Formula One has announced its plan to become carbon neutral by 2030 through a new 10-year initiative to "change the face of the sport".
Formula One (F1) announced its 10-year carbon neutral plan amidst increasing criticism over the sport's current annual output of 255,000 tons of carbon dioxide. Data shows that only 0.7% of F1 carbon emissions actually result from the cars racing on the track but majority of the sport's carbon footprint, excluding fan travel, actually comes from teams and equipment traveling to races around the world.
Under the new initiative, teams will begin reducing the number of people that travel to each race through the use of improved communication technology that allow strategists and analysts to work remotely back at headquarters.
F1 will also try to boost the use of rail and road travel for transporting kit to races to reduce air miles.
While only a small percentage of emissions come from on-track activity, F1 is looking to use improved biofuels made up of biological material, such as algae. F1 chief executive officer (CEO) Chase Carey said: "Over its 70-year history, F1 has pioneered numerous technologies and innovations that have positively contributed to society and helped to combat carbon emissions."
"From ground-breaking aerodynamics to improved brake designs, the progress led by F1 teams has benefited hundreds of millions of cars on the road today. We believe F1 can continue to be a leader for the auto industry and work with the energy and automotive sector to deliver the world's first net zero carbon hybrid internal combustion engine that hugely reduces carbon emissions around the world," added Carey.
By 2020, Formula One plans to remove of all single-use plastics and by 2025 all waste produced will be compostable, reusable or recyclable. F1 also claims that by 2030, all power at every event will be from a renewable energy source and its offices, facilities and factories will be 100% powered by renewable energy.
