The IDA & the World Sailing Sustainability ecosystem It is all part of a larger movement supporting new businesses models, ventures and solutions that address global ‘sustainability’ challenges on land and at sea. It’s about appropriately combining Yang and Yin achieving harmony. A balance between resilience and efficiency resulting in optimal ecosystem ensuring the lowest negative environmental impact and the greatest positive impact on society. As you probably have read, a ban on hull stickers that are not made of biodegradable material was approved during the 2020 IDA AGM. Last year we did an article about Sustainable Dragon sailing in the IDA Magazine and I am happy to see the IDA decided to implement one of the items that were mentioned in the article as a step towards using less plastics.
The IDA efforts as part of the World Sailing Sustainability ecosystem World Sailing has a long-term sustainability strategy called ‘Sustainability Agenda 2030’. The aim is to ensure that sustainability is embedded into our beloved sport. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are 17 global goals set by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 for the year 2030. These goals include ending poverty, combating climate change, fighting injustice and inequality for a better, more sustainable world. World Sailing is committed to contributing to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. World Sailing’s Sustainability Agenda 2030 outlines the Sustainable Development Goals that the sport can contribute to, as well as the alignment with the 5 focus areas of the International Olympic Committee’s Sustainability Strategy. Sailing is part of a global movement to create change and positive impact, and sailors themselves can be part of this through their actions, on and off the water. For Sustainable Educational info material & the Sustainability Agenda 2030 click here. If you are looking for inspiration to support sustainability practices as an organiser/sailing club, click here. 32
Last November World Sailing won the inaugural GAISF Sustainability Award, cementing its place as the leader in international sport for its work on sustainability. In 2018, World Sailing and 11th Hour Racing (part of the Schmidt family foundation) joined forces to create the World Sailing 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award. The 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award will name its third winner this year! The winner will receive a $10,000 USD prize to help the sustainability activities. So, watch out, learn about the 2021 focus, align your local initiative, and get it nominated in 2021. What could be the next steps: • Bring your own personal reusable water bottle(s) to use at the events water fountains • Say No to Single Use. No more plastic bags, bottles or cups at major events
• When cleaning your Dragon keep the use of water to a reasonable quantity and keep the use of cleaning products (even the ‘biodegradable’ ones) to a minimum • Transition from combustion engines to hybrid or electrical engines for support boats
