The European Olympic Committees (EOC) EU Office is proud to announce a significant milestone as the 18 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) involved in the OCEAN Project have measured their carbon footprint for the baseline year 2022 as part of their commitment to reducing their impact on climate change.
Supported by the Öko-Institut, this marks the first step in a collective effort to tackle the challenges of climate change within sport.
The comparative analysis of the NOCs’ footprint, soon available here https://www.euoffice.eurolympic.org/sport-governance-platform/ocean/, highlights the primary sources of emission for the 18 NOCs, from transport, event organisation and energy consumption to procurement or commuting.
This process is more than a measurement, it is a commitment to action. Each NOC is now working toward adopting a carbon footprint reduction strategy by April 2025, aligned with the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework (S4CA) and supported by the International Olympic Committee. The process has included specialised training for the ‘Climate Action Officers’ of each NOC on climate change, measures to reduce the impact of transport or procurement and communication about sustainability.
As the OCEAN project enters its final phase, project partners want to ensure that the knowledge extends beyond NOCs and organise regular workshops and presentations for local sport organisations, schools and communities across Europe. To empower all sport organisations, the OCEAN Project is developing free tools and resources designed with and tested by the 18 NOCs. These include:
Pool of Actions for carbon footprint reduction (available now): a collection of 100+ measures and examples of good practices to implement for carbon reduction.
Guide for Climate Action Officers (from January 2025): a practical step-by-step guide for sport organisations to go through the carbon footprint reduction process.
Carbon Footprint Reduction Strategies (from April 2025): an overview of 18 NOCs’ strategies to provide inspiration to guide others.
OCEAN Carbon Footprint Measurement Tool (from January 2025): an online tool, available for free, in English, Spanish and French, for all sport organisations to measure their carbon footprint. The Tool was designed by the Öko-Institut with the 18 NOCs and therefore fits the scope of activities of sport organisations.
These resources will be freely available through the OCEAN Toolbox platform, making it easier for sports organisations to measure, reduce and act on their carbon footprints.
The results and upcoming tools were presented during the “Reducing Sport Organisations’ Carbon Footprint: Understanding Our Starting Point and Getting Ready for Climate Action” webinar on 26 November. The OCEAN Project invites all sport organisations to join the movement, access the resources and become agents of change.
Contact & Information
Eva Rebmann l OCEAN Project Manager
rebmann@euoffice.eurolympic.org
About the OCEAN Project:
The OCEAN project aims to empower National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to acquire relevant knowledge to measure their carbon footprint and define tailored carbon reduction strategies in order to reduce their carbon emissions and strengthen good governance in the field of climate action.
Coordinated by the EOC EU Office, OCEAN gathers a consortium involving 18 European NOCs (NOCs of Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Greece, Ireland, Kosovo, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain), the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), and renowned experts from the Öko-Institut.
The OCEAN project is a Cooperation Partnership co-financed by the European Commission through the Erasmus+ Programme.
