Glasgow 2014 spectators encouraged to support travel carbon project and boost city woodlands

19th May 2014

BP today announced that its not-for-profit carbon management programme, BP Target Neutral, will help minimise the carbon footprint of spectator travel to the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

As ticket envelopes reach homes across the UK this week, spectators are being encouraged to offset the carbon footprint of their travel to the Games for free by registering at bptargetneutral.com/offsetglasgow2014. BP Target Neutral will calculate the amount of carbon from each journey and offset the emissions by investing in low carbon development projects across the globe.

Working with our partners Forestry Commission Scotland, Woodland Trust Scotland and the Commonwealth Woods, one of the legacy projects of the Games, the initiative will also see a tree donated for each journey registered. The trees will then be planted in woodlands in the Glasgow area, on behalf of participants. BP was a founding member of the Scottish Forest Alliance and has invested £10m in the regeneration of fourteen native woodlands across Scotland, ranging from the Borders to the Highlands.

BP is an Official Partner for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games as well as a Partner of Team England and Team Scotland. BP was also the Official Carbon Offsetting Partner for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The carbon emissions that resulted from over half a million spectator journeys were offset by BP Target Neutral. In doing so, BP Target Neutral set a new world record for the largest number of people to offset their travel to a single event.

David Grevemberg, Glasgow 2014 Chief Executive, said: “Managing the carbon footprint of the Games has always been a key goal for Glasgow 2014 and this initiative by BP will ensure spectators are able to play their part too. It's great to see a further legacy for the 'Dear Green Place' with trees being donated for planting in and around the city as a result.”

“We hope that ticketholders will join in and help make Glasgow 2014 as low carbon as possible.” Peter Mather, Head of the UK and Europe Region for BP said. “BP is really excited about the Games coming to Glasgow and we want to help play our part in making the games a success on many fronts,” he added.

BP athlete ambassador, Stef Reid said: “I'm a huge supporter of the work BP Target Neutral does to raise awareness about the carbon impact of travel.”

“The more spectators who offset for Glasgow 2014, the bigger the support for local, low carbon projects around the world,” she added. Stef is hoping to qualify for the Scottish able-bodied team in the long jump and to add to her success as a silver-medallist in the London 2012 Paralympic Games.