55 SOUTH/11th Hour Racing Recognized in White House CALL TO ACTION
NEWPORT, RI, (6 October 2016) – 55 South supported by 11th Hour Racing has been selected for recognition through the initiative “Tackling Climate Through Sport” promoted by White House.
The White House invited athletes, organizations, schools, and teams to submit ideas and commitments on ways to act on climate through sports. 55 South responded with a proposal detailing their work, supported by 11th Hour Racing’s sponsorship. This involves a comprehensive sustainability plan that the team will follow to reduce their environmental impact in the 2017-2018 Volvo Ocean Race.
The sport of sailing harnesses the power of nature, and sailors witness first-hand the impact that climate change is having on our oceans. Athletes from all disciplines can be champions for climate action, reaching wide audiences to inspire change.
55 South’s submission to the White House included information on how their campaign in the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race will address the impacts of climate change, and help other athletes and teams serve as leaders on climate.
55 South’s submission statement to the White House is noted below.
“55 South, a sailboat racing team sponsored by 11th Hour Racing, will race around the globe in the 2017-2018 Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) to raise awareness about climate and ocean-health issues. 55 South will develop a team sustainability plan for 2017-2018 to reduce or offset carbon, track and minimize energy and water use, and decrease waste; work with VOR to create and implement sustainability training for other teams, including best practices for the shore/support team; create a platform to engage with classrooms and sailing centers around sustainability; and publicize metrics from teams’ environmentally responsible practices and identify areas of improvement. They will be the first team in the VOR to track and offset the carbon footprint for all team operations.”
The full list of the commitments selected by the White House can be found at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp/pressroom.