Four-man advantage against global warming

April 27, 2007 -
News Release
Four-man advantage against global warming
Hockey pros go carbon neutral

For Immediate release                             April 26, 2007

VANCOUVER-As NHL teams battle on the ice to take home the Stanley Cup, a number of NHL players are raising their game off-ice and taking action on climate change. The Calgary Flames may be out of the playoffs this year, but they're still playing hard for a bigger prize - a healthy planet for the next generation. Concerned about global warming, these players are showing leadership by taking responsibility for their own emissions and going carbon neutral.

"The reason I went carbon neutral is that I enjoy the outdoors and want to preserve the environment as much as possible for myself and hopefully my children one day to enjoy," said Calgary Flames defenceman Robyn Regehr. "It has changed me by raising awareness of my everyday impact on the environment."

Regehr isn't alone. Andrew Ference, who used to play defence for the Flames and who now plays for the Boston Bruins, is carbon neutral, too. So are Flames Rhett Warrener and Jarome Iginla.

"I remember David [Suzuki] saying to me that if Wayne Gretzky was just starting his minor hockey career today, his father wouldn't be able to build the outdoor rink like he once did because the climate has changed so much," Andrew Ference said.

"I'm very happy to see NHL players taking action on global warming. I hope other athletes and Canadians will be encouraged to follow their example by reducing and offsetting their emissions," said Dr. Suzuki. "By going carbon neutral, people and businesses can demonstrate to our government that they are ready to address climate change, and that they expect the same kind of commitment and decisive action from their political leaders."

It's not just hockey: other winter sports athletes are shrinking their individual carbon footprints and offsetting the carbon they can't cut out.

Skiers Thomas Grandi, Sara Renner, Patrick Biggs, Michael and Britt Janyk and Kelly VanderBeek have all seen direct negative impacts on their sports: rained out events and a shorter winter season. Taking responsibility for their own carbon footprints and helping to reduce the overall amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere just makes sense.

What they did
Working with the David Suzuki Foundation, the Calgary Flames estimated the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the air travel and hotel accommodation for 'away' games during the regular NHL season. For each Flame, this came to about 24 tonnes of CO2 emissions. The players purchased high quality "Gold Standard" carbon offsets, compatible with the Gold Standard, to neutralize these emissions. As well, armed with new awareness about their impact on the climate, many of the players are working to reduce emissions in their personal lives. Andrew Ference, for example, drives a hybrid, and purchases wind power for his home.

What everyone can do
We can all take steps to reduce our carbon footprints: choose a fuel-efficient vehicle, turn down the thermostat, cut down on air travel by vacationing closer to home. Still, there will be emissions that cannot be eliminated. With easy-to-use online calculators (see www.davidsuzuki.org/Climate_Change/What_You_Can_Do/carbon_neutral.asp) individuals and organizations can calculate the greenhouse gas emissions associated with driving their cars, heating their homes, and air travel. Then they can purchase carbon offsets from projects that reduce emissions, like wind power or energy efficiency projects. The David Suzuki Foundation supports the use of high quality offsets like those registered to the "Gold Standard."

-30-

You can find out more online at:
http://www.davidsuzuki.org
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/newsletters/Carbon_April2007/default.asp

For more information, please contact:
Dominic Ali
Communications specialist
David Suzuki Foundation
tel. 604-732-4228
dali@davidsuzuki.org