Sustainability
Climate change is an existential threat to our sport. From extreme heat, to flooding, to bushfires, to drought, cricket is the number one turf-playing sport affected by climate change, which is why Desert Vipers are putting sustainability at the core of our franchise. As a new franchise, we have an opportunity to lead by example to help ensure the long-term future of the sport we love.
Timeline of Sustainability
NOV 2022
Signed sports’ first ever Climate Change Partnership
JUL 2023
Became the first cricket franchise to sign up to the
UN
Sports For Climate Action Framework
JUL 2023
Became the first
cricket franchise to
publish our carbon
footprint
JUL 2023
Partnered with J.S.
Wright & Sons , the
world’s largest
supplier of English
Willow, and began
planting programme
JUL 2023
Offset 100% of our
S1 emissions, and
started to reduce
emissions in line
with 2040 Net Zero
target
OCT 2023
Hired our first
Sustainability Manager
from Oxford University’s
Environmental
Change
Institute
NOV 2023
Management
stopped flying
business class, and
staff rewarded for
flying economy
NOV 2023
Published our
Sustainability
Strategy
Framework
2023/24
NOV 2023
Started our School
Sustainability &
Coaching Programme
NOV 2023
Upcycled our first
products, for use
during Season Two
out of kits from
Season One
NOV 2023
Published the first
of our sustainability
blogs, where we
openly document
our progress
DEC 2023
Attended COP 28,
and participated in
a panel at Extreme
Hangout
JAN 2024
Encouraged our
staff and players to
bring used kit to
Dubai to be donated
or upcycled
JAN 2024
Started using a
biofuel blend in our
team bus
JAN 2024
Committed to
reducing single-use
plastic, through our
partnership with The
Plastic Pledge
JAN 2024
Partnered with Bat For
A Chance, to distribute
kit to cricketers in need
/ enable access to
ILT20 matches for
migrant workers
JAN 2024
Successfully
eradicated single-use plastic water
bottles from our
team environment
JAN 2024
Announced our
first Sustainability
Supplier
FEB 2024
Announced Dubai
Sports Council as
our Lead
Sustainability
Partner
FEB 2024
Hosted our first
Sustainability
Match
FEB 2024
Placed carbon
footprint labels on
hospitality food at
a match – a first in
sports?
FEB 2024
Placed plastic
recycling bins in
the Dubai
International
Stadium for the
first time ever
FEB 2024
Announced our first
Sustainable Mobility
Partner - Hertz
- who
supply the team with
electric and hybrid
vehicles
FEB 2024
Hired a Development
Lead to expand our
School Sustainability
& Coaching
Programme
APR 2024
Hired a
Sustainability Lead –
the only one in world
cricket
JUN 2024
Published our
Sustainability
Match Report
JUL 2024
Shortlisted for the
final of the Gulf
Sustainability
Awards
COMING SOON
Co-hosting a UAE
Sustainability in
Sports Summit
COMING SOON
More sustainability
partners
Climate targets
We are Dubai's first signatory to the United Nations Sports for Climate Action (UNS4CA), and the first Asian cricket franchise to sign up
S4CA Targets
50% emissions reduction by 2030
Net
Zero by
2040
Desert Vipers Stretch Target
50% emissions
reduction by
2028
Season 2 Sustainability Match
The Desert Vipers team, with partner, Toby Gregory, and an ILT20 colleague
Sustainability Match Report
Father and sons ready for the big game
Ben Hardy-Jones, Sustainability Lead, and Toby Gregory delivering a speech
Plastic recycling bins filling up
Desert Vipers CEO and owner with Hertz UAE
Fans enjoying the match
Emptying the recycling bins
Players celebrating after a wicket
The Desert Vipers team
The ceremonial water bottle exchange, from captain to captain
The stilt walkers in the Fan Zone
A decent amount of plastic collected!
Painting cricket bats green
Matt Bailey chatting with sustainability personnel
Cricket games in the Fan Zone
Our carbon footprint information on food labels
Fans loved the green
Our owner with Azam Khan and his wooden trophy for Player of the Match
Ben chatting with sustainability personnel
#AllInForCricket
Our sustainability partners & suppliers
We have an opportunity to lead by example to help ensure the long-term future of the sport we love.
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Season 1
carbon footprint score
573,000
kgCO2e
