ANOC becomes signatory of Sports for Nature Framework
The ANOC Executive Council today approved ANOC signing the IUCN’s Sports for Nature Framework as the latest step in the organisation’s commitment to driving positive change in environmental sustainability.
ANOC Sustainability Commission Chair Victoria Cabezas presented to the Executive Council the Framework which aims to deliver transformative, nature positive action across sports by 2030.
As a signatory, ANOC will champion nature and contribute to its protection and restoration, working towards four principles, each with linked goals:
- Protect nature and avoid damage to natural habitats and species
- Restore and regenerate nature wherever possible
- Understand and reduce risks to nature in your supply chains
- Educate and inspire positive action for nature across and beyond sport
ANOC Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg said:
“Signing the Sports for Nature Framework reinforces ANOC’s commitment to integrating sustainability into our day-to-day operations and ensuring we minimise our impact on the environment. We have already delivered a number of initiatives which are aligned with the principles of the Framework and we look forward to building on this in the future.
“As the umbrella body for the world’s NOCs, we also want to ensure we are doing all we can to support the NOCs, encouraging them to sign up to the Framework and deliver nature positive action.”
ANOC’s existing initiatives include partnering with the Blue Harmony Coral Preservation Project (BHCPP) to plant coral fragments at the Nusa Dua Beach, in Bali/Indonesia and the planting of one hectare of native trees Quinta do Pisão in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park with the Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP).
ANOC has worked closely with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to engage more National Olympic Committees (NOCs) in the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework since it became a signatory in 2020. ANOC is now committed to collaborating with the IOC and IUCN to see how more support can be provided to NOCs to become signatories of the Sports for Nature Framework. A total of nine NOCs are already signatories.
IOC Director, Corporate and Sustainable Development Marie Sallois said:
“Nature is where sports thrive. As a founding partner of the Sports for Nature Framework, the IOC recognises our collective responsibility to give back to nature as much as it gives to sports. It is only through taking action to protect it, restore it, reduce risks in supply chains and inspire positive action for nature that we can ensure the future of sport for generations to come. We are thrilled to welcome ANOC as the latest signatory of the Sports for Nature Framework and look forward to working with, and supporting, all National Olympic Committees around the world.”
