Sky and Tottenham Hotspur to make Premier League fixture against Chelsea the world's first net zero carbon major football match, ahead of COP26

Spurs' home game against London rivals Chelsea is aiming to be net zero, through emission reductions and offsetting the remaining footprint through reforestation projects

#GameZero will educate football fans on the role that the sport they love can play in addressing climate change and demonstrate how they can take positive actions to reduce their own carbon footprint

The game is supported by the UK government as hosts of COP26, the UN Climate Change Conference, and is part of Sky's sponsorship of the Summit

Sky has partnered with Tottenham Hotspur to host the world's first net zero carbon football game at an elite level.

The September 19th fixture between Tottenham and Chelsea is supported by COP26 and the Premier League, and will be branded #GameZero, with the ambition of being net zero carbon. This is achieved when emissions are reduced as much as possible, with the remainder offset through natural projects that remove emissions from the atmosphere.

Sky, Tottenham Hotspur and the UK Government want the game to raise awareness of the threat of climate change and inspire football fans to make simple changes that will help reduce their carbon footprint.

Jonathan Licht, Managing Director, Sky Sports, said: We're proud to be working with COP26 and Tottenham Hotspur to make #GameZero the world's first net zero carbon football match at the elite level. We hope that by using the power of sport, we can inspire and support football fans to make simple changes to reduce their carbon footprint and make more climate-friendly choices.

Tottenham Hotspur Chairman Daniel Levy said: We are delighted to be the chosen partner of Sky on this ground-breaking initiative that will demonstrate the role our game can play in addressing the urgent issue of climate change. As the Premier League's greenest club, Tottenham Hotspur is passionate about our planet - we look forward to showcasing our wide range of sustainable measures that are already in place and encouraging our fans to take simple actions that can make a huge difference.

COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma said: Climate change affects every aspect of our lives, including the sports that we love to watch and play. We can all take steps to help protect the planet for future generations, including in major sporting events. That is why I am delighted COP26 is working with Sky, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and the Premier League to show how football is going One Step Greener by hosting the world's first major net zero football match.

#GameZero will demonstrate the green steps that fans, the sporting world, and broadcasters can take to work towards a zero-carbon future. Sky is a Principal Partner and Media Partner to COP26 and has committed to be net zero carbon by 2030, cutting its own emissions and those made by customers' using its products, by 50% over the next decade.

At Spurs' 21/22 season opening fixture - the 1-0 victory against Premier League Champions Manchester City - carbon measurement specialists RSK used direct data, including a fan survey to measure regular matchday emissions, including fan journeys; squad journeys; energy and waste at the stadium and matchday employee commutes, to create a baseline of emissions to look to reduce.

For the match to be net zero, Sky and Tottenham will work to minimise emissions from matchday activity such as energy used to power the game, travel to and from the stadium for both fans and clubs, and dietary choices at the stadium. Hundreds of individuals involved in the game - from Sky Sports' producers to Spurs' chef feeding fans and crew - are working to making #GameZero happen.

Earlier this year, Tottenham Hotspur was named the Premier League's greenest club following a study carried out by the UN-backed Sport Positive Summit, with a range of sustainable measures implemented across its operations. The Club and Sky Sports are also both signatories of the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework and both Sky and Spurs are founding partners of Count Us In - a global movement aimed at mobilising one billion people in the fight against climate change.

#GameZero will be played six weeks ahead of the UN's COP26 Climate Change Conference, hosted by the UK Government in Glasgow, which brings together world leaders to accelerate global action to fight climate change. It will also form part of the UK Government's Together for our Planet campaign which celebrates what individuals and organisations across the country are doing to go #OneStepGreener to protect the planet ahead of COP26.

Sky Sports and the UK Government are also partnering with CUP26 . From 7th September, fans can sign up for free at cup26.co.uk and score goals for their club by completing planet-protecting activities. The tournament trophy will be awarded in the first week of COP26.

Notes to editors:

Sky

For those emissions which remain, Sky is working with Natural Capital Partners to restore natural carbon sinks which remove emissions from the atmosphere, by supporting a community reforestation in East Africa, and creating new UK native woodlands to support the UK's net zero objectives. Sky and Tottenham will also plant trees locally to the stadium later this year.

Sky Sports' production of the game for television viewers will also have a net-zero impact, and like every Sky Sports UK host broadcast in 2021 it will be an albert certified production.

Sky Sports is passionate about reducing its impact on the environment and has already improved operations in a number of ways, including introducing remote productions that reduce the amount of equipment and crew travelling to events, as well as moving all UK and Irish OB Generators to biofuel. Sky Sports Studios are powered by 100% renewable electricity and since January 2021 all Sky Sports UK productions

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