MCC go green on tour

The MCC is introducing a pioneering 'climate neutral' policy for its overseas tours and Monday’s first-ever trip to China will be the start of the five-year initiative.

MCC have combined with Climate Care, a leading carbon-offsetting organisation, in what is thought to be the first scheme in world cricket.

It will involve MCC investing in a range of Climate Care projects to offset the entire carbon dioxide emissions caused by its teams flying around the world to play and promote cricket.

In the remaining months of this year, for example, MCC's teams will travel to China / Hong Kong (September / October), Botswana and Zambia (September / October) and Australia (December / January).

In the process, the squads' journeys will put around 175 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Under the new initiative, MCC will offset all these emissions by investing in climate care projects such as a renewable power initiative in Indian schools and energy efficient lighting for community projects in South Africa.

Director of Climate Care, Tom Morton, said: "We are delighted that MCC - the most famous cricket club in the world - is taking these very positive steps to measure and offset the carbon emissions from its overseas tours.

“We are really looking forward to working with the club and hope that other sports bodies will follow its excellent example."

MCC's secretary & chief executive, Roger Knight, said: "We are keen to play our part in highlighting the problems created by carbon dioxide emissions.

“We also want to take some very practical steps to offset the emissions caused by our international playing programme.

“We believe that, in Climate Care, we have found the perfect partner. They make it very easy to calculate both the emissions caused by air travel and the money that needs to be spent to make those journeys 'climate neutral'.

“Over time, we may well go further - but today's initiative is an important first step forward."