Extreme E sets out Sustainable Development Policy on Earth Day

Since its inception in 2021, the championship has showcased electric vehicles racing in some of the most challenging and remote environments in the world. The series’ core mission is to pave the way to a lower carbon future through the promotion of electric and hydrogen vehicles, ahead of the upcoming launch of Extreme H – the world’s first hydrogen off-road racing championship – and to use the power of sport for drawing attention to the impact of climate change. 

In order to remain at the forefront of sustainability practices in sport, Extreme E has set ambitious objectives and development practices for this Policy:

• To continue minimising the environmental impact of our championship, while consistently monitoring, measuring and reducing our carbon footprint year-on-year.
• To strengthen our community engagement and legacy programmes during the next three seasons to keep fostering an inclusive and socially responsible culture within the Extreme E ecosystem
• To develop a sustainability compliance plan within the next three seasons to preserve our brand credibility and integrity, and to reinforce the position of Extreme E as a leader in sport and sustainability

Ali Russell, Managing Director of Extreme E, said: “The purpose of our Sustainable Development Policy is to show Extreme E’s commitment to sustainability. Earth Day represents an opportunity to reflect on the importance of environmental protection and the responsibility we have to demonstrate sustainable practices, not just as a motorsport series, but as people and citizens of the planet.

“Raising awareness of the climate crisis and supporting environmentally-conscious solutions which can reduce emissions affecting our planet is a core principle of Extreme E. Aligning our objectives to this Policy underlines how committed we are to minimising environmental impact, ensuring social responsibility, and maintaining economic viability.

“The adoption of sustainable actions is crucial for our championship, and as a series with innovation at its core where we strive to lead  the way in environmental practices, we will continue to review and evolve this Policy in accordance with the latest advancements in sustainable initiatives.”

The championship’s culture is shaped by its core values – environment, equality, electrification, energy, and entertainment. These values guide us in every decision and action, ensuring that we adhere to the sustainability principles of stewardship, integrity, inclusivity, and transparency.

Extreme E’s operations are designed to minimise environmental impact and promote the health of ecosystems. The series operates in accordance with the ISO 20121 standard for sustainable event management and the applicable legal requirements, raising the bar in sustainability performance, specifically:

• Utilising sea freight wherever feasible for transportation to significantly cut down CO2 emissions
• Innovating with green technologies like green hydrogen for sustainable event power
• Regularly updating stakeholders and maintaining transparency in our environmental efforts
• Fielding gender-balanced teams, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion in motorsport. This pioneering approach not only challenges the status quo but also sets a new standard for equality in sports
  
  

Extreme E recently published its third annual Sustainability Report with EY, which revealed that the racing series maintained its carbon-neutral status and reduced its overall carbon footprint by 8.2 per cent from the previous year. This achievement is supported by Extreme E’s motorsport industry-leading race site infrastructure, which is powered by 100 per cent renewable energy.

The Report also showed that the Season 3 female-male performance gap has closed by an average of 51 per cent since Season 1, with the average gap now just 1.5 seconds, proving that the rate of progression for female drivers is advanced by gaining equal access to track time and performance development.

Extreme E’s Sustainable Development Policy will be reviewed annually to ensure it remains aligned with the series’ evolving goals and activities, and is available online, reinforcing our commitment to transparency and accountability.