ECB signs up to UN's Sports for Climate Action Framework

The board has launched a new Environmental Sustainability Plan for Cricket, with three priority areas: tackling climate change, managing resources and waste, and protecting the natural environment

The ECB has promised to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by half by the end of the decade and reach net zero by 2040.

The targets form part of the new Environmental Sustainability Plan for Cricket report, which includes signing up to the UN's Sports for Climate Action Framework.

The ECB is the first national cricketing governing body to sign up, although Gloucestershire, Surrey and MCC are already committed to the initiative.

In the report, the ECB recognises the threat climate poses to cricket as well as the sport's own negative impact, and outlines three priority areas: tackling climate change, managing resources and waste, and protecting the natural environment.

It also accepts the sport, both at professional and recreational level, needs to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, with the report stating two in five clubs are at risk of drought or flooding.

^{Two in five clubs are at risk of drought or flooding [Hollie Adam/Getty Images]}

^{Edgbaston held a Go Green Game in September 2023 with a focus on climate change [Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images]}

They also aim to "build a more circular economy with longer lifecycles" to reduce resource consumption and waste, with eliminating single-use plastic at all venues by 2025 among the targets.

Examples given of where the game can improve include measuring and reducing energy and water consumption, with an emphasis on renewable sources; promoting active transport to and from facilities and venues; and promoting recycling, including the re-use of kits and equipment.

However, the report said the expansion of cricket would not be negatively impacted.

"[The] expansion of cricket has increased participation, diversity and engagement, and brought social value to our communities and stakeholders," the report outlined. "But it has also increased overall emissions.

"Reducing the amount of cricket and achieving less social value cannot be our approach to reducing emissions.

"We shall need to look at lower carbon alternatives and efficiencies to achieve reduction targets."

ECB chair Richard Gould said: "As the national governing body for cricket in England and Wales, the ECB has frequently supported clubs to get back on their feet and become more resilient to climate change impacts. But we recognise these impacts will become more frequent and more severe so, as a game, we need to go further.

"We also acknowledge that what we do as an organisation, whether that is travelling to play cricket in India, hosting Ashes Test Matches or running the Hundred, all has an impact on our climate and our environment. As a responsible organisation we want to do more to reduce this impact and work to inspire change for the better.

"Our vision is for cricket to be an inclusive game for all, that is growing sustainably."