Formula 1 says it is reducing its emissions quickly enough to hit its target of becoming a net-zero emitter of carbon by 2030.
Figures released by the championship show its total volume of emissions rose from 2021 to 2022. However the latter season saw many ‘fly-away’ races return to the calendar for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to an increase in travel and therefore emissions.
Compared to F1’s ‘baseline’ figure from 2018, when it emitted 256,551 tons of CO2, the series’ output fell by 17% in 2021 and 13% in 2022. Figures for 2023 are still being compiled.
“This figure shows reductions made in the 2019-2022 seasons and is the first comparable year to 2018 baseline after the Covid-impacted seasons of 2020 and 2021, which naturally saw a reduction in travel,” said F1 in a statement.
F1 is targeting a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030 in order to achieve its ‘net zero’ target.
The series has examined every aspect of its operation to reduces its emissions. It has changed the order of races on its calendar, switched to more efficient fuel sources for its trucks and increased the use of renewable energy. In order to reduce the amount of freight it takes to races, F1 has built a remote broadcasting facility at its base in Biggin Hill, UK, which means much of its video production work no longer needs to take place at circuits.
Last year the use of renewable energy at grands prix rose from 50% to 75%. More circuits are using solar panels and one such array was used to cut emissions at the Austrian Grand Prix by 90% compared to the previous year.
F1 president Stefano Domenicali said the sport has made “significant progress” in reducing the emissions it creates.
“F1 has been innovating and influencing wider society for over 70 years and we’ve seen how the great minds and technology of the sport have had a positive impact in many different spaces, and now we have turned that expertise and insight to sustainability,” he said.
“We are a global sport with over 700 million fans around the world, which gives us a great platform to create change and influence those watching and engaging with F1 to act and leave their own positive legacy. Over the past four years, we have made significant progress, and we remain very focused on our goals and I’m excited to see the impact we can have.”
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Formula 1
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