COC Releases Climate Action Plan

TORONTO (June 5, 2025) – Today, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) released its Climate Action Plan, positioning the organization as a leader in preserving Canada’s sporting environments.

The Climate Action Plan outlines the organization’s plan to reduce its carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2040 – objectives to which the COC is committed as a signatory of the United Nations Sport for Climate Action Framework. The plan is an essential piece of the Team Canada Impact Agenda, the COC’s organization-wide commitment to making sport safe, inclusive and barrier-free so more young people can play and stay in sport. 

Recognizing both the immediate need for action, and the need for a long-term sustainability commitment, the current plan is built around Olympic four-year cycles from 2021 until 2040. The full version of the action plan can be found here.

As part of its sustainability efforts, the COC is a signatory of the Canadian Alliance on Sports for Climate Action, the United Nations Sport for Climate Action and the UN Race to Zero Framework. The COC is also a proud recipient of the 2020 and 2021 IOC Carbon Action Awards. 

In addition to its own efforts, the COC provides resources and funding that support athletes and other organizations along their path to zero. This includes:

• Awarding six grants to Olympian-led sustainability projects as part of the OLY Canada Legacy Grant program – Racing to Zero (Seyi Smith),  Decarbonizing Rowing: Electric Outboard Pilot Project (Brenda Taylor), Small Footprint, Big Jumps (Marion Thénault), ReRUN Shoe Project (Julie-Anne Staehli), Green Sports Day Canada (Melissa Humana-Paredes) and Rising Tides (Gabrielle Smith).
  
  
• Launching the 2025 NSO Sustainability Pilot Project, with the support of the International Olympic Committee to three National Sport Organizations – Canada Artistic Swimming, Cycling Canada and Freestyle Canada. Through this initiative, these organizations will benefit from the expertise and support of Racing to Zero to help with their sustainability strategies and emissions baseline.

Find out more about these programs, as well as the Team Canada Distinctions & Awards for sport and climate action, here. 

QUOTES

“As a leading sport organization, we know we have a role to play in reducing our carbon footprint and preserving the sporting environments that make this country so great. Team Canada athletes have repeatedly told us this is a priority for them, and we believe that by bringing a sustainability mindset to our operations and empowering others to be climate actors alongside us, we can achieve a demonstrable impact.”

– David Shoemaker, Canadian Olympic Committee CEO and Secretary General

“A healthy planet is critical to the success of Team Canada. From alpine skiing to kayak to beach volleyball, there isn’t a single sport in this country that isn’t affected by climate change. We’re proud of this climate action plan that puts Team Canada on a path towards reducing our climate impact.”

– Jacqueline Ryan, CEO of the Canadian Olympic Foundation and Chief Brand and Commercial Officer of the Canadian Olympic Committee 

“It is encouraging to see our National Olympic Committee take a real stance and reveal an actionable climate plan within our sport context. Athletes experience firsthand the negative impacts of climate change in their daily sporting environment. In our most recent survey, 85% voiced their desire for the COC to prioritize sustainability through action, advocacy, events and initiatives. It says a lot about the expectation, the responsibility, but also the trust that athletes put in our Olympic Committee to be a leader in this space. This Climate Action Plan is a testament to our commitment, as Canadian sport leaders, to protect and prioritize our environment.”

– Philippe Marquis, two-time Olympian and Chair of the COC Athletes’ Commission

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Samantha Sokol
Specialist, Communications
C: 647-385-7107
E: ssokol@olympic.ca