BASES Climate Action and Sustainability Advisory Group

Our ongoing Climate Action and Sustainability Advisory Group Work includes:

BASES Course Endorsement and Accreditation

As part of this Strategic Objectives, we have worked with the HE Endorsement Scheme Advisory Group, and together, proposed changes to the BASES Undergraduate Endorsement Scheme (BUES) and Postgraduate Endorsement Scheme (BPGES) for higher education institutions (HEIs).

As part of this process, the proposed changes comprise HEIs including aspects of climate change and/or sustainability within their sport and exercise science (SES) curriculum.

Working alongside BASES’ HE Endorsement Scheme Advisory Group Co-Chairs, Drs Ian Sadler & Matthew Timmis FBASES, both Groups have reviewed and refined the BUES and BPGES to include Climate Action and/or Sustainability into the accreditation process. This project addresses two key objectives of CASAG:

1. Promote sustainable and responsible practices in Sport and Exercise Sciences.
2. Disseminate evidence-based education and provide guiding principles to help address climate change

We have therefore provided exemplar content/slides to support HEIs wishing to utilise climate change and/or sustainability within their SES curriculum, if they are not doing so already. For further information, please contact the CASAG Chair, Dr Ash Willmott Ash.Willmott@aru.ac.uk.

BASES Laboratory Accreditation

As part of this Strategic Objective, we have worked with the BASES Laboratory Accreditation Group, and together, proposed changes to the accreditation application process to ensure sustainability is included for higher education institutions (HEIs) and/or laboratories applying for BASES Laboratory accreditation/re-accreditation.

As part of this process, the proposed changes comprise laboratories including aspects of sustainability within their sport and exercise science (SES) laboratory practices.

Working alongside BASES’ Laboratory Accreditation Group Chair, Dr David Green, both Groups have reviewed and refined the Laboratory Accreditation application process to ensure Sustainability is included. This project addresses two key objectives of CASAG:

1. Promote sustainable and responsible practices in Sport and Exercise Sciences.
2. Disseminate evidence-based education and provide guiding principles to help address climate change

We have therefore provided exemplar resources, links and initiatives to support laboratories wishing to utilise sustainability practices within their laboratory practices, if they are not doing so already. For further information please contact CASAG Chair, Dr Ash Willmott Ash.Willmott@aru.ac.uk.

BASES Events, Partnerships and Resources

As part of this Strategic Objective, we aim to continue forming working relationships with external partners (e.g. BASIS) and sharing important resources to our members aligned to climate action and sustainability (e.g. LEAF).

We also aim to organise and host specific webinars on climate action and sustainability in SES, following on from our inaugural webinar entitled ‘Race to reduce our carbon footprint: The role of the Sport and Exercise Scientist’ - members can rewatch this webinar via the member-only webinar page. We will also aim to ensure our conferences, events and workshops align to our strategic priority of reducing the Association’s carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions (e.g. reduce travel/wastage) and promoting sustainable event practices (e.g. recycling materials, asking attendees to bring their coffee cup initiatives, electronic conference handbooks). Finally, we aim to update and share applicable resources to our members regarding Climate Action and Sustainability in SES, of which, a host of resources, links and initiatives can be found further down the page.

We look forward to working with our members in hope of continuing our sustainable events and seek members who wish to contribute to such events as webinars to share best practice, research and/or applied practice aligned to Climate Action and Sustainability in SES. Please contact CASAG Chair, Dr Ash Willmott Ash.Willmott@aru.ac.uk.

BASES’ New Climate Action and Sustainability in SES Award

In recognition of the fantastic work aligned to Climate Action and Sustainability in SES across BASES’ members, accredited laboratories and endorsed courses, plans are being developed to create a new set of awards to mark outstanding commitment and contribution to Climate Action and the promotion of Sustainability in Sport and Exercise Science. More information will be shared in due course.

