ABU DHABI: Ahead of the 15th Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Ethara has announced the recertification of its FIA three-star environmental accreditation as part of Yas Marina Circuit’s sustainability progress in 2023.
The certification was extended ahead of the 2023 season finale in recognition of the event’s environmental performance and its continued green management and sustainability evolution.
Saif Rashid Al-Noaimi, CEO of Ethara, said: “We are delighted to have been recertified by the FIA for our range of environmental management efforts, providing global recognition of our ongoing work across the whole Yas Marina Circuit community.
“The award is another key milestone in our journey to net-zero operations, driven by innovative low-carbon solutions. We look forward to showcasing our practices on a global stage and to our record crowds at our greenest ever edition of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.”
Ethara has unveiled a raft of green initiatives at Yas Marina Circuit for this year’s Abu Dhabi GP, including a 100 percent upgrade of all track lights. With a switch to LEDs and new RGBW track lights, the system has reduced the number of lighting fixtures by 17 percent, power consumption by 40 percent, and carbon emissions by 30 percent.
This year will see Abu Dhabi Hill again being fully powered by a 75kW panel and battery storage solution, following the system’s introduction in 2022. Ethara has also installed its first solar-powered car park, with a capacity of 1 MW. When the system goes live in the first quarter of next year, it will provide an average of up to 40 percent of daytime power consumption throughout the year.
Other green measures include all staff uniforms being made from recycled plastics, a “plastic-free” environment at the media center, paddock and pit lane as well as in the team villas.
The environmental certification of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is in line with the Formula 1 environmental sustainability plan, which should enable the championship to reduce its carbon footprint, hosting sustainable events by 2025 and achieving net-zero carbon status by 2030.
In 2022, Ethara become a signatory to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework and will work to achieve net zero greenhouse gases and emissions certification by 2040. The organization also achieved ISO 14001 and ISO 20121 accreditation status this year for its environmental management and sustainable event management systems.
Ethara has become the only circuit operator in the region to currently hold ISO 14001 and ISO 20121 accreditation status, a FIA three-star rating and be a signatory on the UN’s Sport for Climate Action Framework, making it a leader in its commitment to sustainability in the events and venues sector.
