Real Betis wants to become the most sustainable club

Real Betis wants to become the most sustainable club

As we celebrate Earth Day on 22 April 2021, and as governments, football organisations and fans rise up to make their contribution to tackling climate change and promoting sustainability, it is helpful to look into practical steps that football clubs can take to help restore the planet. One such positive example is Real Betis Balompié, who in October last year launched the programme ‘Forever Green’, which is actively supported by La Liga. In 2019, Real Betis was also the first football club in the world to join ‘Climate Neutral Now’, an initiative of the United Nations.

The aim of ‘Forever Green’ is to raise awareness among football fans, and people at large,  about the need to fight against climate change, and facilitate cooperation and actions between clubs to reduce their carbon emissions. The vision is that the most popular sport in the world has to take its responsibility, working with its fan base, to protect the planet for future generations.

‘Forever Green’ is developed along five pillars:

1.- Climate change

The goal is to measure and reduce the carbon footprint, and compensate inevitable emissions by purchasing carbon offsets which are projected which reduce emissions elsewhere. Real Betis, for example, supports a wind farm, emission reduction project in Costa Rica.

2.- Recycling

With the cooperation of specialized companies, the club undertakes different waste separation and collection actions to create a recycling culture among its fans.

3.- Mobility

In normal times, on matchdays, Real Betis’s stadium is filled with more than 50,000 enthusiastic fans. The Club promotes many different initiatives to boost sustainable transport with electric vehicles, bicycles or public transport. Fans are the Club’s main allies in fighting climate change.

4.- Nature

The Club has launched several ecologic actions and ideas to promote a greener planet. These include the creation of urban farms, reforestation, or actions to clean the River Guadalquivir which cuts across Seville.

5.- Sustainability 

The Club installed a LED lighting system at Benito Villamarín Stadium to contribute to energy efficiency. Enjoying plenty of sunshine in the South of Spain, solar panels have been installed to generate photovoltaic renewable energy for its own use. The Club has eliminated paper in its operations, whenever possible, for example, entrance into the Stadium is done via smartphones. 

Presentation at 15th EFDN Conference

Rafael Muela Pastor highlighted throughout his presentation at the 15th EFDN Conference how Real Betis Balompié wants to become the most sustainable football club on the planet. 

Real Betis is an excellent example of what football clubs can do to fight climate change and to have an impact well beyond the pitch. All it takes to achieve positive change and winning ways is leadership, vision, and the creative energy of fans and the community.