Smooth sailing to Net Zero with the Vendée Globe
Setting sail for the Vendée Globe
The 10th of November will mark the departure of the Vendée Globe’s 10th edition. Starting in the Sables-d’Olonne, skippers will set sail for an adventure of 45,000 kilometres across the globe, passing through the legendary capes of Leeuwin, Horn and Good Hope.
Not only that, but they are to be alone on an 18-metre-long boat for the entire race. They will not be allowed to receive any external help as they navigate through the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans, braving torrential rain, freezing colds, and extraordinary waves.
The race takes place every four years, and since its first edition in 1989, only 114 of the 200 sailors who have attempted it have crossed the finish line. We’ll have to wait until January 2025 to find out who will win the 10th edition!
Being a sailing race with a global reach, the Vendée Globe is dedicated to using its platform to raise awareness of ocean conversation. As skippers sail the globe, the organisers want the public to realise how global warming impacts the world’s oceans.
Creating waves of climate action in sailing
The first pillar of the Vendée Globe’s sustainability strategy is to understand its environmental impact by measuring it. By working with carbon accounting experts such as Carbone 4 and Toovalu, they have a compass to guide their emission reduction strategy.
It turns out that transport accounts for 63% of the race’s carbon footprint, with visitor travel taking up 99% of that share. Accommodation and catering is the second largest category, representing 28% of total emissions.
The third category is the boats, which, from construction to maintenance, account for 7% of emissions. The remaining 2% of the Vendée Globe’s carbon footprint is split between energy, waste, water and digital emissions.
To tackle the largest share of its emissions, the organisers offer low-carbon transport alternatives to visitors. The Vendée Globe has collaborated with local and regional governments as well as French rail operators to offer low-cost train tickets, starting at €5.
Regarding the village's impact, the organisers leverage the power of public tenders by setting environmental clauses for suppliers wishing to collaborate with the race. These requirements range from environmental certifications and labels to product features such as material recyclability.
For the boats’ impact, constructors must conduct a Life Cycle Assessment. This encourages teams to think holistically about the boats’ emissions. Beyond simply thinking about reducing them, it will become an innovation requirement as an emissions quota will be part of the race’s regulation in 2028.
Raising awareness of ocean conversation through sports
A significant part of the race’s climate strategy is built on creating a regional ecosystem to promote environmental sustainability and circular economy principles. However, the key message the organisers are advocating for extends far beyond Vendée.
With millions of people following the race, the Vendée Globe aspires to inspire these spectators by raising awareness of topics such as climate change and ocean conservation. To do so, they’re building partnerships with the scientific community.
With the organisation Share the Ocean, Biodiversity Protection Zones have been set up worldwide for this year’s race. Skippers will not be allowed to enter these areas to prevent collisions with marine wildlife and disturbing their breeding or feeding grounds.
Additionally, financial support is being provided to UNESCO to coordinate projects bringing oceanographic measurement instruments onboard during the race. For 2024, skippers are trained and encouraged to use them. This will be compulsory from 2028 onwards.
In doing so, the Vendée Globe and their partners are participating in global efforts to enrich scientific databases with marine and weather data. This could enable greater accuracy in climate forecasting and scientific analysis.
Throughout the race, their website will also share educational content on ocean protection so that, in addition to keeping up with the skippers’ prowess, spectators can learn more about the ocean and what the race’s partners are doing to protect it.
With this sustainability strategy, The Vendée Globe is creating a legacy of climate action, demonstrating how sports organisations can leverage their platform for positive impact, and showcasing how the ropes of sports and sustainability can tie a strong knot.
