Rio de Janeiro government hail sustainability efforts of Youth Sailing World Championships

World Sailing joined forces with the Brazilian Sailing Federation, CBVela, and Rio de Janerio State Government to implement sustainability initiatives during their time in Brazil.

And Richard Calçado, who is a member of the State Secretariat for the Environment and Sustainability, revealed his pride in working alongside World Sailing to bring young athletes together to champion for their future.

“I’m representing the Rio de Janeiro State Government Environmental Department and we’re very proud of the whole organisation regarding sustainability,” he said.

“We work in youth sustainability, encouraging young people from civil society, institutions in Rio and Brazil to develop ideas, solutions and goals to improve and make the world a better place.

“Here, at this World Championships, I can see young people from all over the world inspiring each other with their ideas.

“CBVela is doing an amazing job to make this event as sustainable as possible, including an agenda with young people and the athletes to talk and think about solutions to produce a policy making document for this and future events.”

From the young sailors competing in Brazil to key members of CBVela and other world organisations, Calçado noted the importance of including all voices in the decision-making process, with everyone set to be impacted.

“Sustainability is connecting the whole society to think and talk about the future of our planet,” he added.

“Not only about recycling or reforestation which are amazing and very important but our attitude as humans.

“To see the way we behave, react, consume and promote our ideas, I always think about the collective and how we can impact globally.”

CBVela Sustainabilty Director Sandra Patricio joined Calçado in praising the impressive organisational feat that has gone into creating a sustainable world championships, including a brand new tree planting initiative.

The Youth Sailing World Championships has seen over 400 athletes come together to race and learn from each other in Brazil, with one tree being planted for each participant.

Just one of three ongoing projects helping to push for a carbon neutral event, the trees will be planted in the Bosque De Vela, or ‘Sailing Forest’ in Sao Paulo – a project that Patricio believes will help create a long lasting legacy for sailing in Brazil.

“I have the opportunity to be close to sailors and the youth community and to get them involved with sustainability issues such as the environment and the social impacts that sailing can bring to a place like Buzios,” she said.

“We all speak the same language which is sailing. We are all coming together to talk and think about ways we can contribute.

“We are going to help with carbon neutralisation. We are worried about the fossil fuels used in the boats and so we are planting one tree for each sailor that’s here.

“These will be planted in a new urban area in São Paulo, an urban forest which sailing is helping to regenerate.

“These projects will be a legacy to the Clube Armação de Búzios and other clubs here, as the company will continue to do this work for more events in the future.”

Alexandra Rickham, World Sailing Head of Sustainability, said: “The young people at the Youth World Sailing Championships are at the start of their sailing lives.

We know the event is a stepping stone for some to go on to become the biggest names in our sport. Many of the rest follow other career pathways in the sport, or simply just enjoy sailing for decades to come.

“Putting sustainability at the heart of the event means we are giving them the tools to make a difference in their home countries, and ensure sailing continues to lead the way on sustainability.”

With tree planting, litter collection and a guide to protecting the sea, Calçado was thrilled to announce Brazil’s hopes of a new partnership to continue this work and inspire a new generation of sustainable sailors.

“In the government, we work with several events and we are very impressed by the Youth Sailing World Championships and how we can make this event an example for others,” he said.

“We’re already planning a medium-long-term partnership with the Rio State Government and the World Sailing Federations which would be amazing.

“We want to work together to inspire the youth and the future of our planet.”