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.
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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S
16th April 2024, 13:59
By doing what F1 has always done – latching on to existing trends and adopting tech already developed for use outside of F1…
And especially in the case of solar panels at circuits – claiming benefits that aren’t even their own, using systems that they had no part in funding or installing.
Nick T.
16th April 2024, 17:43
One I place I know even the most advanced industries go to F1 for help is with simulations tech, setting up for data acquisition, etc.
Nick T.
17th April 2024, 21:00
One place*
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
16th April 2024, 15:40
I wonder if this study focuses on F1 only or also includes the external stuff that’s also F1 relates but not directly. Like rebuilding all the street tracks over and over every year or the huge effort that was the Las Vegas GP. What about attendance? How does that impact the numbers? If there are more people going to more events, I doubt all of them go walking… I’d love to see the actual numbers of it, not just Domenically saying “we’ve gone down”.
This is like that Homer Simpson quote. “People can come up with statistics to prove anything. 14% of people know that.”
Nick T.
16th April 2024, 17:45
Yeah. We need a lot more data to understand what this even means. I bet they’re focusing almost purely on transportation/logistics, the cars + support on race weekends and team factories.
Jere (@jerejj)
17th April 2024, 6:55
@fer-no65 Because of your reference, I decided to rewatch Season 5 Episode 11 (Homer The Vigilante), & that quote indeed is fitting concerning F1’s net zero target matter.
Jim from US (@jimfromus)
16th April 2024, 15:57
lol. We cut carbon emissions at my house last year by 21.539%. And we’re on target to cut them by another 61.192% this year. See how easy it is to put out a report and press release.
Jason Blankenship (@jblank)
16th April 2024, 15:59
I don’t care. Focus on delivering a great racing product, that is your priority. The rest of this virtue signaling is just superfluous.
notagrumpyfan
16th April 2024, 16:21
I have installed solar panels, thus I’m helping a bit when watching a race during the day.
ludewig
16th April 2024, 17:13
I hold in my farts during the race, reducing methane emissions.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
16th April 2024, 20:04
Hahahaha XD
earthling (@34rthl1ng)
17th April 2024, 23:00
Try also eating a lot of chips, soda and junk food while watching the races and fattening yourself, you’ll be effectively trapping CO2. But never ever lose weight afterwards, you’d be returning CO2 to the atmosphere.
An Sionnach
16th April 2024, 16:59
Due to the limitations of the engine, can we have a very open set of chassis rules? Let the engineers find efficiencies where they can.
Biskit Boy (@sean-p-newmanlive-co-uk)
16th April 2024, 17:02
I’m a rabid, greeny who loves new clean tech… but not in F1… I guess I’m complicated.
There are 1.5 Billion cars on the planet. Do F1 think changing 20 of them will make any difference? I have often been accused of “virtue signalling” and I hate the term. I just do what I think is right, but what F1 is doing now is purely virtue signalling. The need to go back to screaming V10s whilst they still can.
An Sionnach
16th April 2024, 20:24
Or, open up the rules on engines. V10s, V12s, anything goes as long as it’s fast. It would be a boon for a new technology if it beat such beasts fair and square.
Lorengzte (@lorengzte)
16th April 2024, 20:59
The low cost of nat asp engines would increase chances for low budget teams, this would make the cars even closer.
But then again a closer grid means nothing with drs still here.
Nick T.
17th April 2024, 21:02
Exactly. F1 is meant to be entertainment. Are we not not entertained? I have gone to six Canadian GPs. I can’t describe how much excitement was lost when we ditched the screaming engines. It’s not as bad when watching TV, but oh my, in person it’s quite bad.
MichaelN
16th April 2024, 17:29
It’s easy to by cynical, but much of the items listed are good steps. A more streamlined calendar, reduction of emissions from trucks, more renewable energy, remote work where possible. Of course claiming the changes made by circuits as something F1 has achieved is a bit of an eye-roll, but … whatever. It’s still positive.
Nick T.
17th April 2024, 21:04
Yes, good common sense moves are highly welcome. Compromising running by bringing 2-3 less sets of tires per team, is IMO, not good common sense moves.
Aquila_GD
16th April 2024, 17:46
Super cool that F1 is leading the world on this.
SteveR (@stever)
16th April 2024, 19:20
Yeah, except they’re not.
Asd
16th April 2024, 19:55
They’re not leading anything. They’re making good propaganda.
André
16th April 2024, 20:51
Are they counting the emissions of all the flights and trucks needed to sustain a 24-race season?
elvira
17th April 2024, 5:10
I think they are but no doubt countering with offsets, many of which are likely overestimated or utterly ineffective.
I doubt they count spectator or attendant transport etc.
Anyway, probably in line with general trends and they’re doing it easily/seamlessly which no doubt irks climate change deniers.
BasCB (@bascb)
17th April 2024, 7:41
As Elvira mentions, yes they certainly count the emissions for travel – that is a pretty big chunk of their emissions (next to simulators, wind tunnels and the manufacturing of the parts), but they use offsets to “counter” most of them and we all know by now how solid those offsets really are (not much)
Jay
17th April 2024, 0:57
I like the comments on this article! Years ago I think the comments would have went a different direction. F1’s job is first, and only, to make money. Which is not necessarily a bad thing but articles like this come out to make it seem like F1 is a leader in saving the planet. Quite a joke huh?
How about an article going the other way? How many private jets to each race? How many yachts? How many tonnes of emissions from all travel from Vegas to Qatar? Probably not such a rosy picture.
13% carbon cut, lets pat ourselves on the back, and keep the environmental groups off our back as well. This isn’t a green sport and nor will it ever be if it’s a “World Championship”.
BasCB (@bascb)
17th April 2024, 7:41
Yes, it nicely shows how the world is changing, doesn’t it.
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage (@davedai)
17th April 2024, 12:21
F1 has managed to reduce their carbon footprint by 13 per cent between 2018 and 2022. That means a 37 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions over the next six years
Yep finally figured that one out
It is no longer enough for us to simply deliver great action and wheel-to-wheel racing on the track
Uh huh gotcha awesome wheel to wheel stuff
We are a global sport with over 700 million fans around the world
I’m sure he said a billion last year, but it’s easy to lose 300 million I guess.
So Mercedes F1 announces for the first time ever turnover of more than £500 million. What a sport! I’m hanging on every upcoming report.
Hmmmm £500 million divided by 7 million fans about 0.71 p per fan, or as a super global entity abt 0.06 p per person.
Time for executive bonuses!
cdfemke (@cdfemke)
17th April 2024, 18:01
That cant be correct. There has never been this many overseas races. I presume they didnt take the flights with cargo and people in account…
AlexS
18th April 2024, 17:08
So F1 contributes to Desertification by curtailing CO2 … wonderful…. in last decades Earth has been getting greener.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
18th April 2024, 19:09
if people really knew what NET ZERO means they would be appalled. Hint, it has nothing to do with people impoverishing themselves with less energy opportunity.