Click here to visit the EnvironmentALS webpage
Montreal, Sept. 28, 2008 – The Montreal Alouettes are proud to announce today that they have become the first Canadian professional sports team to “go carbon-neutral,” taking a leadership role and hoping to start a new trend in the pro sports industry. The Club is taking significant steps to help tackle the critical issue of climate change with the launch of its “EnvironmentALS” program, which outlines how the team will work to reduce its environmental impact.
“We understand how important it is for everyone – companies and individuals alike – to reduce their environmental footprint and to help fight climate change. By going carbon neutral and implementing an environmental action plan, we hope to demonstrate our leadership and act as a model for young people, our fans, the community and the field of professional sports,” said Larry Smith, President and CEO of the Alouettes.
| The David Suzuki Foundation is thrilled with the initiatives taken by the Alouettes and is proud to be associated with the team. At the Alouettes’ Sept. 28 home game, the David Suzuki Foundation and the Club will together encourage the team’s fans to show their environmental commitment by promoting Suzuki’s Nature Challenge. The two organizations will also cooperate closely under the banner of the “CN Adopt an Alouette” program, which has long worked towards raising youth and community awareness about the importance of education, and will add an important element of environmental consciousness to the program beginning in 2008-09. |  |
“We hope the Alouettes will be able to inspire other professional teams that are seeking to take significant actions to fight climate change and show greater social and environmental responsibility,” said Dr. David Suzuki, co-founder of the David Suzuki Foundation. “We are very happy to be associated with the Alouettes at a time when the Foundation is opening its first Quebec office in Montreal.”
A formal audit of the Alouettes was done by Planetair, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising the awareness of individuals, corporations and institutions as to how their daily activities impact the global climate. Planetair fosters the belief that behavioural changes are required to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and issues calls to action to offset GHG emissions that cannot be effectively reduced.
In order to neutralize the greenhouse gases generated by their sporting and corporate activities, the Alouettes have purchased carbon offsets from Planetair – the first Canadian provider of Gold Standard carbon offsets – which are the most stringent label currently available.
By going carbon neutral, the Club will annually offset 400 tonnes of CO² – the equivalent of taking close to 100 cars off the road for one year. This includes the carbon emissions generated by the Club’s administration and stadium operations, day-to-day team transport, and away-game travel.
Over the past several months, the Alouettes have put in place a series of initiatives to reduce their environmental footprint. These include a residual materials sorting program, which allows recycling of about 14 tonnes of materials at the stadium at the end of each season. Also, by reducing the usage of stadium lights by one quarter, the team has lowered its daily energy consumption by 345.6 kWh.
The Montreal Alouettes intend to pursue their environmental action plan while raising the awareness of their fans, the community, their suppliers and their sponsors about the fundamental principles of environmental sustainability.
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