Sustainability: Environment

Measure

As a signatory of the UN Climate Neutral Now initiative, the first step to achieve net zero carbon is the measurement of an organisation’s carbon footprint. Since our inaugural season, Formula E has worked with carbon footprint experts to assess its championship through a Lifecycle Assessment model, covering impacts related to all race operations as well as Formula E’s headquarters. The annual analysis is used to monitor and calculate the championship’s greenhouse gas emissions, understand its main sources of impact on the environment and identify opportunities for further improvement in planning and operations.

Our Scope 1 and Scope 2 footprint includes energy and electricity consumption at all race sites and HQ, while Scope 3 emissions include all other emissions such as business travel, freight and car production.

Season 9 footprint:

SCOPE 1: 1.3%

SCOPE 2: 0.7%

SCOPE 3: 98%

Reduce

As outlined by the UN Climate Neutral Now initiative, a key step to achieving a net zero carbon footprint, alongside measurement, is the reduction of all unavoidable emissions relating to an organisation's carbon footprint.

In 2021, following several seasons of meticulous work to ensure accurate measurement of our footprint, we set emission reduction targets to ensure meaningful reduction of our footprint. In doing so, we became the first sport in the world to have these targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and committed to reduce our absolute Scopes 1 & 2 GHG emissions by 60% by 2030 from Season 5 (2019) baseline. We also committed to reducing our absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions by 27.5% by 2030 from Season 5 (2019) baseline, which equates to an overall absolute reduction of emissions relating to Scopes 1,2 and 3 of 45% by 2030. These targets are consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5°C.

As of Season 9, we have achieved a reduction of 27% in overall emissions compared to the Season 5 baseline, meaning we are on track to meet our near-term SBTs for Scopes 1 & 2 and are trending in the right direction to meet our Scope 3 near-term target and more than halfway to achieving our target in just three years.

Science-Based Targets

Efforts are made across every area of the championship to minimise environmental impacts and make progress towards achieving our Science-Based Targets (SBTs).

Formula E has also developed a Climate Transition Plan in line with the UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action Framework requirements and standards and is designed to demonstrate how we will become more resilient to climate impacts as a sport and achieve our emissions reductions targets by 2030.

1/9 Freight: As freight consistently has the largest impact on our championship footprint, we work directly with our official logistics provider to find reduction opportunities including biofuels for road and sea freight.

2/9 Business Travel: Staff travel also represents a significant share of our championship footprint. To tackle this, we have introduced several reduction measures. These include ensuring only race-critical staff attend the races — and grouping staff together on flights as much as possible to reduce the number of airport shuttles needed) — prioritising travel by train over air where applicable, arranging shuttles only when the site isn’t within walking distance and prioritising electric/hybrid vehicles with ground transportation companies.

3/9 Spectator Travel: We do not offer nor advertise parking for spectators and encourage the use of public/shared transportation through pre-event communications and with travel measured through on-site surveys.

4/9 Food and Drink: All catering on-site (covering teams, staff, suppliers, spectators, and hospitality guests) includes a minimum of 30% vegetarian or vegan offerings and is locally or seasonally sourced where possible.

5/9 Cars: We work with teams and suppliers to ensure the life cycle of cars and batteries is included in the championship footprint and promote the reuse and recycling of parts to reduce impact.

6/9 Waste Management: We provide and encourage recycling at all of our events and ensure it is in line with local infrastructure, language and colour of waste streams.

7/9 Energy Management: Formula E’s goal is to use 100% renewable energy for all events, with all car charging across the championship delivered primarily from renewable grid power and when not available, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO) made from used cooking oil.

8/9 Supply chain Management: Formula E clearly highlights our sustainability DNA to our entire ecosystem- sustainability is embedded throughout the entire procurement process.

9/9 Water and Plastics: More than 290,000 litres of water have been distributed via Hydration Stations in the Allianz Fan Village since their introduction in Season 5, saving the equivalent of more than 585,000 330 ml single-use plastic bottles from being transported to events and disposed of after use.

Offset

In Season 6, Formula E invested in enough renewable energy projects in race markets to offset all unavoidable emissions since inception. This enabled Formula E to become the first motorsport and major sport in the world to achieve net zero carbon (based on the 2020 definition).

These projects have environmental, social, and economic benefits as they not only focus on renewable energy production, but provide job opportunities for local communities, drive the local economies and raise awareness about electric vehicles. Visit our dedicated Net Zero since Day Zero website for more information on all the projects invested in by Formula E.

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Compliance

During Season 9, Formula E built on its net zero carbon (based on the 2020 definition) commitment by becoming the first global sports organisation to align with PAS 2060, the international specification for the demonstration of carbon neutrality. The PAS 2060 Qualifying Explanatory Statement demonstrates that Formula E Operations Ltd has aligned to the international standard on contributing to carbon neutrality.

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