The Premier League has unveiled its Environmental Sustainability Strategy, outlining a comprehensive roadmap to reduce its carbon footprint, support clubs in adopting greener operations, and engage fans in sustainability initiatives. This plan strengthens the league’s commitment to reaching net zero emissions by 2040 and builds upon previous sustainability efforts, including the Premier League’s Environmental Sustainability Commitment introduced in 2024.

Key Commitments of the Strategy

The Premier League’s sustainability plan focuses on three priority areas:

• Adapting Operations – The Premier League aims to become net zero by 2040, with direct actions in its own central operations and across clubs.
• Decarbonizing Football – The league is working with clubs to reduce emissions across the football ecosystem, including energy use, travel, and stadium sustainability.
• Engaging Fans and Communities – Leveraging its global influence, the Premier League will promote climate awareness and sustainability education through its platforms and programs.

Funding and Investments

The Premier League has committed significant financial resources to support sustainability improvements, including:

1. £9 Million Stadium Fund – This initiative will help clubs in the National League System and Women’s Football Pyramid transition to LED floodlights by 2030, reducing energy use by up to 50%.
2. Climate Resilience and Adaptation Grants – The league is offering capital grants to support climate resilience projects and energy-efficiency upgrades, ensuring clubs can better withstand environmental challenges such as extreme weather.
3. £1.6 Billion in Football & Community Investment (2022-2025) – While not solely dedicated to sustainability, this broader funding includes green infrastructure improvements and community-focused climate initiatives.

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Premier League’s Club Commitments

In 2024, Premier League clubs agreed to a minimum set of environmental standards, including:

• Appointing a senior sustainability lead at each club
• Developing a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions dataset (Scope 1, 2, and 3) by 2026
• Implementing formal sustainability policies by 2025
• Contributing to a standardized sustainability framework across football

Sustainability in Action: Education and Engagement

The Premier League Lifeskills and Personal Development Programme now includes sustainability education for Academy players, helping young athletes understand climate change and environmental responsibility. Additionally, Premier League Primary Stars has distributed free “Protect the Planet” learning resources to over 70,000 primary school teachers across England and Wales.

A Commitment to Long-Term Change

The Premier League’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy builds upon its 2021 commitment to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework and its club-led sustainability efforts. As Richard Masters, Premier League Chief Executive, stated:

“Premier League football is enjoyed by hundreds of millions of fans around the world. We have the ability to reach and influence a significant global audience, raising awareness of climate change issues and helping to inspire positive behavior change.”

With these new measures, the Premier League is taking a leadership role in driving sustainability across football, ensuring the sport plays a vital role in climate action, green infrastructure, and environmental responsibility.

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