Priority Areas For New Premier League Strategy

The new strategy focuses on three key strategic priorities, adapting the business to achieve net-zero by 2040, future-proofing the game by decarbonising the league, and inspiring and engaging fans to take action through programmes and platforms.

The strategy outlines the key areas in which the league has direct control, collaboration opportunities and influence to drive change. Adaptations to the business, within the league’s direct control, will include formally incorporating environmental sustainability into governance and decision-making structures, as well as including environmental
considerations in supplier due diligence and risk management frameworks. For the first time the league has publicly disclosed its carbon emissions footprint from the 2022/23 season, which amounts to 36,821 tons of Co2e across Scopes 1, 2 and 3.

Premier League has come under criticism that it’s strategy has taken too long to publish, with soccer player David Wheeler telling BBC Sport in 2024, “two and a half years to wait on a sustainability strategy is dragging your feet, to say the least.”

Premier League Environmental Actions To Date

The last major announcement to come out of Premier League around this work was in February 2024, when an environmental sustainability commitment was agreed by all clubs. It outlined four operational measures that clubs would take alongside a timeline for action. The measures included the development of a robust environmental sustainability policy by the end of the 2024/25 season and a greenhouse gas emissions dataset by the end of the 2025/26 season. The commitment also advised that a senior employee must lead the club’s environmental sustainability activities, and clubs must support the development of a common framework for action via the Premier League Sustainability Working Group.

Prior to that, the Premier League Sustainability Working Group was established in 2023, to help shape and inform environmental practices across the League. Further back in November 2021, the league signed up for UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action, committing to emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2040. The league stated at the launch, “the development of the Premier League’s environmental sustainability strategy is ongoing and will be launched in 2022, outlining central business plans to reduce its own impact and to engage with other stakeholders to achieve the principles outlined in the Framework.”

The league was undertaking environmental efforts in 2018, when they partnered with the Sky Ocean Rescue campaign to raise awareness of the issues caused by single-use plastic. ‘Pass On Plastic’ was the message, and league chief executive at the time, Richard Scudamore, said at it’s launch, “as an organisation with a global audience we, and our clubs, are able to encourage people around the world to think and take positive action to reduce their use of plastic.”

Over recent years 70,000 primary school teachers across England and Wales have also been given access to free resources to protect our planet, through Premier League Primary Stars, a program to inspire young people aged 5 to 11 years old.

What Are Other Soccer Leagues Doing?

Soccer leagues across the globe are taking action on environmental sustainability in different ways. The most robust effort to date comes from Germany’s Deutsche Fußball Liga, with a mandatory environmental sustainability criteria being integrated into club licensing regulations for Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 in 2022. With a phased roll out, clubs have to provide independent proof that they fulfil the criteria within the scope of the licensing process by the 2025-26 season.

Spain’s La Liga has been advancing its agenda through several initiatives, including their Environmental Fair Play program, which provides a comprehensive guide to assist clubs in focusing their environmental efforts effectively.

Major League Soccer states it is “committed to taking steps to address its environmental impacts and seeks to inspire clubs, players, partners, fans and staff to improve the communities where we live and play our games.” This has mainly manifested to date mainly through its ‘Greener Goals Week of Service’, involving league-wide activities to raise awareness and reduce waste.

Major Opportunity For Premier League and Planet

Premier League’s new strategy signals a renewed commitment and plan to tackle its environmental impact, whilst harnessing its vast platform to reach and inspire fans. Matches are watched in 920 million homes across 189 countries, the most of any soccer league on the planet.

Momentum is growing across global soccer leagues and clubs to play a part in addressing climate change. Despite criticism from some corners over the time it took to launch, the strategy outlines clear priorities, positioning Premier League to hit the back of the net in driving meaningful action.