As part of this Strategic Objective, we have created a process for all BASES’ members and accredited laboratories to share unused and/or unwanted equipment with fellow members and laboratories, in hope of improving sustainability practices and recycling equipment that is still of use to others, thus reducing wastage and improving BASES’ commitment to creating a green, sustainable laboratory culture and community.

We feel this is an important scheme for BASES’ members and accredited laboratories who would benefit from sharing such equipment. When/if equipment becomes available to share or “flip” for other BASES’ members and accredited laboratories, we have provided a process to be completed prior to sharing such equipment. This information can be downloaded and found here (please note the terms and conditions of use).

Once equipment to flip becomes available, it will be listed below.

We look forward to seeing this BASES SES Equipment Flip Scheme progress and support our members in hope of creating a green, sustainable laboratory culture and community. For further information please contact CASAG Chair, Dr Ash Willmott Ash.Willmott@aru.ac.uk.

As part of this Strategic Objective, we wish to create a research directory for all BASES members to share their contact information and research expertise in hope of creating a network of research focussed members to share news, disseminate applicable research and collaborate on areas related to Climate Action and Sustainability.

This project also includes the opportunity to write articles in The Sport and Exercise Scientist (TSES) to inform members of new research, experiences, skills and information aligned to Climate Action and Sustainability in SES.

Please see below for our current members undertaking research aligned to Climate Action and Sustainability by investigating the effects of environmental extremes on human health and performance, physical activity and nutrition.

Member	Contact information and Expertise
Dr Lee Graves	Title: Reader in Physical Activity and Health at Liverpool John Moores University Email: L.E.GRAVES@LJMU.AC.UK Research expertise: Reader in development, implementation and evaluation of place-based physical activity and sedentary behaviour interventions. Research group, school and institute.
Dr Carl James	Title: Research Assistant Professor at Hong Kong Baptist University. Email: carljames@hkbu.edu.hk Research expertise: Carl is an applied scientist who has worked with medallists from Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, and has particular interests in the physiology and monitoring of endurance, team & racket sports as well as wearable technology and exercise in hot and humid conditions. Research profile
Dr Steve Mears	Title: Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Nutrition, Loughborough University Email: S.a.mears@lboro.ac.uk Research expertise: Stephen’s overall research focus examines nutritional interventions for health and performance in endurance exercise. His two main areas of research are hydration and renal health/function and the influence of carbohydrate metabolism and hypohydration on exercise performance with both areas including environmental physiology. Research profile
Dr Jessica Mee	Title: UKRI FLF Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer at the University of Worcester Email: j.mee@worc.ac.uk Research expertise: Jess’s research is aimed at improving females’ health and performance by mitigating heat strain. Research profile
Dr Ash Willmott (Chair)	Title: Senior Lecturer and Research Director at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. Email: Ash.Willmott@aru.ac.uk Research expertise: Ash specialises in the understanding of human responses and adaptations to extreme environmental conditions, specifically heat stress and altitude exposure. Research profile.
Dr Julia Zakrzewski-Fruer	Title: Senior Lecturer in Health, Nutrition and Exercise at the University of Bedfordshire. Email: Julia.Fruer@beds.ac.uk Research expertise: Julia integrates her expertise in physical activity and nutrient metabolism among children and adolescents with climate change mitigation efforts, spanning active travel, nature-based physical activity, cardiometabolic health, and human and planetary health co-benefits. Research profile.

For further information, and to add your information (name, photo contact details and area of expertise), please contact CASAG Chair, Dr Ash Willmott Ash.Willmott@aru.ac.uk.

To celebrate World Environment Day 2022, BASES shared news of its Pledge to Net Zero submission, which was formally submitted in May 2022. The submission involved estimating the greenhouse gas emissions of the Association and setting a target to reduce them.

