WorldTour teams have until 2030 to lower their carbon emissions

The International Cycling Union (UCI) has announced that men's and women's WorldTour teams will have an extended deadline to reduce their carbon emissions before facing the possibility of losing their top-flight license. Despite earlier statements indicating a 50% reduction requirement in carbon emissions by 2027, the UCI has clarified that this decision will not take effect until 2030.

UCI president David Lappartient discussed this modification in a sustainability interview with Cycling Weekly. Originally it had been stated that teams were required to reduce their emissions by 50% by 2027 compared to 2019 levels, and that after 2027, maintaining a WorldTour license would require being carbon neutral. However, Lappartient has clarified that the 50% reduction in 2027 will be an intermediate target and not mandatory, and that carbon neutrality will be mandatory in 2030 to maintain a WorldTour license.

Several teams expressed surprise at this change of deadline. Some managers even admitted to not having been previously informed of the new measure. This news has generated some confusion in the cycling community, as some teams were working on plans to comply with the emissions reduction before 2027.

Lappartient emphasized that he was not retracting his earlier statements, but had simply not provided all the details in his first announcement. He stated that the UCI aims to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality, with an intermediate milestone in 2027. Although this reduction will not be mandatory in 2027, it will be an important target on the road to carbon neutrality in 2030.

The UCI has implemented a sustainability impact tracker in collaboration with Global Climate Initiatives and 261PI to measure carbon emissions. All teams and races must now track their emissions using this online platform. Lappartient explained that this common tool was introduced to ensure that measurements are accurate and reliable, avoiding any attempt at "greenwashing."

Despite initial confusion, the UCI hopes that this move will be a step towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly cycling. Lappartient stressed that the UCI is committed to being a support for teams on this journey towards sustainability and that they will work together to ensure that professional cycling can thrive in an environment of climate change. As it moves into the future, the cycling world will need to adapt and embrace these changes to ensure its survival in an increasingly environmentally conscious world.