The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has launched a platform called UCI Sustainability Impact Tracker, the first online platform enabling cycling’s stakeholders to measure their impact.
As it works to achieve the objectives of the UCI’s Agenda 2030 and the UCI Climate Action Charter, the UCI has collaborated with two service providers – Global Climate Initiatives (GCI) and 261PI – to launch this tool.
The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, bringing together 13 individual UCI World Championships in Glasgow and across Scotland from 3 to 13 August 2023, will be the first to have their carbon footprint and sustainability impact tracked on the platform. The organisers will calculate their carbon footprint and measure their contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals thanks to the platform’s different functions.
Following the UCI Cycling World Championships, the UCI Sustainability Impact Tracker will be proposed to all cycling’s stakeholders including National Federations, UCI Teams, and event organisers. This innovative technological solution will directly support the cycling family to develop action plans, and to track and communicate social, environmental, and economic impacts in a consistent manner to globally recognised standards.
Moreover, the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will soon publish their Sustainability Framework based on ten high-level commitments under the pillars of People, Place and Planet. It will be available here. This Framework sets out concrete targets linked to the event’s core commitments and key policy areas, to demonstrate the event’s contributions to sustainable development in Scotland.
The Scottish Government has placed cycling strategy at the heart of a sustainable society to make communities fairer and greener in response to the climate emergency. The Sustainability Framework reflects this major sporting event’s long-term purpose by placing equal importance on societal and environmental benefits.
UCI Director General Amina Lanaya said: “Competitive cycling is built on data, innovation and improving performance. We must take the same approach to make our sport sustainable, and we have taken a big step in this direction with the launch of the UCI Sustainability Impact Tracker. The UCI congratulates and thanks the 2023 Cycling World Championships for embracing this innovation and continuing our sport’s sustainability journey by developing their Sustainability Framework.”
UCI Cycling World Championships CEO Trudy Lindblade said: “The Championships is more than just an event and through the delivery of our sustainability strategy which focuses on the three key pillars of people, place and planet, our goal is to work in collaboration with partners to effect change by celebrating the power of the bike. By delivering an inspirational event, we hope it will contribute to a sustainable and inclusive future for cycling in Scotland while also providing a blueprint for future editions of the UCI Cycling World Championships.”
GCI President Philippe Mangeard said: “GCI is extremely proud of and honored by the partnership established with UCI as part of the development of the UCI Sustainability Impact Tracker. This collaboration will enable each member organisation to benefit from a turnkey tool for measuring and reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. This partnership demonstrates that the cycling world understands the importance of combating climate change. It paves the way for a responsible and proactive approach to environmental sustainability within the cycling family.”
261PI President Laurent Marchal said: “This collaboration demonstrates a shared commitment to progress towards sustainability standards within the cycling community with determination, method and rigour. With the UCI Sustainability Impact tracker, we are in a momentum. Thousands of stakeholders worldwide can now optimise their monitoring and reporting of CSR/ESG through consolidated data on common indicators. For elite cycling, everyday cycling, and industrial partners, this undoubtedly opens up new perspectives for positive impact and value creation.”
