World Sailing marks World Oceans Day by publishing first annual Sustainability Report

World Sailing has published its first annual Sustainability Report to provide a comprehensive progress update on all 56 of the federation’s Sustainability Agenda 2030 targets. 

Released to mark World Oceans Day, June 8, and with the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on the horizon, the review covers operations within the organisation, events, training and stakeholder engagement across class associations, manufacturers and organising committees. 

Designed to set the baseline for annual updates, the Sustainability Report recognises that while there has been significant progress in several areas, there is still more work to be done to meet the targets set. 

World Sailing is the leading international federation in terms of sustainability and sailing as a sport has made an impressive contribution to the progress achieved since the launch of its Sustainability Agenda 2030 in 2017. 

Alexandra Rickham, World Sailing’s Director of Sustainability, said, “At World Sailing, we represent a global community of sailors who play their sport and often live their lives on the frontline of climate change. As such we have duty to lead the way in setting standards for sustainability. 

“We are very pleased to publish the Sustainability Report and demonstrate the impact of our efforts and the work of others across the sport. 

“The review has been three years in the making and charts our journey over this period set against our longer-term targets. What is clear is that 2023 was our first fully operational year since 2020 and as such it is the most accurate year for all future reports to be judged against. 

“Overall, there has been excellent progress across the sport, and I thank everyone at World Sailing, as well as our partners and stakeholders for their diligence and innovation, as well as for showing a willingness to join us on the mission to achieve the targets in all five areas of the sport. 

“A lot has been achieved, but more hard work is needed, and at World Sailing we remain focused on delivering against the targets in Sustainability Agenda 2030. However, we also need others in sailing and the wider sector to do their bit and I hope the Sustainability Report will encourage everyone to take action.” 

The major highlights of 2023 include a 67% saving in energy emissions at the World Sailing Championships by adopting HVO fuel, a 26% reduction in the carbon footprint of World Sailing staff attending the World Sailing Championships in The Hague. 

Targets in the Technical, Events and Members operational areas were prioritised in 2023, meaning that there is further work required in Training, Venues and Facilities and Participation to meet the goals of Sustainability Agenda 2030. 

World Sailing was also awarded the IOC Climate Action award for Sustainable Travel and is a contributor to the One Carbon World Be A Net Zero Hero campaign, which reached 12.4 million people, and CEO David Graham chaired the inaugural meeting of the ASOIF  Sustainability Consultative Group which brought together members of more than 30 international federations, as well as the International Olympic Committee, Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and United Nations to promote cross-sport collaboration and strategy. In 2024, Kuehne+Nagel joined World Sailing as Global Logistic Partner with a specific focus on decarbonising the logistics behind the sport. 

The Sustainability Report is available to read in full and download on the World Sailing website.