Greener Games sustainability conference hailed as ‘inspirational’
23 October 2024
The cricketing community came together to take part in climate positive discussions at Gloucestershire’s Green Games sustainability conference last week.
Delegates from across Gloucestershire and beyond joined climate experts at what is believed to be the first event of its kind to be held by a first-class county, on Thursday 17th October. Hosted at the Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol, the event was organised in partnership with The Next Test, who are a non-profit climate and sustainability organisation, and comes as part of the Club’s work with the Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership to create and implement a Community Climate Action Plan.
Those who were in attendance at the Greener Games conference heard from three inspiring keynote speakers, Asif Rehmanwala, CEO at Ecotricity, Tanya Aldred, climate journalist and Guardian writer and Steve Simpson, a professor at the University of Bristol, and also took part in a number of round table discussions on climate-related topics.
By effectively using the feedback and suggestions gathered at the conference and through working alongside the Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership, Gloucestershire hopes to develop and implement its own climate action plan for a more sustainable future spring/summer 2025.
Guardian cricket writer, Tanya Aldred, in an article written about the Cricket for Climate movement in Australia, said: "Outside Australia, things have been moving as well. There was a good showing at Gloucestershire’s Nevil Road ground last Thursday night for the Greener Games Sustainability Conference, organised by a coalition of the club, the Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership, and the Next Test climate and cricket group (of which – full disclosure – I am a member).
"Prof Steve Simpson from the University of Bristol, a marine biologist, who has also worked on the Blue Planet series, spoke about the power of “active hope”. Asif Rehmanwala – the chief executive of Ecotricity, a board member at GCCC and the vice-chair of Forest Green Rovers – explained how 'the world’s greenest football club' has grown and stretched, and how cricket could do more."
Emma Corney, cricketer at Somerset Women, said: "It is great to see Gloucestershire leading the way and creating opportunities for learning and discussions specifically in the cricket community. I really enjoyed attending the event and engaging with passionate and knowledgeable speakers. It's really exciting to see where this will go next."
Gloucestershire fan Vishwa Wijedasa, who also attended, said: “When the club announced details of the Greener Games event, my eyes lit up. It was a nod to the environment from the club we love and this meant that despite being in Birmingham for work during the day, I simply had to make it back and straight to the event. I am glad I did as there were a fantastic array of presenters that covered subject matter from our oceans and coral reefs to the impact of climate change on cricket.
“The roundtable discussions interspersed between the presentations allowed me the opportunity to get to know my fellow delegates better as we discussed topics related to cricket and the environment.”
“It is great to support a club that wishes to lead on the drive to become more sustainable. I left energised and inspired.”
Neil Priscott, Interim CEO at Gloucestershire Cricket, added: "The Greener Games conference was a fantastic event that saw us hear from three high quality speakers providing leadership and thought-provoking ideas, not just for us at Gloucestershire Cricket, but for the game more widely regarding sustainability in sport.
"There was a great level of engagement from attendees and this has really helped us with momentum towards creating Community Climate Action Plan for Gloucestershire."
More details regarding outcomes of the Greener Games conference and the next steps towards the creation of a Community Climate Action Plan will be announced in due course.
