We all need a healthy ocean to survive and thrive—a healthy ocean is a requirement for a healthy planet. Unfortunately, the Ocean’s health is in a critical state and this affects everyone, because the ocean forms one of the key operating systems of our planet. It creates more than half our oxygen, drives weather systems and modulates the atmosphere, as well as providing us with vital resources.
Published: March, 2012
We all need a healthy ocean to survive and thrive—a healthy ocean is a requirement for a healthy planet. Unfortunately, the Ocean’s health is in a critical state and this affects everyone, because the ocean forms one of the key operating systems of our planet. It creates more than half our oxygen, drives weather systems and modulates the atmosphere, as well as providing us with vital resources.
Damage to the ocean is not as immediately apparent as terrestrial destruction, but it is just as serious. All of the stressors we have put on the ocean—from overfishing to pollution—have contributed to its ill health. The situation is now so severe that we are altering the chemistry of the ocean, with significant impacts on marine life and the functioning of marine ecosystems. Ecosystems are collapsing as species are pushed to extinction and natural habitats are destroyed.
The good news is that scientists believe that there is still time to prevent irreversible, catastrophic changes to our marine ecosystems but that this requires drastic action within a decade. To have the greatest impact, this drastic action requires the support and action of billions of people across the planet.
In general, those who sail believe they have a responsibility to ensure that our world’s oceans remain protected for future generations to enjoy. And as the organizers of the America’s Cup, event officials believe that they have an even greater responsibility.
Committing to be "more than a sport" means taking the respect for our oceans to another level. For the America’s Cup, it means fully embracing sustainability to enrich the participating communities and protect natural ecosystems. It means optimizing the social, economic and environmental impacts of their activities in delivering the 34th America’s Cup.
To ensure that sustainability is embedded in all of their decisions and practices, event organizers have created the AC34 sustainability plan. It is the cornerstone of delivering a sustainable 34th America’s Cup. Shaped by comments from Cup partners, city departments and commissioners, San Franciscans and local businesses, the plan sets out a path to become a model sporting event and leave a positive legacy in the community, as well as on the sport of sailing.
For example, the America’s Cup organizers proposed new waste reduction rules that were subsequently adopted by the Port Commission for all large events on port property (see page 6). Under these rules, the 34th America’s Cup will be the first major sporting event in San Francisco to prohibit the sale or distribution of single-use plastic bags and plastic water bottles at event sites along the waterfront and throughout the City.
Efforts to minimize discarded materials and maximize recycling and composting at the event support the already very high levels of landfill diversion in San Francisco—77 percent of the materials discarded in the City (over 1,367,000 tons) are diverted away each year. San Francisco leads the way on sustainability measures, recognized as the "greenest" city in North America designation in the Green City Index.
"We share a commitment to sustainability with the City of San Francisco, and are focused delivering the 34th America’s Cup as a model sustainable event," said Jill Savery, Head of Sustainability for the America’s Cup Event Authority. "We’re very proud to have introduced a sustainability plan that will help set the model for future events in San Francisco, and we hope will influence sporting events around the globe."
