523 NHLPA Members Go Green with David Suzuki

    TORONTO, March 10 /PRNewswire/ - The National Hockey League Players'
 Association (NHLPA) and Canadian environmental organization, the David
 Suzuki Foundation, announced their groundbreaking partnership in December
 2007 to promote action on climate change and environmental responsibility,
 and at that time launched the NHLPA Carbon Neutral Challenge, which was
 initiated by Boston Bruins' defenseman Andrew Ference.
 
     Now, a major milestone has been reached in the professional sports
 world, with over 500 NHLPA members taking action on global warming through
 the NHLPA Carbon Neutral Challenge. This is the largest and most successful
 initiative of its kind, involving players from all 30 teams in the league.
 It is also just one piece of a wider initiative as the NHLPA and its
 membership are intent on protecting the environment.
 
     Measures have been taken at the NHLPA's office towards developing a
 conservation program focusing on energy efficiency improvements and waste
 reduction. These measures include using a renewable energy source as well
 as encouraging players and staff to 'green' their own daily activities.
 
     NHLPA members participating in the NHLPA Carbon Neutral Challenge have
 gone carbon neutral by purchasing high quality, Gold Standard carbon
 credits to offset the travel emissions associated with playing professional
 hockey.
 
     The program was designed by the David Suzuki Foundation. To calculate
 the players' climate impact, the Foundation looked at the regular season
 schedules for each team in the NHL, and included emissions from the
 following major sources: air travel for away games; road travel for home
 and away games; and energy used during hotel stays. On average, each player
 was found to be responsible for 10 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
 
     The players were invited to participate in the NHLPA Carbon Neutral
 Challenge during the NHLPA's 2007-08 Fall Tour by Paul Kelly (NHLPA
 Executive Director) and Eric Lindros (NHLPA Ombudsman and former NHL
 All-Star). To date, 523 NHLPA members have signed up which has helped
 offset more than 5,000 tonnes of carbon through offset projects, the
 equivalent of taking 1,000 cars off the road for a year.
 
     "It's great to see so many players showing leadership on the issue of
 climate change," said Dr. David Suzuki, co-founder of the David Suzuki
 Foundation. "By taking this action on global warming, these players are
 delivering an important message that will inspire millions of hockey fans
 and be a model for other sports."
 
     "Judging by the hundreds of players who have signed up for the carbon
 neutral program, and the steps being taken in their personal lives, it's
 clear that our members are committed to becoming more eco-friendly," said
 Paul Kelly, Executive Director of the NHLPA. "We will continue to look to
 the expertise of the David Suzuki Foundation to help us do the right thing
 and expect this initiative will lead to further efforts to protect the
 environment."
 
     "The response to the NHLPA Carbon Neutral Challenge has been amazing,
 especially considering we set an initial goal of encouraging 70 players to
 sign-up," said Andrew Ference. "As I've said before, hockey players have
 great character and they continue to show it by taking action on such
 positive initiatives. This is an exciting step in the right direction."
 
     Gold Standard carbon offsets for the NHLPA Carbon Neutral Challenge are
 being purchased through Montreal-based not-for-profit Planetair. "Using
 Gold Standard offsets gives this initiative environmental integrity, and
 ensures the players' offset purchase has a real benefit for the climate,"
 said Dr. David Suzuki.
 
     Hockey fans can get involved in this initiative by checking out both
 www.nhlpa.com and www.davidsuzuki.org. For a list of players participating
 in the NHLPA Carbon Neutral Challenge, visit:
 www.davidsuzuki.org/files/NHLPA.pdf
 
     About the National Hockey League Players' Association
 
     The National Hockey League Players' Association (www.nhlpa.com),
 established in 1967, is a labour union whose members are the players in the
 National Hockey League (NHL). The NHLPA works on behalf of the players in
 varied disciplines. The NHLPA and its membership are intent on protecting
 the environment through: reduction, recycling, using a 'green' alternative
 where there is one, and lastly, purchasing carbon offsets.
 
     About the David Suzuki Foundation
 
     Since 1990, the David Suzuki Foundation (www.davidsuzuki.org) has
 worked to find ways for society to live in balance with the natural world
 that sustains us. Focusing on four program areas - oceans and sustainable
 fishing, climate change and clean energy, sustainability, and the Nature
 Challenge - the Foundation uses science and education to promote solutions
 that conserve nature and help achieve sustainability within a generation.
 
     CONTACT: Jonathan Weatherdon, Director, Communications, NHLPA,
 jweatherdon@nhlpa.com, Phone: (416) 313-2300, Direct: (416) 313-2316;
 Dominic Ali, Senior Communications Specialist, David Suzuki Foundation
 (Toronto), dali@davidsuzuki.org, Office: (416) 644-1032, Mobile: (647)
 203-4701
 
 
 

SOURCE David Suzuki Foundation