Kick Global Warming. The World's Game Protecting the Planet!

How is my soccer club contributing to global warming?
By driving, and in some cases flying, to games and practices, we are all emitting greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.
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How does Carbon Offsetting work?
There are two ways for individuals and organizations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions: 1) Lower your own emissions by using less fuel and energy. 2) Pay to lower someone else's emissions in scale with the emissions you create. We advocate doing both. Sustainable Travel International (STI) and its partners are focused on increasing energy efficiency, reducing waste, and replacing traditional sources of fuel used for energy including coal, oil and natural gas, with clean and renewable sources like wind and solar power. By making a small contribution in line with the amount of driving and flying your team does to get to games and practices, STI invests in alternative energy programs elsewhere that "offset" the amount you used. Of course, the ultimate goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions rather than simply offsetting.
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How can my team participate?
By donating a small fee to fund alternative energy projects. The fees are:
Youth home league:
$19.83 per team per year
Youth Travel league:
$38.73 per team per year
Adult home league:
$30.97 per team per year
Adult travel league:
$46.46 per team per year
Those teams that participate may display the Kick Global Warming logo on their apparel.
Send checks payable to Sustainable Travel International or pay by credit card here.
Sustainable Travel International
2060 Floral Drive
Boulder, CO 80304 USA
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Why should soccer teams in particular offset their emissions?
Everybody should participate. We have just targeted soccer as it is the world's sport (and we love soccer!) and can therefore be a big influence on our planet's citizens.
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Which professional clubs offset?
The Colorado Rapids U-23 team (technically not professional as they are a development team) is the world's first carbon neutral soccer club. It is our intention to encourage more and more clubs, from the MLS to the Premiership, as well as amateur youth and adult clubs worldwide, to participate. Perhaps most notably, the 2006 FIFA World Cup was carbon neutral in the largest offset project in the world at the time. The world's game protecting the planet!
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Who funds Kick Global Warming?
Natural Habitat Adventures, a Boulder, Colorado based ecotourism company, started this plan with an eye towards influencing the world towards going carbon neutral and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Natural Habitat and its staff and affiliates puts great effort, money and resources into Kick Global Warming. All donations are made to Sustainable Travel International. (Natural Habitat Adventures processes credit cards for STI, uses 3% of the funds to cover credit card fees, then passes the remaining 97% to STI. 100% of all cash and checks are passed to STI.)
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What else can youth soccer teams do to help the environment?
Just like any activity, soccer has peripheral items that put a strain on the environment. We're not saying stop your activities (especially soccer!). We're just saying that you can minimize your affect on the environment with a little effort. On youth teams (besides the obvious car pool) here are some suggestions:
- Use refillable water bottles.
- Bring snacks that do not have extra wrapping and are not shipped from around the globe. Buying local goods is always better for the environment.
- Hand down cleats and shin guards to younger players.
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