The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) has unveiled a new, comprehensive environmental sustainability strategy for the sport, titled “For The Good Of The Horse & Its People.”
The ambitious plan is designed to position British racing as a proactive leader in sustainability and to address the industry’s collective responsibility to reduce its environmental impact.
The strategy is built around five key pillars of focus: energy, water, waste, biodiversity, and procurement.
A central part of the implementation will be the appointment of a new Environmental Sustainability Manager, who will be tasked with leading the industry-wide effort.
A key initial objective will be to establish industry-wide baselines for critical metrics such as carbon emissions and water usage by the end of 2025.
This data will provide a clear foundation for setting future reduction targets and for measuring progress over time.
The BHA’s strategy is not just a top-down directive; it is a call for collective action. The plan involves promoting sustainable practices among all industry stakeholders, including racecourses, trainers, breeders, and owners.
The initiative will build on the successful sustainability work that is already being undertaken by organizations like Ascot and Jockey Club Racecourses, aiming to create a more coordinated and impactful approach across the entire sport.
Ruth Dancer, Director of Environmental Sustainability at the British Horseracing Authority, described the launch as a landmark moment.
The launch of this strategy is a landmark moment for British racing. We have a collective responsibility to reduce our environmental impact and to ensure the long-term sustainability of our sport. This strategy provides a clear and ambitious roadmap for us to achieve that.
