As a water sport, sailing is directly confronted with the consequences of climate change. World Sailing therefore wanted to make a strong impression by launching a project to measuring the environmental impact of boats in Olympic categoriesA life cycle assessment (LCA) will thus make it possible to understand the total footprint of the production, use and end of life of the equipment, and to identify areas for improvement.
The results will be taken into account in the development of rules, technical standards and selections for Olympic classes, as World Sailing hopes that environmental data be " at the heart of the decision-making framework »From 2032 onwards, all classes wishing to be at the Olympic Games will have to provide a LCA.
« Sailing depends on the health of the oceans, which gives us both the privilege and the duty to lead by example. This project provides us with the evidence we need to make smarter choices, emphasizes Alexandra Rickham, director of sustainable development at World Sailing. By working with our classes and manufacturers, we can finding a balance between performance and environmental responsibility and help the entire sport move forward. »
Julie Duffus, head of sustainable development at the IOC, welcomes this initiative. By integrating life cycle analysis into its equipment-related rules, World Sailing sets an important precedentdemonstrating how environmental impact can be taken into account alongside performance to shape the future of sport " she says. World Sailing believes these efforts will have a ripple effect across the entire nautical sector and positively influence the design of recreational boats.
