With the beautiful greens of Jumeirah Golf Estates as its stage, the 2024 DP World Tour Championship in Dubai isn’t just about world-class golf—it’s about leading the way in environmental responsibility.
From November 14 to 17, this tournament is stepping up to be its greenest yet, all in line with the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework.
The commitment here is robust, with an ambitious goal to chop direct carbon emissions in half by 2030, and aiming for a clean scorecard of net zero by 2040.
The organisers are driving home the point that sustainability isn’t just part of the game—it is the game.
One of the headline acts this year is water conservation. The ban on plastic water bottles is in its fourth year, a testament to the tournament’s enduring commitment to the cause.
With over 80,000 litres of water dispensed through strategically placed water walls, courtesy of No More Bottles, this move has saved the equivalent of over 120,000 500ml plastic bottles.
And if you’re parched while following the back nine, look out for the mobile water refill buggy—just tap into the Tour’s app to find it.
But it’s not just about quenching thirst sustainably. The partnership with Al Laith has introduced cutting-edge water conservation tech, including modular, waterless urinals and savvy water recirculation practices. Plus, the Earth Course is skipping overseeding this year—a choice that’s saving an impressive 20 million litres of water.
Switching gears to fuel, the tournament is cutting down its diesel dependency.
Thanks to Al Laith’s IoT-enabled electric machinery, the greenkeeping crew is estimated to save around 10,000 litres of diesel this year.
Solar-powered lighting fixtures dotted around the venue are trimming energy usage by a solid 30%.
Waste management is also teed up for a hole-in-one, with zero waste to landfill as the goal for this year.
Averda, the official waste partner, is on board with food composters and ORCA food digesters, which turn leftover food into a nutrient-rich liquid, minimizing food waste without the need for plastic cutlery or straws.
The DP World Tour Championship is also reaching beyond the green, with the new carbon-neutral “Earth Lounge” on the 16th hole.
It’s fully powered by solar panels and hydrogen generators, slashing CO2 emissions by a full 100%.
Fans also get to play their part. This year, a fan emissions offsetting tool will be introduced, letting spectators calculate and counterbalance their travel emissions to and from the event.
Additionally, the BMW shuttle fleet has switched to electric, offering EV-driving fans free charging stations and premium parking spots.
And let’s not forget about the first-ever European Tour Group Sustainability Awards on November 14th.
Recognising innovation and leadership in sustainability, these awards celebrate suppliers who are driving the greening of golf tournaments across the Middle East.
In the words of Maria Grandinetti-Milton, Director of Sustainability at the DP World Tour, “We are fully committed to making this year’s DP World Tour Championship the most sustainable edition ever, rolling out new innovations such as our fan travel emissions offsetting tool and a brand-new Sustainability Awards.
Sustainability is a team effort, and by working closely with our event partners and suppliers, we are ensuring that we can deliver a world-class event that maintains the highest environmental standards.
It is incredibly rewarding to see how many suppliers we work with that are embracing best practice and innovation in their solutions.”
As the 2024 DP World Tour Championship kicks off, one thing’s for sure: this tournament is thinking big—not just about great golf, but about taking care of the planet, too.
