In December of 2021 the United Nations adopted the Sport as an enabler of sustainable development. The FIM over the last thirty years has been able to realise that ambition through concrete environmental protection regulations and a holistic approach to sustainability.
This environmental protection has been evolved and now we add effort to join the global agenda by supporting most of the sustainable development goals through the different dimensions of motorcycling. We have seen the evolution of our objectives over three decades and how our stakeholders have also evolved to forge a better future and have become sustainability drivers with events more than a game.
From facing numerous challenges such as restrictive legislations, mandatory use of unleaded fuel, sound level regulations, increasing public and media debates about carbon emissions, cancellations of several circuits, it was these events why the FIM acted exactly thirty years ago. It was during the 1992 General Assembly in Columbus Ohio that the first environmental working group was set up and the first environmental code was proposed and presented for the first time in 1993 and approved one year later during the General Assembly in Kuala Lumpur. This became the first code of its kind and is now translated to more than eight languages. Over the following years several projects were developed converting to successful programmes and from which materialised a strategy that now drives the purpose of the organisation.
A structured programme focused on the education of the more than two hundred Environmental Stewards that work in every FIM event is the key to the sustainability strategy followed by a comprehensive programme aimed to control and provide mitigation measurements for those unavoidable by the application of strict regulations and control tools supported by the FIM environmental stewards, delegates and expert members of the International Sustainability Commission. Other programmes based in awareness and communication such as the Ride Green Ambassadors, KISS programme (Keep it Shiny and Sustainable), grassroot oriented campaigns such as the Ride Green Cup, Environmental Trophy amongst others.
The efforts in the matter of climate are now a reality with the announcement of the transition of traditional to alternative energies in the grand categories such as MotoGP ™, reduction in the use of tyres, electric championships, promotion of sustainable transportation at the events, until we reach neutralisation of all unavoidable emissions of the big motorcycling events including the administration.
Ride Green Programme is the big umbrella that embraces all the programmes mentioned above that has become the flagship sustainability programme and it is now recognised globally.
Last year the International Sustainability Commission, CID, launched the revamped sustainability strategy based on the most important topics collected by a series of consulting and workshops. The six pillars of this strategy are: People, Sustainable events, Governances, Climate, Sustainable Development Goals and Awareness.
Jorge Viegas, FIM President: “Making sustainability a priority futureproofs our organisation and our sport. Environmental protection and conservation have been a priority for the FIM for three decades, and I’m proud to lead an organisation that has been so committed and consistent on this issue for such a long period of time. Although it is clear that we must do more; climate change and environmental degradation threaten every aspect of our existence. We believe that the FIM and wider motorcycling family can play a significant role in combating this crisis through innovation in low-carbon alternatives and the awareness we can generate through our world-class events and championships.”
Kattia Juarez, Director of the Sustainability Commission: “To be part of this history and to have contributed for twelve years to the success of this campaign is really an honour, but also a great responsibility. The FIM and motorcycling in general is a very complex sector and that contributes from different angles to the achievement of our sustainability objectives, though also requires the joint effort and participation and effort from the whole team. I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every person and stakeholder who have played their part over the last three decades. Together we will continue to create a better future.”
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