Udinese signs climate pact with six other Eca clubs at Cop29

Football and sustainability. An increasingly close pairing, also in terms of the environment. In Italy, among the clubs that have long since taken to the field most decisively to win this epoch-making game is Udinese, which not by chance is among the seven worldwide teams invited to participate in the ECA event within the COP29 in Baku. It is, moreover, the first participation of the world of football and the association of European clubs in the Conference to promote the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Udinese has been chosen along with six other top European clubs - Atletico Madrid, Real Betis, Liverpool, Porto, Qarabag FK and Tottenham Hotspur - thanks to the social and environmental commitment demonstrated in recent years, with numerous projects, including the solar park that will power the Bluenergy Stadium, a unique example in Italy, which aims to become the first carbon-neutral stadium in Italy, to the game uniforms that, from 2020, will be made by Macron with eco-friendly fabric.

Udinese, which is part of the ECA's working group on sustainability, was among the signatories of the founding declaration of the Climate Pact among football clubs, signing its commitment to fight climate change and implement concrete actions for a sustainable future. This is the first time that a number of sports clubs have chosen to respond collectively to the climate crisis, seeking to take advantage of football's strong media presence to positively influence all stakeholders in the sport.

The signing of the historic agreement was accompanied by the projection of a video, in which some players of the signing clubs participated. Participating for Udinese was Jesper Karlström, who explained that the Zebrette's choice to sign a Climate Pact with other football clubs highlights the club's commitment to take concrete and immediate action.

'We are proud to have participated in COP29 and to have signed the founding declaration of the Climate Pact between football clubs,' said Magda Pozzo. 'This decision further strengthens our commitment and our collaboration with Eca, Uefa and the United Nations to combat climate change. We will continue to develop together with our partners projects mainly related to the Bluenergy Stadium, which we want to transform into the first carbon neutral facility in Italy through the installation of a solar park. We would like to thank the ECA for involving us in this world-class event and are proud to collaborate with the association's activities in favour of sustainability and to reaffirm the importance we attach to social and environmental commitment."