Greenhouse gas emissions of the Association

We determined that for a baseline year of 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020, our total estimated emissions were 21.3 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). To put this in context, this equates to the carbon dioxide emitted from driving a car approximately 53,000 miles. Our biggest source of emissions was the production, printing and posting of The Sport and Exercise Scientist (TSES) publication, followed by air travel for speakers at the BASES Annual Conference.

BASES’ target

We are committed to a minimum of a 21% absolute reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 (a minimum 4.2% reduction per year between April 2020 and 2025). We are also committed to reach net zero by no later than 2050. We believe these targets are consistent with reductions required to keep global warming to 1.5°C.

Reflections and Thought Leadership

Whilst it is vital that BASES meets the target set here and ‘puts its own house in order’, our estimated emissions are relatively small. Therefore, we believe that our biggest contribution to tackling the climate emergency will come through thought leadership. As a professional and regulatory body, we can influence the behaviours and actions of thousands of Sport and Exercise Scientists and hundreds of Degree Programmes and Laboratories. We also have the opportunity to shape the international Sport and Exercise Science agenda, and use our network with, for example, the Science Council, to learn from others and share our experiences. BASES encourages other organisations to follow our example and to sign up to the United Nations Climate Action Framework for Sport and the Pledge for Net Zero.

Interim Report (January 2023)

Our latest annual carbon footprint report covers the period from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022. This reporting period was chosen because i) it was the year in which we made our pledge and ii) at the time of reporting (January 2023) it is the most recent year for which we have a full set of audit accounts on which to base our estimate emissions.

• Our total estimated emissions for this reporting period = 9.767 tCO2e.
• Reporting period carbon footprint Scope 1 +2 = 0.65 tCO2e.
• Reporting Scope 3 = 9.117 tCO2e.

Year 2 Report (February 2024)

Our latest annual carbon footprint report covers the period from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.

• Our total estimated emissions for this reporting period = 16.69 tCO2e.
• Reporting period carbon footprint Scope 1 +2 = 0.56 tCO2e.
• Reporting Scope 3 = 16.92 tCO2e.

Our previous Climate Action and Sustainability Advisory Group Work included:

Membership survey:

• Over the first year of the CCAT, this work was led by Dr Julia Zakrzewski-Fruer and Dr Andy Smith MBE FBASES. In our foundation year, this work was important to ensure that we listened to the BASES membership and learned from what our peers thought about how best to move forward. Through this workstream, we have conducted a survey of the BASES membership and shared the results with the Board and used them to shape our thinking and action. Going forward, it is envisaged that the CCAT will continue to listen to the membership to ensure our work is relevant, applied and practical.

Draft a Climate Change Action Plan for the Association

• Over the first year of the CCAT, this work was led by Dr Ash Willmott and Dr Andrew Garret. In our foundation year, this workstream was important to ensure that the work of the Action Team had a purposeful direction and strategy for BASES. Through this workstream, we have developed a strategic way forward and developed a better understanding of how we can have the biggest impact on the Association and its members and partners. The workstream also designed and produced a user-friendly infographic to summarise BASES’ Climate Change strategy for its members and the general public to use and understand. Over the first year of the CCAT, this work was led by Dr Ash Willmott and Dr Andrew Garret. In our foundation year, this workstream was important to ensure that the work of the Action Team had a purposeful direction and strategy for BASES. Through this workstream, we have developed a strategic way forward and developed a better understanding of how we can have the biggest impact on the Association and its members and partners. The workstream also designed and produced a user-friendly infographic to summarise BASES’ Climate Change strategy for its members and the general public to use and understand.

BASES webinar on Sport and Exercise Science and Climate Change

• Over the first year of the CCAT, this work was led by Dr Julia Zakrzewski-Fruer and Dr Susie Crawford. In our foundation year, this work was important to ensure that we began to take practical, relevant and applied action as soon as possible. Through this workstream, we ran the first ever BASES webinar on Climate Change which took place on 2 February 2022 and was entitled ‘Race to reduce our carbon footprint: The role of the Sport and Exercise Scientist’. Members can watch the webinar again via the member-only webinar page.

