UNEP is assisting the IPL and looking at ways to save energy, water and lessen waste from the matches. This means looking at all the elements that contribute to your enjoyment of the game - including stadium lights, transport and refreshments. UNEP is advising the IPL on calculating its ‘carbon footprint’ which means calculating our greenhouse gas emissions, and then looking at how we can reduce them. Our vision is to go “climate neutral” meaning that cricket matches will have a neutral effect on the climate. Unavoidable greenhouse gas emissions will be compensated by investment in climate protection projects.

• We will also ensure that any new cricket stadiums in India are built to sustainable standards.
• Team captains are taking a pledge to reduce their teams’ environmental impact – a critical act during 2010, declared the UN International Year of Biodiversity.
• All players, sponsors and partners will be more mindful of their footprint.

And to inspire everyone associated with the IPL to take positive environmental action, Sachin Tendulkar is being appointed a UNEP goodwill ambassador.

Whenever a person engages in sport there is an impact on the environment. Equipment, apparel or facilities, all have an “ecological footprint” meaning an impact on the natural environment.
Building and managing a sport facility and operating an event uses energy and can contribute to air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and waste generation, as well as to ozone layer depletion, habitat and biodiversity loss, soil erosion and water pollution.

UNEP’s mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
UNEP is the voice for the environment in the UN system. It educates and promotes the wise use of the planet’s natural resources.
At the forefront of UNEP’s work is the Green Economy Initiative which seeks to build a low-carbon resource-efficient economy.

A green economy is about reshaping business and lifestyles towards renewable energies, clean transportation, clean technologies, green buildings and environmentally-friendly agriculture and forestry.

We've had a great response to the Sachin UNEP Green Tip of The Match series, and now we’d like to hear your ideas. What tips do you have to green our environment? Every Friday our favourite tip will be announced at the start of the match, and will appear on both the IPL and UNEP websites. Keep your tip to 10 words or less and fill out the submission form below or e-mail it to unepgreentips@unep.org and let us know what city and country you are from. Good Luck!