Roland Garros makes a point about climate action
Aligning the French Grand Slam with the Paris Agreement
2019 was a pivotal year for climate action in Tennis, with the four Grand Slam tournaments uniting to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change.
The French Tennis Federation, All England Lawn Tennis Club, United States Tennis Association and Tennis Australia all joined the Sports for Climate Action Framework.
Through this framework, sports organisations are committing to decarbonising in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement and using sports to unify people in taking climate action.
“The engagement of the tennis world is very valuable for this initiative. We need everyone on board. It takes the combined efforts of all sectors of society, including business. Including sports. Including tennis”
Patricia Espinosa, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary
In the same year, the French Tennis Federation also signed the city of Paris’ Climate Action Plan, committing to carbon neutrality and sourcing 100% renewable energy by 2050.
Serving as an example of sustainability in sports
Since 2016, Engie has been providing Roland Garros with 100% renewable electricity, with the energy coming from hydropower and solar power generation.
Through this partnership, solar panels have been deployed throughout the complex, including on the Suzanne-Lenglen stadium, to generate on-site renewable energy.
To reduce food waste, Parisian organisations collect unsold food at the tournament for people in need. During the 2023 tournament, 10,541 unsold meals were redistributed.
For transportation, Roland Garros has partnered with Renault, which provides a fleet of 88% hybrid and electric vehicles to transport players and officials.
The organisers also encourage fans to use public transportation to attend the games or to cycle in, with two bicycle parking lots available to spectators.
To extend the reach of its impact outside of Paris, Roland Garros is involved in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur region’s climate plan by donating to reforestation projects in areas affected by climate change.
“This reforestation project is a concrete illustration of the FFT’s commitment to helping the environment, particularly through the events that the federation organises.”
Gilles Moretton, President of the French Tennis Federation
Engaging tennis supporters with climate action
The French Open is also committed to using its platform and reach to educate individuals about climate change and environmental sustainability.
In 2023, “Green Teams” toured the stadiums to raise spectators’ awareness of environmental sustainability. These teams engaged 8,000 people at last year’s tournament.
The French Tennis Federation has also developed a Tennis Climate Fresk to raise awareness about climate change and highlight solutions through an engaging and educational game.
“In the face of the climate crisis urgency, we must combine our strengths and generate peer pressure with other events – especially the four Grand Slams, including athletes, partners, and all of our stakeholders.”
Bernard Giudicelli, Roland Garros President
Tennis tournaments such as Roland Garros can create waves of climate action by targeting Net Zero, implementing decarbonisation initiatives, and educating spectators about climate change.