BASES Climate Change Action webpage

• Over the first year of the CCAT, this work was led by Romain Denis and Dr Steve Mears. In our foundation year, this work was important to ensure that the Team had a way to communicate with the BASES membership and to ensure openness and transparency. The result of this work is the webpage that you are reading now.

Explore how BASES conferences and The Sport and Exercise Scientist can advocate for climate change

• Over the first year of the CCAT, this work was led by Dr Louise Ellis. In our foundation year, this work was important to ensure that we thought about the long term and how future BASES conferences and The Sport and Exercise Scientist could help tackle climate change. This workstream represents an ongoing long-term piece of work for the CCAT

Pledge to Net Zero planning

• Over the first year of the CCAT, this work was led by Dr Andy Smith MBE FBASES and Dr Lee Graves with significant input from Dr Ash Wilmott and Dr Andrew Garret. In our foundation year, this work was important as the Board has committed BASES to the Pledge to Net Zero, requiring the Association to estimate its carbon emissions and set a target to reduce them. Through this workstream, we have estimated the carbon emission of BASES and proposed to Pledge to Net Zero a target to reduce them. In doing so, we have developed some of the skills that the Association and the Discipline will need if it is to help address climate change. To share this knowledge with the Sport and Exercise Sciences community, in our second year of operation, it is planned to write this work up for publication.

1. Scientific Articles

2. Links to media

• London Marathon using recyclable cups to cut plastic waste [Link]

• How clean is the Tour de France? [Link]

• Movistar Team aims to become first 100% sustainable cycling organisation [Link]

• ‘Extreme heat can be deadly:’ how cricket is handling the climate crisis [Link]

3. Links to organisations

• BASIS (The British Association for Sustainable Sport) https://basis.org.uk/ - BASES recently signed a Partnership Agreement with BASIS [Press release]
• Sustainability Exchange https://www.sustainabilityexchange.ac.uk/home - Developed by Sustainable UCL, the Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) contains actions which lab users can take to save plastics, water, energy and other resources. By taking part in the programme, laboratories will reduce their carbon emissions and create an environment that supports research quality.
• The Retail Merchant Services has produced an SME’s guide to reducing your carbon footprint and environmental impact.

1. Global Water Waste

This guide covers everything that individuals, homes and businesses need to consider:

• The impact of wastewater on the environment
• Global water waste statistics, with countries, ranked and country-specific case studies
• The most common water-wasting habits in the UK
• The entire water process, including production, collection, treatment, and reuse
• How individuals and families can reduce water waste

Here are just some of the insights their research uncovered:

• A single member of a UK household could use up to 149 litres of water every day.

• There are huge disparities in water use across countries. Individuals in the USA use the most water on average, at 373 litres, while people in Mexico use just 5.4 litres per person per day.
• The water company areas with the highest water stress scores are Essex and Suffolk Water, and Folkestone and Dover Water, at 41.
• 29% of Brits don’t reuse water when cooking or preparing food.

2. How Much Do We Waste? A Data-Driven Guide to Waste and Landfills

It includes talks about:

• How much do we throw away
• Where our waste goes
• Managing business waste

3. 50 Important Facts & Stats About Automobile Waste in 2022 

The research-based piece mainly covers the following:

• What happens to end-of-life vehicles in the UK
• The UK’s vehicle recycling targets
• Which countries are leading in car recycling
• Which parts of a car can be recycled

4. Home Carbon Calculator https://www.nu-heat.co.uk/home-carbon-calculator/

This tool calculates the potential CO2 savings through the following actions:

• Improving home energy efficiency
• Transitioning to renewable energy sources
• Making environmentally conscious lifestyle choices

5. "The Importance of Socially Responsible Mining in Developing Countries".

https://atkinsonsbullion.com/news/socially-responsible-mining-in-developing-countries