Meath Local Sports Partnership has announced an initiative aimed at promoting sustainability through the county’s grassroots sports clubs.
With Ireland committed to meeting climate action targets required by the United Nations and Paris Agreement, Meath LSP will be the first Local Sports Partnership in Ireland to develop a county-wide sustainability programme.
As sport around the world feels the effects of increased carbon emissions, warming atmosphere and extreme weather, sport offers a unique platform to engage clubs and communities around the key environmental, social and economic issues.
In addition to helping Meath clubs operate sustainably, a core vision for the initiative will be to educate and inspire their people, particularly children, around positive, healthy behaviours.
The initiative has been planned across a three-year period, with several key milestones over the next year:
- Official campaign launched later this month.
- ‘Sustainability & Sport’ symposium at Navan’s Solstice Centre (Saturday 28 January 2023), engaging Meath’s sports clubs and stakeholders around sustainability.
- Select ‘Innovator’ clubs taking part in a 12-month pilot programme, to help identify and develop a ‘sustainability toolkit’ for use across the county.
Mary Murphy, Senior Executive Officer of Meath County Council, said, “this initiative sits perfectly with Meath Local Sport Partnership’s aim of ‘More people, more active, more often. As climate change is already affecting opportunities for sport in the county, we want to help our clubs build a healthy future – one that benefits players, neighbouring communities and the environment.”
Chief Executive, Jackie Maguire, said, “together with Meath Local Sports Partnership, Meath County Council is committed to promoting sustainable development and respect for the environment in and through sport. To this end, the Council will support and nurture this initiative to help reach communities, participants and fans about sustainability issues and lead the debate on climate change and sport at a local level.”
Patrick Haslett, Managing Partner of Impact 3 Zero, said, “we’re delighted to be supporting Meath LSP and the Council’s commitment to using sport to promote action around sustainability. We’re excited to help bring this to life for all those connected with sport in the county, particularly for the ultimate benefit of its younger generations.”
Source: Meath County Council
