NAILSWORTH, ENGLAND – JANUARY 17: Kevin Long of Birmingham City celebrates with teammate Krystian … [+]
The original world league football competition, the English Football League, has redeveloped its ‘Green Clubs’ environmental sustainability scheme. Bi-seasonal assessments will take place and clubs now have the ability to achieve bronze, silver and gold status.
What are Green Clubs?
EFL Green Clubs is a league-wide voluntary scheme that supports football clubs in England to improve their environmental practices and operations. It provides training and support to clubs as they develop green practices in areas such as purchasing, staff engagement and measuring their carbon footprint. The scheme is delivered in partnership with GreenCode, an environmental accreditation organization owned by environmentalist and football club chairman Dale Vince OBE.
Of the 72 member clubs in the EFL, 38 are registered with Green Clubs, which were originally launched in 2021. The new inclusion of bronze, silver and gold status will require clubs to achieve a minimum number of points for each level and have some specific measures in place. Examples include a published environmental policy, a baseline carbon footprint, setting targets and having a director or board member responsible for environmental sustainability.
Wycombe Wanderers footballer David Wheeler believes the beautiful game can play a huge role in creating positive action around climate change, saying: “Clubs are hugely influential in their local communities, so it’s fantastic to see the EFL develop and expand its Green Clubs. Scheme.”
A clear roadmap for EFL clubs and more opportunities to celebrate the work being done to reduce their environmental impact is what director of equality, diversity and inclusion David McArdle hopes the improved scheme will achieve. “By championing the achievements of this season’s participating clubs, we want to encourage further environmental action across the League.” he said.
Why does football need environmental standards?
Over the next 30 years, climate hazards such as floods, storms and heatwaves pose an increasing threat to football grounds in England, according to climate modelling. In September 2024, EFL League Two side AFC Wimbledon saw 100,000 liters of water collapse onto the pitch and flood their beds when a nearby river burst its banks from a month’s worth of rain that fell in a matter of hours.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – SEPTEMBER 24: An aerial view shows a sinkhole that has appeared in the AFC … [+]
Football players have previously spoken out about the impact of climate change on playing conditions during their careers and the need for the football industry to reduce its carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Green Clubs are voluntary but show an evolution towards increased ambition and transparency through training and accreditation. Other football leagues in Europe have set voluntary and mandatory environmental sustainability criteria for their clubs in recent years.
In 2021, Germany’s DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga was the first football league globally to include mandatory environmental sustainability criteria in licensing for the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2. Premier League clubs agreed to a mandatory minimum standard of environmental commitment in 2024 In Spain, the Environmental Fair of La Liga Project Play has created a knowledge platform and hosts challenges to develop innovative solutions.
