Australian Rugby Union today announced the Carbon Trade Exchange would become an official partner of the Gold Coast Sevens – Fever Pitch tournament in October and would also assist in offsetting the upcoming Bledisloe Cup Test in Sydney this weekend.
The new partnership follows ARU and the Carbon Trade Exchange working together with ARU partners Qantas and Lexus last year to offset the Qantas Wallabies campaign in New Zealand.
The new partnership will deliver Carbon Trade Exchange signage at the upcoming Gold Coast Sevens – Fever Pitch event in October and will see the organisation assist ARU in delivering an environmentally friendly Test on Saturday 18 August.
ARU Managing Director and CEO, John O’Neill AO, welcomed the new partnership and said he was pleased Carbon Trade Exchange chose to increase its association with Rugby.
“Last year was the first time ARU and the Carbon Trade Exchange had worked together and I am glad they have decided to build on the environmentally friendly outcomes delivered last year,” Mr O’Neill said.
“The partnership, which is predominantly focussed around the highly anticipated Gold Coast Sevens – Fever Pitch event, will help build the profile of Carbon Trade Exchange.
“It will also allow ARU to offset not just the upcoming Bledisloe Cup Test, but the Bledisloe Cup Trophy Tour as well, which is part of the inaugural Bledisloe Cup Festival.
“As a major international sporting team it is important that we do our bit in caring for the environment.
“Hopefully this partnership will act as encouragement for other teams to follow suit.”
At the conclusion of the opening Bledisloe Cup Test of the year on Saturday 18 August, Pangolin Associates an independent, auditing company recognised under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme (NGERS) will measure the number of Carbon Credits required to offset the event.
ARU will then offset the Test and the Bledisloe Cup Trophy Tour using the Carbon Trade Exchange’s online trading platform.
Last year ARU offset the Qantas Wallabies carbon footprint in New Zealand by purchasing credits in HELP, a New Zealand Household Energy Efficient Lighting Projects initiative.
Carbon Trade Exchange founder and Chairman, Wayne Sharpe, said the organisation was proud to working with ARU on this fantastic green initiative.
“We have provided the ARU and the Qantas Wallabies with the tools for tackling climate change through direct voluntary action and they’ve run with it,” Mr Sharpe said.
“The team will be trading on our platform and purchasing carbon credits which will offset their carbon footprint for the opening Bledisloe Cup Test and the Bledisloe Cup Trophy tour, part o the inaugural Bledisloe Cup Festival.
“However, we hope people realise this is not just a job for the professionals; Government, business and the community all need to take action on climate change.
“Hopefully this green step forward by ARU will encourage individuals and businesses to find out more about how they can reach their own green goal.”
Carbon offset credits are produced by renewable energy projects and made available by companies like the Carbon Trade Exchange to purchase under compliance requirements or voluntary purposes.
A carbon offset credit is equivalent to one ton of carbon dioxide removed from the planet’s atmosphere. The money paid for each credit goes to funding renewable energy projects.
For more information on the Bledisloe Cup offsetting and how you too can be involved, please visit www.green-rugby.com
For educational videos on carbon trading, visit the CTX YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/CarbonTradeXchange1
For more information on Carbon Trade Exchange, visit www.carbontradexchange.com