A clean winner for the US Open Tennis Championships

It was the US Open Tennis Championships this month and we were particularly excited as we have been collaborating with the United States Tennis Association (USTA) on their climate program.

As a signatory to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, the USTA is committed to driving climate awareness and action throughout the world. Annually they measure and work to reduce or eliminate the emissions related to hosting the US Open and are also committed to offsetting any emissions they are unable to eliminate.

Since 2018, the USTA has been working with EcoAct and investing in improved cookstoves for the people of the African nation of Malawi. As a Gold Standard certified offsetting project, it has a big impact, going beyond the climate and reducing emissions by also improving livelihoods of families and communities.

The improved cookstoves project facilitates the production and supply of cleaner, more efficient cookstoves to families across Malawi. The stoves use approximately 60% less firewood compared to traditional indoor open fire cooking, and this means less smoke, less time spent collecting firewood and less deforestation. It also means jobs as local artisans are trained in the production of the stoves. Particular emphasis is placed on hiring women in order to foster more equitable practices whilst supporting sustainable development.

The project is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), established as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The Malawi Cleaner Cookstoves project aligns to the following goals:

1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

3. Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages

5. Achieve gender equality and empower women and girls

13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.

The EcoAct team was delighted to be court-side this year, cheering on the players and climate action!