Latest news with #EllenJones
Japan Times
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Japan Times
Formula 1's renewable energy shift drives 26% drop in carbon footprint
Motor racing, a sport known for flashy, petrol-guzzling racecars speeding at hundreds of kilometers per hour across twisting asphalt tracks, hasn't been a pastime known for sustainability. Formula 1 is trying to change that. Often referred to as "the pinnacle of motorsport,' the racecar organization, which hosts an annual championship featuring the best drivers in the world, has seen its carbon emissions drop 26% since 2018. At the end of the 2024 season, the sport's carbon footprint fell to 168,720 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent from 228,793. F1 said in a statement on Wednesday that it's halfway toward achieving its minimum 50% reduction target, as set out in its "net zero by 2030' commitment. "It's a key milestone and the culmination of a lot of work,' said Ellen Jones, head of environmental, social and governance at F1, in an interview. "We've changed the way we operate, changed the way we work' with the racing teams and promoters, as well as Formula 1's management and regulator, she said. A major factor in the reductions has been a years-long shift to renewable energy, Jones said. Investment in sustainable aviation fuel for travel and freight use, and other alternative energy sources including solar and biofuels, contributed to the decline. Next year, F1 has set a target for the cars to have new hybrid engines and be powered entirely by advanced sustainable fuel. "We're not only changing what we're doing materially, we're also changing the technologies,' Jones said. The sport has achieved carbon reductions across the four major categories that it tracks: factories and facilities, down 59% since 2018; logistics, down 9%; event operations, down 12% on a per-race basis; and travel, down 25%. An increase in using remote operations and changes to the race schedule also have resulted in lower greenhouse gas emissions. Having remote broadcast operations has allowed about 140 personnel to avoid having to travel to the race location each weekend. And changing the date of the Japanese Grand Prix to align with other races last year in the Asia-Pacific region also contributed to lower emissions. In 2026, the date of the Monaco Grand Prix will be moved to align with other European events and eliminate an additional transatlantic crossing. F1 said its climate commitment is "set in accordance with the science' from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and aligns with the panel's definition of net zero emissions. The racing series' goal is to reduce absolute emissions by a minimum of 50% from a 2018 baseline, which was calculated using guidance set by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. F1 has faced criticism from activists who say the sport is harmful to the environment. In 2022, demonstrators with Just Stop Oil sat on the track during the 2022 British Grand Prix, disrupting the race. The construction of Madrid's Grand Prix street circuit also has prompted backlash. The Brazilian leg of the F1 schedule takes place in November, days before the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, which will be hosted in the South American country.
Independent Singapore
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Independent Singapore
Formula 1 to achieve net zero carbon by 2030
According to Formula 1's Sustainability Update 2025, the organisation is still on track to meet its goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2030. The president and CEO of Formula 1, Stefano Domenicali, said in the report: 'We are strongly committed to achieving net zero by 2030. It is a concrete goal, already visible in the significant reduction of our sport's carbon footprint.' He added: 'Formula 1 has always been synonymous with innovation and the desire to improve. Once again, this mentality has allowed us to make important progress, not only for those who work in this world, but also for society as a whole.' At the end of 2024, F1 had already cut its carbon emissions by 26% compared to 2018. Furthermore, during this period, more fans were watching races, increasing from 4 million to 6.5 million. With this, F1 now has over 826 million fans worldwide. F1 sustainability updates Ellen Jones, in charge of ESG at Formula 1, directs the company's sustainability efforts. 'What we have tried to do as a sport,' she said, 'is ask how we can take climate action now and explore how we can do so much more together, whether that's through partnerships or through shared solutions… It's a real balance of individual activity within the organisations that make up our sport, as well as shared activity across the stakeholders who all love the races.' F1 plans to achieve net zero carbon emissions compared to 2018 levels, with at least a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030. 'Being Formula 1, we want to beat that number… When we do exhaust the reductions phase, we will look at what (credible offsets are) at that time.. 'In our sustainability strategy, you have things that are different from normal bricks and mortar because it's about the relationships that we have across the sport. We also look to make a unique contribution as Formula 1 by developing road-relevant solutions. You see that in our cars with hybrid engines, and you'll see that in our cars in 2026 with advanced sustainable fuel. 'How those two cross-pollinate is what I find fascinating. How we innovate on track and how that culture, mindset and knowledge of the technical innovation space helps us innovate off track,' Jones stated. Current F1 cars run on E10 fuel, which contains 10% eco-friendly ethanol. However, starting in 2026, the cars will switch to using fuel that is 100% sustainable. This new fuel has a carbon-neutral footprint because the amount of carbon released when it's used is balanced by the amount absorbed to produce it. Cutting emissions by 26% gets F1 over halfway to its 50% reduction target, but the organisation admits there is still more work to do. Regardless of the challenges, Jones said: 'Sustainability and performance are better delivered together, and we have those examples within F1 every day showing that when you build sustainability from the front into your strategy, you're not making compromises on what is delivered.'
