Cardiff City FC are one of 14 clubs to have signed the Sustainable Travel Charter, committing to environmentally conscious travel choices and greener behaviour.
The Sustainable Travel Charter - a key initiative by the BBC award-winning charity Pledgeball aims to reduce the environmental impact of football-related travel, as well as normalise the lower carbon options. With these latest additions, the Charter now includes 14 clubs committed to adopting greener practices and leading the charge towards sustainability in the sport.
The Sustainable Travel Charter, developed in collaboration with the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), provides clubs with a framework to make environmentally conscious travel decisions. It addresses growing concerns about carbon emissions from short-haul flights taken by professional teams and offers practical solutions for reducing their environmental impact. The Charter encourages clubs to assess their travel methods and make better choices for the environment, such as choosing trains and buses over planes whenever feasible. It also emphasises transparency and accountability, as clubs currently have no requirement to report their travel activities.
Football-related travel generates 56.7 tonnes of CO2e per season for Premier League clubs alone, with 85% of emissions attributed to flying. By committing to the Charter, clubs directly address this issue, prioritise sustainable travel options, and set an example for fans and other teams. The inclusion of these clubs marks a significant step forward in the fight against climate change. Football clubs, often regarded as cultural leaders, have the power to inspire millions of fans and demonstrate leadership in tackling one of the world's most pressing challenges.
Katie Cross, CEO of Pledgeball, said: “This is an extraordinary moment for football and sustainability. Seeing so many clubs unite under the Sustainable Travel Charter highlights that many within the sport are ready to confront their environmental impact, as well as lead the way in protecting those things that matter to us and protecting where we play. Football has a unique ability to influence society, and these clubs are leading the way in showing that climate action can't wait.”
Lee Southernwood, Head of Football Operations at Cardiff City FC said: “Signing up to the Sustainable Travel Charter underlines our commitment to putting sustainable practices at the forefront of our thinking when planning team travel. The charter provides a framework from which to make more sustainable travel decisions whilst considering travel time, fixture schedule, player health and wellbeing, and security. We scrutinise all elements of our journeys and will use different solutions for different segments to ensure we reduce our environmental impact.”
Ken Choo, Executive Director & CEO, Cardiff City added: “We’re very pleased to be joining the other EFL clubs that have signed the Sustainable Travel Charter, as part of our commitment to reduce emissions by considering lower carbon travel options. In signing this pledge, we are committing to make environmentally sustainable travel choices wherever possible.”
Trainsplit, the UK’s original split ticketing site, have agreed to provide Bluebirds fans with their own rail booking scheme courtesy of the Club signing the charter. Not only will it help our staff and supporters to travel more sustainably, but we will also benefit from some great split-ticket savings. Further information to follow later this week!
With 14 clubs now on board – including QPR, Millwall, Bristol City, Charlton Athletic, Millwall, Bristol Rovers, Mansfield Town, Exeter City, Swindon Town and Forest Green Rovers – the Sustainable Travel Charter continues to gain momentum. It demonstrates the industry's increasing recognition of its role in addressing the climate crisis and the urgent need for widespread action.
Pledgeball invites more clubs to step up and join this collective effort for sustainability. For more information or to endorse the Sustainable Travel Charter, contact info@pledgeball.or or click here.