When the UCI launched its Sustainability Strategy in 2021 on World Bicycle Day, their ambition as the governing body for cycling was to lead by example and provide a template for stakeholders could follow. UCI also launched their sustainability vision, which is “to make cycling one of the world’s most sustainable sports and promote the bicycle as a key transport mode in combating climate change, improving population health and building a more sustainable future for all”.
We caught up with the UCI team to learn more about how they are innovating to make cycling sustainable and accessible to all.
- Can you share any recent advancements or projects that UCI is particularly proud of?
The UCI’s first ever Sustainability report
The 2021 – 2023 UCI Sustainability Report tells the story of how the UCI delivered on this initial strategy, assessing the initial 29 objectives that we set ourselves. It also includes the UCI’s Climate Transition Plan and our organisational emissions from 2019 to 2022, which have been verified by One Carbon World. Finally, and most importantly, it also includes the next phase of our sustainability strategy, which includes 29 objectives and 84 actions/targets planned until 2030, which reflect the UCI’s entire sphere of influence and role as leader of the cycling family.
The UCI’s first ever UCI Cycling for All & Sustainability Awards
On July 25th, the UCI launched a call for applications for the first ever UCI Cycling for All & Sustainability Awards. As one of the key actions identified within the UCI’s 2030 Sustainability Strategy, the UCI Cycling for All & Sustainability Awards have been created to recognise outstanding initiatives implemented by members of the cycling family (including professional riders, teams, National Federations, event organisers and UCI Bike Cities and Regions) that have positive social and environmental impact, promote active mobility and encourage everyday cycling.
Submitted applications will also be used to promote, via the UCI’s communications channels, actions taken within the sport to create positive social and environmental impact, thus establishing a worldwide database of best practices led by cycling’s stakeholders.
Awards will be presented in the four following categories:
- UCI Cycling for All award: Recognising a cycling initiative with significant social impact.
- UCI Climate Action award: Recognising a cycling initiative with positive environmental impact.
- UCI Bike City award: Recognising the most innovative project submitted by UCI Bike Cities and Regions.
- UCI Rainbow award: A special discretionary award selected by the UCI out of all submissions.
More information can be found on the UCI website and the deadline for applications is Monday 7 October 2024.
2. How does UCI collaborate with other organisations and stakeholders to drive innovation?
When it comes to Cycling for All & Sustainability, the UCI collaborates with a wide number of organisations, both as a member of several global partnerships and networks, but also on collaborative projects focused on growing cycling around the world.
For instance, in the area of sustainability, we are a signatory of the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework and the Sports for Nature Framework, which allows us to exchange and learn from other sporting organisations, as we all implement specific strategies and initiatives to combat climate change and protect and preserve biodiversity and nature within our sport.
In the area of active mobility and cycling for all, we are also a member of various international networks, including the Partnership for Active Travel and Health (PATH) and the Partnership for Sustainable Low Carbon Transport (SLOCAT), which allows us to speak with one voice to promote active travel and sustainable forms of transport. Finally, one specific project we recently collaborated on with the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) is the CycleRAP pilot project, which demonstrated the application of a traffic simulation tool and provided tangible examples of how cities can use the CycleRAP model to help improve the safety of their cycling networks. This lead to the publication of the Safer Cycling Around the World Report, which highlights the lessons learnt through the first five pilot cities.
3. Can you identify the most influential idea currently under development or exploration that, in your opinion, has the potential to redefine the future of sport?
Many different sporting organisations are looking at the best tools to develop or share when it comes to measuring the impact of each sport. In 2023, the UCI launched its UCI Sustainability Impact Tracker, the first online platform enabling cycling stakeholders to measure their impact, not only looking at carbon emissions but also their contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Such tools will be essential to ensure that sport stakeholders can track their impact in a coherent, efficient, and standardised way, and allow the sporting ecosystem to take action collaboratively to continuously reduce negative impacts but also increase and improve its positive impacts on society.