Oxford United FC and Oxford University are launching a unique contribution to the UK's first National Climate Week with a sports-based partnership to inspire Oxfordshire's response to the climate challenge.
The club and University will work with local partners to encourage people and organisations to recognise the positive opportunities of the climate challenge: jobs, enterprise, saving money, stronger communities, and a county fit for its future.
Nationally, the Football League Trust are encouraging clubs to be more active with their communities in creating positive environmental initiatives.
Oxford United chairman Kelvin Thomas said: "I hope that Oxford United fans and sponsors will help the club rise to - and be at the forefront - of that challenge. It is particularly exciting to work with the University who have so much expertise in this area - and many U's fans too."
Oxfordshire already has "a great climate defence and midfield" says Ian Curtis, founder of the University's acclaimed ClimateX, "but we now need more game changers." He believes the tie up with Oxford Utd could bring in those game changers - people and organisations who know about winning, and who are excited about the project's positive approach.
A distinctive aspect of the Oxfordshire United project will be to use "sports psyche" as a way of engaging fans, sponsors, schoolchildren, community groups, and even football-boot-wearing cleantech researchers. Curtis, a former professional - and Oxfordshire County - cricketer, said: "Like all sports fans I hate losing and love winning even more. This is a must-win match."
The idea of using the sports psyche has been raised by global leaders. Arnold Schwarzenegger, as Governor of California, wrote in The Sun that governments of the world "should compete with each other to see which can slash its greenhouse gases the most...not waiting to see who goes first, but racing to the head of the pack" and that "this won't be a spectator sport - there are no innocent bystanders". President Obama, in his State of the Union address earlier this year, said 'America must play to win the future in a global competition for leadership on clean energy'.
Curtis stresses the ambition of the project. "Beards and sandals aren't much use on a football pitch. This is not about imposing eleven dull green don'ts. It's about creativity in front of goal. About unique contributions from everyone in the team." The Oxford United stadium has already seen the stylish MorganLifeCar (fresh from the London Motor Show and WhatCar? magazine), and BMW's electric e-mini whizzing around in the hands of Boris Johnson's brother Leo, chased by a bamboo bike.
The project will seek to inspire Oxfordshire people from top to bottom, from United's players to every youngster who has dreamed of Wembley, to the "Mums and Dads" who get that dream too. "We need to beat the scourge of fuel poverty and rising energy bills. We need to have the best defence we can against flooding and extreme weather. But most of all we need the fans and those with the passion to change the game".
Oxford United already have several sponsors and supporters leading the way with green enterprise, green home products and services. The project will spend the summer "on the training pitch" talking to these sponsors and to fans, aiming to start next season with a bang.
For now Curtis says "Mums and daughters have played an awesome game in putting Oxfordshire into the green premiership. It's time for the dads and lads to get on the pitch, strut their stuff, and take us to the top".
Individuals, sports clubs, schools, businesses, or community groups who would like to know more about Oxfordshire United and have ideas of their own are invited to contact Project Co-ordinator Barney Jenkins at barney.jenkins@eci.ox.ac.uk
Contact
Barney Jenkins
Environmental Change Institute
Barney.jenkins@eci.ox.ac.uk
or Ian Curtis, 01865 275849
Notes
ClimateX (aka Oxfordshire ClimateXchange) is run by Oxford University's Environmental Change Institute (ECI) . It has been working with local people and community groups since 2006, with over 200 events and 16,000 participants. These events range from kitchen tables, to church halls, town halls, classrooms, and executive boardrooms. ClimateX is highly trusted by local groups and local government. In 2010 it was cited in a report to the US Congress by the US National Research Council, Informing an Effective Response to Climate Change, as an exemplar for engaging local opinion leaders. www.climatex.org
Environmental Change Institute (ECI): ECI is one of the UK's leading environmental research and teaching centres, with over 70 staff. It is a leader in understanding how people use energy in their daily lives and their response to low carbon initiatives (ECI co-ordinates the national demand management theme for the UK Energy Research Centre). ECI also hosts the UK Climate Impacts Programme, a global leader in engaging stakeholders in climate risk management and adaptation. ECI has a reputation for innovative public engagement, having worked with high profile artists and other cultural professionals; award-winning Oxford computer games company Red Redemption; and on a project to reduce the carbon emissions of the UK music industry. www.eci.ox.ac.uk
Football League Trust/Environment Agency: "Our Environment …it's all to play for"
The Football League Trust has launched a partnership with the Environment Agency to improve environmental performance among the seventy-two Championship, League One and Two clubs. Topics include cutting energy, water and waste, and promoting green issues with local communities. www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/116586.aspx
Climate Week (1-27 March) is running for the first time this year. It is co-ordinating thousands of events across the county. ClimateX has contributed sporting questions to Climate Week's national pub quiz.www.climateweek.com
