COLIN TURKINGTON COMMITS TO CLIMATE POSITIVE FOR 2022

TURKINGTON LEADS THE WAY INTO NEW HYBRID ERA BY COMITTING TO CARBON REMOVAL AND REFORESTATION

Following the confirmation of his 18^th season in the BTCC, Buckinghamshire’s Colin Turkington will become the first British racing driver to make a personal ‘climate positive’ pledge.
2022 is the beginning of a new era in the BTCC as hybrid spec race cars take to the UK circuits next month.
As the focus shifts to a more sustainable future, Turkington aims to lead the way with a greener approach to his personal carbon footprint.
By investing in a nature-based solution to remove carbon, Colin’s climate positive certification will ensure he is going beyond carbon neutrality and will remove more carbon than he is emitting throughout 2022.
Colin will support a world class REDD+ project (Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) focusing on rainforest conservation in the heart of Peru to achieve his CLIMATE POSITIVE status.
He has also pledged to additionally plant over 1000 Mangrove trees in Madagascar throughout his 2022 racing season.

WHAT IS A NATURE BASED CARBON REMOVAL SOLUTION?

Remove carbon
Restore nature
Reverse climate breakdown
Support frontline communities

WHAT IS CLIMATE POSITIVE?

Most people are familiar with the term ‘carbon offsetting’ but by committing to become climate positive, Colin is going one step further. Climate positive is pledging to remove more carbon than emitted.

Colin has been certified as Climate Positive following a personal commitment to Earthly

WHAT DOES THE REDD+ PROJECT DO?

A REDD+ project stands for Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation. Situated in Peru, this project works with 405 families to protect 300,000 hectares of Amazon rainforest from deforestation. The project helps protect the worlds rarest species and also contributes to reforestation efforts. The project will focus on Brazil nut concessions as they are an important part of forest conservation. Brazil Nuts only grow on trees exclusive to these native forests, therefore if these areas are not protected local people could lose their main source of income. This ensures the project is positive for the local people too!

WHAT IS A CARBON FOOTPRINT?

A carbon footprint is the best estimated measure of the total (direct and indirect) amount of greenhouse gas emissions by an item, activity or individual, as expressed in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e).

Colin already instigated the removal of single use plastic bottles with Team BMW and SAP last season

HOW MANY TONNES OF CO2 WILL COLIN REMOVE?

Via the Climate Positive REDD+ project only, Colin will have removed 25.02 tonnes of carbon by the end of the year.

EXPLAIN MORE ABOUT THE MANGROVE PLANTING?

2022 will be Colin’s 18^th season in the BTCC therefore he has pledged to plant 18 Mangrove trees per race throughout the year and will plant another 100 for every race win. He has also committed to planting 500 Mangroves when he celebrates his 500^th BTCC race start later this year. This will bring his plantation tally to over 1000 by the Season Finale in October, removing even more carbon!

The Nature based carbon removal system ensures the local communities are protected too

WHY MANGROVES IN MADAGASCAR?

Madagascar has experienced deforestation on an enormous scale with only 10% of its original forest remaining today. Mangroves are important for the climate crisis because estimates suggesting that they sequester carbon at a rate of 2 – 4 times greater than mature tropical forests. Mangroves pack some punch when it comes to carbon sequestration but also provide a whole load of other natural benefits such as storm surge protection and vital habitat for many species.

WHEN COLIN WINS, THE CLIMATE WINS TOO

Each race = 18 trees will be planted
Each race win = 100 trees will be planted
500th BTCC race start = 500 trees will be planted

FOLLOW COLIN’S CARBON REMOVAL PROGRESS

Click here to visit Colin’s EARTHLY profile and follow the progress throughout the season.

18 trees x 3 (54) have already been planted for the season opener at Donington Park on 23^rd / 24^th April.

COLIN TURKINGTON

I’m thrilled to be involved with the BTCC as it takes its first step into this new era of electrification. My kids, like most, are obsessed with electric cars and fighting climate change. This is our chance to make a difference and I’m fully supportive of this exciting new chapter for the series.

It was therefore a perfect time for me to turn over a new leaf and support a carbon removal solution. I wanted to take it one step further and not only offset my carbon footprint but go beyond that ‘neutral’ point.

The projects I’ve aligned myself with not only remove carbon but also restore nature and support frontline communities. We have a real opportunity in the BTCC this year to inspire our audience and I hope this will be the first of many sustainable initiatives.

Colin is setting a great example to his young children

Back to news