MIAMI (AP) -The Florida Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays played what state officials touted as a carbon neutral game Tuesday night, on the eve of an annual global climate summit in South Florida.
By the Marlins’ calculations, more than 440 metric tons of carbon dioxide would be emitted during the game, from people traveling to the ballpark, stadium operations and other means. The Marlins, the state and the nonprofit group carbonfund.org said the carbon footprint of the game would be offset through investments in reforestation projects across the Southeast.
Carbonfund.org says reforestation – planting trees – can absorb existing CO2 emissions and reduce the excess greenhouse gases that humans have added to the atmosphere.
“Florida continues to lead the way in addressing global climate change, from our businesses and government agencies to the popular professional sports teams that call our state home,” said Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who will host the Serve to Preserve Florida Summit on Global Climate Change starting Wednesday in Miami. “I commend the Florida Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays for being good stewards of our environment.”
Last November, Florida was home to the first carbon-neutral college football game, when Florida State visited Florida. The University of Florida, along with the Florida Forestry Association and Environmental Defense, offset the 1,750 metric ton carbon footprint of the game by setting aside 18 acres of rural North Florida land to be managed as a pine plantation forest for 10 years.
Similar measures have also happened in other sports, including back in March, when the New Jersey Nets hosted the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA’s first carbon neutral matchup.
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