IPL will green its games
and bring environmental message to millions
of fans
Mumbai (India), 22 January
2010 - The Indian Premier League (IPL) today
committed to a strong vision of green growth
by launching a partnership with the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Under
the new initiative, the IPL will green its
cricket league and bring environmental awareness
to millions of cricket fans around the world.
Through this long-term
partnership with UNEP, the IPL joins the
ranks of global events, such as the Olympic
Games and the FIFA World Cup, which are
working with the UN Environment Programme
to green their events.
The new partnership,
which kicks off with the India Premier League
that will be played over 45 days starting
on 12 March, is a first-of-a-kind initiative
undertaken by any sporting body in India.
UNEP will advise the IPL in its commitment
to green its sport events, spread environmental
messaging to fans through its star players
and green its merchandising.
Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General
and Executive Director of UNEP, said: "We
are delighted to join with the IPL to catalyze
environmental awareness through one of the
world's oldest and most popular sports.
Like cricket, environmental interest is
growing exponentially and across the globe
- so this initiative could become one of
the most powerful environmental outreach
campaigns in India and beyond. Together
the IPL and UNEP are sending a clear and
powerful signal to millions upon millions
of spectators and fans: namely that if we
all bat together, we can score fours and
sixes for a more sustainable future."
In close cooperation
with UNEP, the IPL will calculate its carbon
footprint and compensate the emissions of
some of its games. As the partnership develops,
the IPL will compensate more and more of
its games and green its operations, from
waste management to energy efficiency and
water.
UNEP will assist the
IPL in its long-term green vision of achieving
climate neutrality, supporting the IPL's
efforts to reduce emissions through the
introduction of renewable energy and to
compensate for emissions generated by the
League.
The IPL will utilize
the popularity of the League and its players
to promote UNEP's environmental initiatives
such as the Climate Neutral Network, the
Billion Tree Campaign and World Environment
Day. Through the popularity of cricket,
the IPL will also promote environmental
awareness, highlighting the 2010 International
Year of Biodiversity, the Clean-Up the World
Campaign and other environmental initiatives
in coming years.
Notes to Editors:
United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP)
The United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) is the voice for the environment
in the UN system. Established in 1972, UNEP's
mission is to provide leadership and encourage
partnership in caring for the environment
by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations
and peoples to improve their quality of
life without compromising that of future
generations. UNEP is an advocate, educator,
catalyst and facilitator promoting the wise
use of the planet's natural assets for sustainable
development. It works with many partners,
UN entities, international organizations,
national governments, non-governmental organizations,
business, industry, the media and civil
society. UNEP's work involves providing
support for: environmental assessment and
reporting; legal and institutional strengthening
and environmental policy development; sustainable
use and management of natural resources;
integration of economic development and
environmental protection; and promoting
public participation in environmental management.
For more information,
visit www.unep.org
DLF Indian Premier League
2010
DLF IPL 2010 is set
to kick-off in Hyderabad on March 12th and
will feature last year's league winners
the Deccan Chargers taking on the Kolkata
Knight Riders. The DLF IPL 2010 will be
played over 45 days across India and will
feature a grand total of 60 games, with
the addition of a third place play-off.
The League will also see the addition of
four new home venues in the form of Nagpur
for the Mumbai Indians, Vishakapatnam for
the Deccan Chargers, Ahmedabad for the Rajasthan
Royals and Dharamshala for the Kings XI
Punjab.
For more information
on all the action in IPL 2010 log onto www.IPLT20.com
the official online destination of the league.
For further information, please contact:
Adfactors PR
UNEP
Satinder Bindra, UNEP Director of Communications
Nick Nuttall,
UNEP Spokesperson and Head of Media
