Formula E: Global Sustainability Influencers in Sport

I'm thoroughly impressed by how far Formula E has come since 2014. Strictly from a viewership point of view, I had my reservations about how much success the ambitious series would have, and I know I wasn’t alone in that. However, it's clear to me now that compared to many of their counterparts, this is a racing series that is well ahead of the curve. Thanks to the success they’ve had, I think we'll see many racing series will follow suit when it comes to prioritizing forward-thinking sustainable practices. It's the only way forward in a sport that's so global and technology-driven.

So what makes Formula E stand out? If you ask them, their founding mission was to actively promote electric mobility and alternative energy solutions that contribute to improving air quality and, on a grander scale, fight against climate change around the world. Their model has proven successful, as in 2020, they became the first global sport to be certified with a net zero carbon footprint from its inception.

What’s more, we're already seeing the positive impact of Formula E’s successes spill into other racing categories. Formula One has engineered many innovative solutions that have positively contributed to not only the automotive industry, but towards the global fight against carbon emissions. In setting themselves the goal of being a net zero carbon sport by 2030, they are committing to being leaders in tackling this issue. First announced in 2019, this bold initiative will pertain to the Formula 1 cars and on-track activity, as well as their overall operations as a sport.

Formula One has long been leaders in technological innovation throughout its history, with many of these developments being adopted by road car manufacturers and companies in other industries. Now though, with the global environmental crisis coming to a head, Formula One and its major parties are making headway towards becoming a more sustainable sport.

In North America, NASCAR has also made big strides. They've partnered with Sunoco to race with blended biofuel, implemented solar powered solutions at their tracks, and they recycle racing oils and fluids as well as used tires. All things considered, it's clear that in many racing series today, key stakeholders are more cognizant than ever of their environmental impact.

As a racing fan, positive changes such as these are great to see, and some of them wouldn’t be possible without the work being done by those within Formula E. Motorsport can sometimes be resistant to change, but it’s often required for the good of the sport. It’s the reason the sport has come such a long way when it comes to many major safety innovations, and it’s also how important environmental change will come about in the years to come.