In our recent round table discussion, Origin gathered leaders in sport and sustainability to explore how we can all work together to create good change. Our CEO, Frank Calabria, joined Sydney Swans CEO Tom Harley, Melbourne City Football Club goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri, Sports Environment Alliance CEO Katherine O’Regan and sports broadcaster — and host of the podcast ‘Emergency on Planet Sport’ — Jonathan Overend to discuss how sport can help influence the transition to net zero across. Spanning everything from infrastructure, transport and travel, food and beverage, to waste, and energy use at stadiums.
The power of sport
Sport brings people together – fans and players are a passionate bunch who have proven they can rally around a cause to create real change. This is the power of sport in the climate conversation. In fact, almost half of all Sydney Swans fans think climate is an important social issue, according to a recent survey.
Change is already taking place. Right now, we are working with the Sydney Swans on their decarbonisation journey and, over at Melbourne City Football Club, athletes are not only looking after their bodies – they’re looking after the planet and thinking about new ways they can inspire a whole generation of fans. For goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri, this means things like looking at reducing waste at MCFC – a goal that may seem small, but has the potential to snowball into a big change when clubs across the country join in.
Partnerships with purpose
For Origin, sports sponsorships are more than a logo on a shirt. They’re collaborative partnerships with a shared ambition to drive positive change for our communities and the planet. Harnessing the power of Aussie sporting communities, provides an opportunity to work together to take positive climate action.
“I’ve always wanted to leave a legacy for those on the pitch. Now I can start to feed into environmental challenges as well.”
Melissa Barbieri, MCFC goalkeeper
What’s Origin doing?
We have an ambition to lead the energy transition in Australia. Alongside our proposal to bring forward the closure of Eraring Power Station to 2025 – potentially seven years ahead of schedule – and investing in renewable energy, we’re also working with the Sydney Swans and Melbourne City Football Club to bring the worlds of sport and sustainability together.
“We’re up for that challenge and we want to help others come along on the journey with us.”
Frank Calabria, CEO Origin Energy
For our sports partners, this means working together to identify a baseline for emissions, which can then be used to create a sustainability plan – and measure change – that’s both meaningful and realistic. This is what we’re currently working on with the Sydney Swans, while at Melbourne City Football Club, we’re increasing the amount of solar on their new facilities, adding energy storage capacity and installing EV charging stations.
Through this work with our sports partners, we’re aiming to create a blueprint for grassroots clubs to help sport at every level become more sustainable.
Becoming a player in sustainability
The most important thing to do is start. Whether it’s at an elite or grassroots level, whether you’re a player or a supporter – there are so many ways to create change.
Big or small, changes that we make can have a big impact when we all work together. It’s why Origin is dedicated to working with our sporting partners to create good change that can inspire clubs everywhere.
“It may start in the energy area, it may start with travel, it may start with your waste, it may start with your sporting equipment, where you use it, how you use it, how you can reuse it. We’ve seen some really good innovations and inspiring things that different sports are doing. But the biggest message we try and impart is just start.”
Katherine O’Regan, CEO, Sports Environment Alliance
Want to learn more?
