BASIS Member British Rowing has launched a comprehensive new environmental sustainability strategy aimed at ensuring a clean and flourishing environment in and around British waters now and for future generations.
The strategy seeks to empower the national rowing community to work together to learn, share and develop robust, sustainable practices to protect the sport and the planet. Action will be focused on reducing emissions, embedding sustainable practices throughout the sport, educating members on everything from renewable energy sources to water quality testing, and protecting the future of rowing from the impacts of climate change.
Alongside the new strategy, British Rowing has also announced a new partnership with campaigning groups River Action, The Rivers Trust and Aquascope to clean up the nation’s waterways.
The latest State of Our Rivers report from The Rivers Trust revealed that not a single river in England or Northern Ireland is currently considered ‘in good overall health’, with only 15% meeting the criteria for ‘good ecological status’, while more than 66% of UK freshwater species are in decline and 10% now face extinction.
The new Strategy and Partnership aim to tackle these key issues through education, empowering the rowing community our community from grassroots rowing clubs to the GB Rowing Team to conduct extensive water quality testing.
The strategy has been widely welcomed by the rowing community, including GB athletes. It is available in full here, and has been added to the BASIS resource library.
In launching the strategy, British Rowing CEO Alastair Marks said:
“Rowing as a sport is being challenged more than ever before. Why? Because the waters on which we row are being negatively impacted by the environment around us – climate change is taking effect and increased pollution and invasive species continue to plague our waters making them less accessible and useable for current and future generations to enjoy.
We are therefore delighted to launch our Environmental Sustainability Strategy. Our vision is to work towards a clean and flourishing environment in and around our waters – for now and for future generations. The strategy sets out the key six objectives that will help us to achieve our vision. We know that 90% of members consider sustainability to be important and they are keen to work with us to shape a brighter future. Together, we can help mitigate against climate change and improve the health of our waters. This will not happen overnight, but we aim to make significant leaps towards this by 2030.”
In welcoming the strategy, BASIS’ Dom Jordan, said:
“I congratulate British Rowing for publishing an ambitious, comprehensive and action-oriented strategy. The plan is clear-eyed about the challenges, confident about the organisation’s ability to create positive change, and humble enough to understand the need for continuous education and reflection. I am proud to celebrate another example of a BASIS member taking on the challenge to make sport more sustainable and deliver positive impacts, both for their community and for society as a whole. As the UK’s fulcrum of best practice for sustainability in sport, BASIS pledges its active support to British Rowing as they press ahead on implementation.”
BASIS’ National Sustainable Sport Conference, taking place at Emirates Old Trafford on 29-30 April, is the focal point for best practice sharing on sustainability in sport.
Find out more and book your ticket here.
