaz said, “"Sustainability is not optional. If we want a future for our sport and for our world, we must contribute, and we must do so seriously. As Tennis Europe, we have a responsibility to become a sustainable organisation and to help our member nations, tournaments and players do the same. Joining the UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action Framework is how we formalise that responsibility."
Participants in the Sports for Climate Action Framework commit to adhere to the following four principles:
- Design and implement a net-zero climate strategy
- Partner with key stakeholders to deliver joint climate action
- Champion transformative climate action through storytelling and communication
- Prioritise climate resilience and global solidarity
Tennis Europe's sustainability strategy was first presented in 2023. As part of the Erasmus+ Green Tennis project, the organisation has completed a comprehensive study of the environmental impact of tennis across the ecosystem, covering tennis clubs, events, and players. The resulting sustainability guidelines will be published in the coming weeks, followed by an interactive platform and a dedicated app to support clubs, venues and events in implementing sustainable practices.
Earlier this week Tennis Europe announced a partnership with Bounce, aimed at providing access to practical solutions for players, clubs and federations to help preserve ball performance over time while reducing the sport's environmental footprint.
Other tennis-related signatories to the UNFCCC include the ATP Tour, the Lawn Tennis Association and Tennis Australia.