The Ladies European Tour has launched a new initiative to promote environmental sustainability.
‘Celebrating the Green’, presented by Dow, will help amplify the good work taking place across the tour, as well as inspire and support further action.
Delivered in close partnership with the GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf, and with support from new partner Dow, the initiative will involve people and organisations from across the LET community, including partners, players, tournaments, venues and media.
Alexandra Armas, the LET’s chief executive, said: “We are excited to bring this initiative forward in partnership with GEO Foundation and Dow. The LET recognises the fundamental significance of issues such as biodiversity loss; air and ocean pollution; and climate change. We now want to step forward with more strength to deliver and stimulate more positive action in collaboration with all the people and organisations we connect with around the world. We know these concerns resonate with many of our member players, as well as partners, tournament organisers and venues, and that by working together we can do more and deliver even more value.”
One major focus will be the gathering and promoting of stories and examples from across the LET community, which will span a range of issues directly related to fostering nature, conserving water, energy and materials, engaging communities and taking climate action – all of which are closely aligned to the United Nations’ ‘Global Goals for Sustainable Development’.
Jonathan Smith, executive director of the GEO Foundation, said: “It is always inspiring when a highly visible and influential sporting body like the LET voluntarily steps forward, looking to do more. We are delighted to help guide the initiative and also to support the delivery as more players, tournaments and venues seek to get involved, take more action and tell their stories. This is exactly why we have spent the last few years building customised programs and tools for sustainable golf – including the new suite of carbon calculators.”
The announcement has been warmly welcomed by a number of people and organisations across golf, including Solheim Cup star Suzann Pettersen, who added: “I am very pleased to see the launch of this exciting and important initiative. Sustainability issues are so important to the game of golf and of course to all of us now and future generations. I would encourage current LET players, plus the tournaments and venues to look into how they can get involved in the initiative and with GEO’s sustainable golf programmes, and become part of a truly inspiring collective effort.”
Explaining why the Dow organisation is sponsoring the LET’s Celebrating the Green intiaitive, Mary Draves, the company’s Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, said: “As a direct result of the sustainability work we are carrying out at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, Dow sees a tremendous opportunity to advance sustainability in and through golf. It is one of the sports most connected to natural landscapes and communities and clearly has the opportunity to lead by example on so many key issues. We look forward to bringing our support and resources to both the LET and GEO Foundation, which have done tremendous work over the years to ensure that initiatives like this can be confidently, credibly and effectively carried forward.”