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
F1's renewable energy shift drives 26% drop in carbon footprint
Formula 1, known for flashy, petrol-guzzling racecars speeding at hundreds of kilometres per hour across twisting asphalt tracks, hasn't been a pastime known for sustainability. It's now trying to change that. Often referred to as 'the pinnacle of motorsport,' the racecar organisation, has seen its carbon emissions drop 26% since 2018. At the end of the 2024 season, the sport's carbon footprint fell to 168,720 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent from 228,793. F1 said in a statement on Wednesday that it's halfway toward achieving its minimum 50% reduction target, as set out in its 'net zero by 2030' commitment. 'It's a key milestone and the culmination of a lot of work,' said Ellen Jones, head of environmental, social and governance at F1. 'We've changed the way we operate, changed the way we work' with the racing teams and promoters, as well Formula 1's management and regulator, she said. A major factor in the reductions has been a years-long shift to renewable energy, Jones said. Investment in sustainable aviation fuel for travel and freight use, and other alternative energy sources, including solar and biofuels, contributed to the decline. Next year, F1 has set a target for the cars to have new hybrid engines and be powered entirely by advanced sustainable fuel. 'We're not only changing what we're doing materially, we're also changing the technologies,' Ms Jones said. The sport has achieved carbon reductions across the four major categories that it tracks: factories and facilities, down 59% since 2018; logistics, down 9%; event operations, down 12% on a per-race basis; and travel, down 25%. The sport has reduced emissions by 26% since 2018 An increase in using remote operations and changes to the race schedule also have resulted in lower greenhouse gas emissions. Having remote broadcast operations has allowed about 140 personnel to avoid having to travel to the race location each weekend. Changing the date of the Japanese Grand Prix to align with other races last year in the Asia-Pacific region also contributed to lower emissions. In 2026, the date of the Monaco Grand Prix will be moved to align with other European events and eliminate an additional transatlantic crossing. F1 said its climate commitment is 'set in accordance with the science' from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and aligns with the panel's definition of net zero emissions. The racing series' goal is to reduce absolute emissions by a minimum of 50% from a 2018 baseline, which was calculated using guidance set by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. F1 has faced criticism from activists who say the sport is harmful to the environment. In 2022, demonstrators with Just Stop Oil sat on the track during the 2022 British Grand Prix, disrupting the race. The construction of Madrid's Grand Prix street circuit also has prompted backlash. The Brazilian leg of the F1 schedule takes place in November, days before the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, which will be hosted in the South American country. Bloomberg
Bloomberg
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
Can Formula 1 Go Green? Net Zero Goals & Synthetic Fuel
The excitement around Formula 1 is reaching new heights, thanks in part to Brad Pitt's upcoming film, F1, co-produced by Lewis Hamilton. Formula 1, known for its high-performance cars and 24 races across the globe, has committed to achieving a net zero carbon footprint by 2030. The goal, first announced in 2018, has now reached its halfway point. According to a newly released progress report, Formula 1 has reduced its carbon emissions by 26% as of the end of 2024, compared to 2018 levels. Ellen Jones, Formula 1's Head of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) joined Stephen Carroll and Caroline Hepker on Bloomberg Radio to discuss. (Source: Bloomberg)
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Straits Times
Formula One renewable energy shift drives 26% drop in carbon footprint
Often referred to as 'the pinnacle of motorsport', the organisation has seen its carbon emissions drop 26 per cent since 2018. NEW YORK – Motor racing, a sport known for flashy, petrol-guzzling racecars speeding at hundreds of kilometers per hour across twisting asphalt tracks, has not been a pastime known for sustainability. Formula One is trying to change that. Often referred to as 'the pinnacle of motorsport', the organisation, which hosts an annual championship featuring the best drivers in the world, has seen its carbon emissions drop 26 per cent since 2018. At the end of the 2024 season, the sport's carbon footprint fell to 168,720 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent from 228,793. F1 said in a statement on July 23 that it is halfway toward achieving its minimum 50 per cent reduction target, as set out in its 'net zero by 2030' commitment. 'It's the culmination of a lot of work,' said Ellen Jones, head of environmental, social and governance at F1. 'We've changed the way we operate, changed the way we work with the racing teams and promoters, as well Formula 1's management and regulator.' A major factor in the reductions has been a years-long shift to renewable energy, Jones said. Investment in sustainable aviation fuel for travel and freight use, and other alternative energy sources, including solar and biofuels, contributed to the decline. Next year, F1 has set a target for the cars to have new hybrid engines and be powered entirely by advanced sustainable fuel. The sport has achieved carbon reductions across the four major categories that it tracks – factories and facilities, down 59 per cent since 2018; logistics, down 9 per cent; event operations, down 12 per cent on a per-race basis; and travel, down 25 per cent. An increase in using remote operations and changes to the race schedule also have resulted in lower greenhouse gas emissions. Having remote broadcast operations has allowed about 140 personnel to avoid having to travel to the race location each weekend. And changing the date of the Japanese Grand Prix to align with other races last year in the Asia-Pacific region also contributed to lower emissions. In 2026, the date of the Monaco Grand Prix will be moved to align with other European events and eliminate an additional transatlantic crossing. F1 said its climate commitment is 'set in accordance with the science' from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and aligns with the panel's definition of net zero emissions. The racing series' goal is to reduce absolute emissions by a minimum of 50 per cent from a 2018 baseline, which was calculated using guidance set by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. F1 has faced criticism from activists who say the sport is harmful to the environment. In 2022, demonstrators with Just Stop Oil sat on the track during the 2022 British Grand Prix, disrupting the race. The construction of Madrid's Grand Prix street circuit also has prompted backlash. The Brazilian leg of the F1 schedule takes place in November, days before the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, which will be hosted in the South American country. BLOOMBERG
