Faced With Melting Ice, The NHL Is Going Carbon Neutral

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/12/22/3606380/nhl-goes-carbon-neutral/

by Emily Atkin Posted on December 22, 2014

The National Hockey League is going carbon neutral.

On Thursday, the professional ice hockey league said it would buy enough renewable energy credits to completely offset its carbon footprint during the 2014-2015 season — an estimated total of 550,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, or the emissions equivalent of 115,000 cars. The move is meant to raise awareness about the impacts of climate change, not only on the environment, but on the future of ice hockey itself.

“Our sport was born on frozen ponds and relies on winter weather,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement. “Everyone who loves our game will benefit by taking an active role in preserving the environment and the roots of the game.”

The NHL’s announcement came the same day as a new study was published in the journal Nature Climate Change, documenting a steady decline in the length and availability of the outdoor ice skating season in Ottawa, Canada.

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the NHL depends on cold weather and clean water more than any other league — not because its arenas and outdoor events are ice-based but also because many youth hockey players learn to play the game on frozen outdoor ponds. Those youth players are essential for making sure the league has future talent.

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Hockey fans will likely rejoice at the latest news. According to the NHL, they are 11 times more likely to recycle than the average American adult, 19 times more likely to donate to environmentally-friendly causes, and 20 times more likely to pay for environmentally-friendly products and services.