F&S Joins the Green Sports Alliance
What is the Green Sports Alliance?
Founded in 2010, the Green Sports Alliance (GSA) is the leading environmentally focused organization in the sporting world that promotes and supports healthy and sustainable communities where we live, work and play. The GSA is a vehicle in the sports greening movement as it continues to expand. Their efforts include but are not limited to encouraging sport communities to improve operational performance measurement, track sustainability efforts, and increase diversity and leadership in promoting greater access to sports for all.
The GSA drives change through three pillars: leveraging the power of sport to drive meaningful impact, inspiring professional sports leagues to join their cause, and using the Green Sports Alliance Foundation to advance social and environmental responsibility.
The GSA has premium partners, including several Big Ten Conference members: Indiana University Hoosiers, Penn State Nittany Lions, Ohio State University Buckeyes, University of Iowa Hawkeyes, University of Michigan Wolverines, and University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has now joined our peers as the latest Big Ten school to participate in the alliance!
What will this look like moving forward?
Betsy Liggett, coordinator for Special Programs in Environmental Compliance, shared with what this partnership means for F&S and why it’s important: “Facilities & Services is excited to join Green Sports Alliance this year. We are eager to partner with the environmentally focused organization, and its national team members, to continue encouraging our campus community to be resilient environmental stewards through sustainable energy, food, procurement, transportation, venue, waste, and water programs. Joining the Green Sports Alliance at F&S also supports the Illinois Climate Action Plan 2020 and strengthens campus sustainability efforts.”
The University of Illinois has successfully implemented numerous sustainable practices, construction projects, and operational initiatives as a part of the Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP), and this is another step toward meeting iCAP goals. We are hopeful that this initial membership in the GSA through F&S will lead to a long-term relationship with the green sports movement and our campus community.
SAVE THE DATE: GSA will be presenting at the virtual October 20, 2021 Illinois Green Infrastructure & Erosion Control Conference. This conference is hosted by the Champaign County Stormwater Partnership which the University of Illinois, Facilities & Services is a member. Check for registration details at CHAMPAIGN COUNTY STORMWATER PARTNERSHIP - Home (ccstormwater.org)