Udinese Calcio has reaffirmed its position in the fight against climate change by taking part in the European Club Association event at COP29 in Baku.
We were one of seven football clubs invited to represent the world's most popular sport for the first time at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, which aims to deliver deep, rapid and sustained emission reductions.
Udinese was chosen alongside Atletico Madrid, Real Betis, Liverpool, Porto, Qarabag FK and Tottenham Hotspur due to our social and environmental commitment in recent years, which includes the Solar Park being built to provide energy to Bluenergy Stadium – the only one of its kind in Italy.
Udinese Calcio, which is a member of ECA's sustainability working group, was one of the signatories of the declaration to establish the Football Clubs Alliance for Climate.
The pact was signed following a panel discussion organised by ECA and moderated by Sky Sports UK's David Garrido. During this discussion, Magda Pozzo illustrated Udinese's environmental and social initiatives: from Bluenergy Stadium – which will soon become Italy's first zero-emission facility – to the team's jerseys by Macron, which have been made with ecological material since 2020.
The signing of this historic alliance was accompanied by the screening of a video, with the participation of some players of the signatory clubs. Representing us was Jesper Karlstrom, who explained that Udinese's decision to sign the Alliance for Climate showed the club's commitment to undertake immediate, concrete action.
“We are proud to have been a part of COP29 and signed the Football Clubs Alliance for Climate,” said Magda Pozzo. “This choice further strengthens our commitment and our collaboration with ECA, UEFA and the UN to fight climate change. We will continue to develop initiatives with our partners linked to Bluenergy Stadium, which we want to turn into the first zero-emission facility in Italy with the installation of a solar park. We would like to thank ECA for involving us in this global event and we are delighted to take part in the sustainability association and to reaffirm the importance we place on social and environmental commitment.”