MCC's overseas tours: Club launches pioneering 'climate neutral' project

Date released: 22 September 2006

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is to introduce a pioneering 'climate neutral' policy for its overseas tours - starting, next Monday, with its first-ever trip to China.

This major Club initiative, believed to be the first of its kind in world cricket, has been planned in conjunction with Climate Care - a leading carbon-offsetting organisation. It will involve MCC investing in a range of Climate Care projects to offset all the carbon dioxide emissions caused by its teams flying around the world to play and promote cricket.

In the remaining months of this year, for example, MCC teams will travel to China / Hong Kong (September / October), Botswana and Zambia (September / October) and Australia (December / January). In the process, the squads' journeys will put around 175 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Under the new initiative, the Club will offset all these emissions by investing in Climate Care projects such as a renewable power initiative in Indian schools and energy efficient lighting for community projects in South Africa.

The Club has committed itself to this 'climate neutral' policy for at least five years.

The Director of Climate Care, Tom Morton, said: "We are delighted that MCC - the most famous cricket club in the world - is taking these very positive steps to measure and offset the carbon emissions from its overseas tours. We are really looking forward to working with the club and hope that other sports bodies will follow its excellent example."

MCC's Secretary & Chief Executive, Roger Knight, said: "We are keen to play our part in highlighting the problems created by carbon dioxide emissions. We also want to take some very practical steps to offset the emissions caused by our international playing programme. We believe that, in Climate Care, we have found the perfect partner. They make it very easy to calculate both the emissions caused by air travel and the money that needs to be spent to make those journeys 'climate neutral'. Over time, we may well go further, but today's initiative is an important first step forward."

MCC has also been holding discussions with the Carbon Trust about the development of an Energy Conservation Plan for Lord's.

Other recent environmental initiatives at Lord's have included measures to reduce water consumption, increase paper recycling and encourage spectators to use public transport.

A detailed press release about MCC's matches in China - when the Club will be captained by Min Patel, the Kent and former England spin bowler - will be issued soon.