ON SATURDAY, March 29 at 8pm, people, organisations and cities across the world will turn off the lights for 60 minutes as part of Earth Hour, delivering a powerful (yet power-less) message about the need for action on global warming.
And while the floodlights will be blazing at the St Kilda-Carlton game at the Telstra Dome on the night – anyone who remembers the 1996 game between the Saints and Bombers at Waverley would know why a blackout is a bad idea – the AFL has already ensured that the greenhouse emissions from the match have been reduced through the ‘Origin AFL Green’ program.
In partnership with Origin, the AFL has vowed to reduce the impact of Australia’s favourite game by investing in renewable energy and promoting energy efficiency to counteract the equivalent of 25,000 cars on the road with help from Origin.
“The AFL will be the first sporting league in Australia to reduce its carbon footprint to zero,” chief executive Andrew Demetriou said.
“By taking this step we are doing our part to help the environment.”
Ten AFL clubs – Collingwood, St Kilda, North Melbourne, Adelaide, Western Bulldogs, Carlton, Hawthorn, Geelong, Richmond and Melbourne – are also currently working with Origin to reduce their own impact on the environment, which is estimated at 1500 tonnes of greenhouse gas per club.
Don Henry, executive director of the Australian Conservation Foundation, applauded the AFL’s initiative on the issue.
“Climate change is real, it’s here and it demands serious action from governments, business and the community,” Henry said.
“Well done to the AFL for choosing to reduce greenhouse pollution with the support of Origin.”
Football fans are able to reduce their long-term environmental impact by switching to accredited Green Power and Green Gas with Origin.
