In an industry that relies on travel, there’s no guarantee of success, but setting ambitious goals provides direction and motivation, and ATP is doing what it can to achieve its goals, Epps said.
Through a partnership with Infosys, players can track their carbon emissions through the app and purchase carbon credits to offset them. More than 200 players signed up in the first year, with the top 10 being posted on the ATP website.
The top three include Ben Shelton from the United States and Cameron Norrie from the United Kingdom, who will each receive $100,000 to donate to an environmental sustainability initiative of their choice.
The app has also helped educate about sustainability, helping players and teams become more aware of the impact their jobs have on the planet.
Issue 344 • May/June 2024
tournament
As for a major redesign of the international calendar, Epps said this is part of the discussion “at the top” and that the ATP Challenger Tour is a way to demonstrate the art of the possible with a more regional approach spreading upwards.
The tour could also collaborate with other global sports, such as golf or Formula One, to showcase its environmental agenda and create large-scale efficiencies.
There is a dependency on other industries. For example, the faster aviation decarbonizes, the less reliance it will have on carbon offset schemes.
National governing bodies also have their own initiatives. The Lawn Tennis Association’s Environmental Sustainability Plan commits to improve resource efficiency and biodiversity by halving emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2040. When it comes to tournaments, each tournament has its own sustainability agenda and many are looking to reduce their environmental footprint through waste reduction. Wimbledon has committed to achieving net zero by 2030.
It is adapted
An annual report on progress in this area is not yet available, so we will be watching this.
The mainstream tennis media has so far been largely obsessed with or uninterested in the issue, says former tennis writer Christopher Clarey. new york timesThere doesn’t seem to be many articles written on this topic.
The focus is on products and equipment, such as sustainable tennis balls, and each tennis brand has its own sustainability model.
The impacts of climate change, including rising temperatures and flooding, affect players at all levels. Unless tennis can demonstrate that it is genuinely interested in the issue and willing to adapt and participate fully, protests will likely continue to disrupt play.
cultivate
It’s good for athletes to speak out about social issues. For example, in an interview with The Times, world No. 1 singles player Novak Djokovic highlighted his campaign to distribute prize money to more players and address financial inequality in the sport.
Many players have significant philanthropic and mission-driven causes, but it would be fantastic to see them speak out on environmental issues as well. It’s a demanding task considering the international travel that a career as a player requires, and laser-like focus to perform at its best.
But showing interest and speaking up about your concerns can make a real difference, with the ripple effect that ATP can demonstrate.
Tennis players can leverage their social platforms to educate and inspire millions of fans around the world, while also inspiring the sport’s corporate leaders to continue making bold decisions to shape the positive direction of its future.
This author
Laura Slater is a tennis coach based in West London. This article originally appeared in: Resurrection and the Ecologist magazine.
