UAE Team Emirates look to be carbon neutral until 2030 - "Since day one, our team’s mission has been about more than just winning bike races more than just winning bike races"

Cycling has a problem with it's emissions. Whilst the activity of cycling itself isn't a big issue, the race caravan and logistics surrounding all teams lead to big issues. This week world leaders and many more were in Dubai to discuss ways to reduce the world's carbon footprint, and UAE Team Emirates have set themselves the goal of becoming neutral until 20230.

In 2022 the team calculated to have had a carbon footprint 224.98 tones of CO2. Whilst it is very hard to directly eliminate those emissions, they can finance or work on other projects that indirectly benefit the environment. That is the case with the team, that has in five different nations developed projects of forest preservation, renewable energy and blue carbon according to Cyclingnews. Specific cases such as, for example, Soudal - Quick-Step's helicopter ride back to the hotel during the Giro d'Italia set serious concerns and debate on the regulation of emissions within the sport.

"Since day one, our team’s mission has been about more than just winning bike races more than just winning bike races; we were created to become a vehicle for change," team manager Mauro Gianetti said in the conference. The team had representatives at the event taking into consideration the country's financing of it, and there, besides the gurrantee of long-term support, promises were also made.

"Along with the support from our partners, we have committed to driving positive social impact. We've already realized this through a number of health and wellness initiatives that encourage, enable and advocate for cycling and now we will extend our remit by supporting the decarbonization ambitions and implementing a comprehensive sustainability program aimed at achieving a net-zero carbon footprint by the end of 2030."