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British Cycling has published its first long-term sustainability strategy, which includes the target to achieve net zero by 2035 and to halve carbon emissions by 2030.
Developed with the support of sustainability consultants Think Beyond, and contributions from across the cycling community, the strategy also sets out the vision to become world leaders in the delivery of sustainable events, and continue to advocate for more people to make short journeys by bike.
In addition to its focus on reducing its own emissions the strategy champions the power of the bike, recognising that if everyone in the UK who owned a bike cycled for journeys under five miles, rather than taking travelling by car, it could save an estimated 10 million tonnes of carbon emissions and save the NHS £30.8 billion a year.
A detailed baselining exercise found that British Cycling’s total carbon emissions equate to 10,824 tonnes of CO₂e –equivalent to the annual emissions of more than 850 UK citizens.
This was then broken down into direct emissions from activities and resources it owns and controls (scope 1), indirect emissions associated with the purchase of energy (scope 2), and indirect emissions from British Cycling’s value chain (scope 3).
Of these emissions, British Cycling found that the largest contributions came from its own supply chain (55%), business travel (34%) and electricity for its HQ at the National Cycling Centre (4%).
British Cycling will be measuring its future progress against this 2022/23 benchmark year.
Action
British Cycling believes it has already made “good progress” on a number of measures to reduce carbon emissions.
One example is its ambition is to transition its fleet of cars and vans to low and zero-carbon vehicles, with the support of partner Shell UK.
Through Shell UK’s Avelia platform, which contributes to the cost of sustainable aviation fuels, British Cycling will inset 353.08 tonnes of CO₂e, abating all of the Great Britain Cycling Team’s projected air travel in 2024.
Between July and November 2023 British Cycling fully offset the 22,700kg of CO₂e from 7,100 litres of fuel in its fleet of cars and vans, using nature-based solutions.
This offsetting involves supporting projects that protect nature and restore the environment, known as carbon credits.
Recognising that cycle-sport events contribute significantly to the sport’s carbon emissions, British Cycling has created a new Planet Positive programme to provide funding and resources to grassroots event organisers to support them in delivering sustainable events and activities.
Ahead of the strategy’s publication, British Cycling external affairs and marketing director, Caroline Julian, said: “Our first sustainability strategy is a celebration of the brilliant work already taking place in all corners of our community, and reflects our ambition to become a truly world-leading sports body in the fight against the impacts of climate change.
“Working alongside our partners we’ve already made some really positive progress, and look forward to sharing this with our community over the years ahead. We’re grateful to the team at Think Beyond, who have provided invaluable support throughout the strategy’s development.”
