UN Climate Change News, 24 January 2020 - The German Football Association (DFB), governing body of football in Germany and founding member of both FIFA and UEFA, is the first national football association and the 100th sports organization to join the Sports for Climate Action Framework.
DFB President Fritz Keller and Secretary General Dr. Friedrich Curtius signed their declaration of commitment to the Framework in Frankfurt on Wednesday.
“We are delighted to welcome DFB, the first national football association and the hundredth signatory of Sports for Climate Action to the Sports for Climate Action Framework. We look forward to working together to develop concrete steps and measures that will help the beautiful game of football score a winning goal for climate action,” said Lindita Xhaferi-Salihu, who leads work on the Sports for Climate Action Framework at UN Climate Change.
By joining the Sports for Climate Action Framework, the DFB has committed to walk the talk and work collaboratively with other signatories in the global sports community to address climate change and raise climate awareness and action among fans.
Specifically, signatories to the Framework, now including the DFB, commit to five clear principles:
- Undertake systematic efforts to promote greater environmental responsibility
- Reduce overall climate impact
- Educate for climate action
- Promote sustainable and responsible consumption
- Advocate for climate action through communication.
By acting on these principles, signatories will combat climate change directly and together with sports fans and the general public enhance and accelerate global climate action. Through this industry-wide platform, the sports community has committed to contribute actively towards achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
Football can only be played in a stable nature. Thanks to the cooperation with the United Nations and further measures, we will be able to significantly enhance our efforts for environmental and climate protection," said Fritz Keller. "Recently, we have commissioned measurement of the carbon footprint of the DFB. On this basis, we will develop a strategy and very concrete targets. From my perspective, it is crucial that we take DFB employees along in this journey.
DFB’s action starts at home with the commitment to take climate action and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and water and paper consumption, for example. The association’s Headquarters new 50,000 m² building will be powered by solar energy, lit with efficient LED lamps, equipped with a rainwater cistern, and offer electric car charging stations. DFB’s efforts as an individual association will aggregate with the greater efforts of the sector, and the cooperation will bring the industry closer to reaching its targets.