The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.
— Robert Swan
We love the mountains in which we run, climb and walk. These mountain landscapes form a key part of the global natural environment, yet they are threatened by the climate and ecological emergency unfolding in front of us. We are living through a climate and ecological emergency and we all have a responsibility to do what we can to reduce our impact on the environment.
We believe that it is incumbent upon us to recognise, quantify, reduce and mitigate the environmental impact of our events, so that we can continue to deliver them for many years to come. We measure and report on annual carbon accounting, and strive to reduce our impact wherever possible. We believe this is the only morally defensible way to run a business in the 21st century.
What we already do
Account for the carbon emissions we are practically able to measure.
Work with partner onboard:earth to invest in environmental restoration projects.
Commit to the Outdoor Friendly and Vision for Sustainable Events pledges.
Use the services of a sustainability consultant.
Communicate to our event team and participants about our sustainability strategy to encourage positive change.
Measure our progress including an annual carbon analysis reporting on Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.
Publish a transparent annual environmental report.
Donations: In the 10 years since 2015 we have donated over £125,000 to charitable causes, including various Mountain Rescue Teams (£25,000 plus all profits from our Kendal Trail Race), various parts of the National Trust (£35,000), John Muir Trust (£20,000), onboard:earth (£23,000), and various other local organisations.
Develop and publish a Climate Action Plan to outline how we are going to reduce our carbon emissions.
What we are pledging to do
Key areas of focus
As event organisers, our business model depends on people travelling to our events and participating in leisure activities in remote places. These are the kinds of unnecessary-but-extremely-fulfilling activities we enjoy too, and they have undeniable physical and mental health benefits. However, these activities come at an environmental cost and it is our collective responsibility to be as environmentally sustainable as possible.
We are making a commitment to challenge ourselves to become as carbon neutral as possible through a program of reducing, re-using, recycling; to encourage our staff, event teams and participants to do the same; as well as offering participants to offset emissions from travel. We aim to make incremental progress towards reducing emissions year on year.
We will do our part by changing and adapting how we organise and deliver our events, but we are now asking you to do your part by accepting and embracing these changes.
The Vision for Sustainable Events pledge
We aim to significantly reduce our climate impacts (annual Green House Gas emissions and other impacts). As a member of the Vision for Sustainable Events Community, we will put the following measures in place to achieve this:
Develop and publish a sustainability strategy with year on year emissions reductions targets for our company or event
Measure emissions annually
Reduce consumption of fossil fuels onsite
Reduce waste and aim for 50% (or more) recycling rates
Work with audiences, suppliers and artists to positively influence travel choices and reduce travel-related emissions
Improve accountability and the sustainability of food sourcing
Working together as an industry to share experiences (positive and negative) about changes we make, sharing best practice and working towards industry standards
Take part in our surveys by so that we can track trends and report back to members
Find ways to Inspire audiences, artists and supply chain to make positive changes
Display the Vision for Sustainable Events logo on our website.
Outdoor Friendly Pledge
A key part of our sustainability strategy is to take the Outdoor Friendly Pledge. The goal of this pledge is to identify, focus on and reduce the pollution and greenhouse gas generating components of event organisation. To share good practice and advocate for a more sustainable outdoor event industry so that the amazing mountain landscape that we practice our sport in is protected, conserved and repaired.
The Outdoor Friendly Pledge has been developed by Kilian Jornet and is targeted at mountain running events and therefore has very specific relevance to Ourea Events.
Onboard:Earth
We have partnered with onboard:earth (formally ecolibrium) to offset our emissions. onboard:earth works with businesses across the events sector to respond to the climate crisis. They work with a varied portfolio of project partners who are working towards eco protection, regeneration and clean energy:
Trees+ scheme: Invest in forest protection, ecosystem regeneration plus support for communities at the brunt of climate change to balance carbon emissions
Temwa: Tree planting in Northern Malawi
Rainforest Trust: Protecting threatened rainforests
Verfied Carbon Standard Projects (VCS): Leading standard for voluntary carbon offsetting
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GOAL 3: GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being at all ages.
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GOAL 5: GENDER EQUALITY
Not only a fundamental human right but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.
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GOAL 8: DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
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GOAL 12: RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
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GOAL 13: CLIMATE ACTION
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.