Norwegian football is deliberately working with sustainability in a pilot project in collaboration with the United Nations. This is part of the UN’s further efforts to ensure that football is a driving force for a more sustainable future. “Football for goal” is now designated a UN initiative, and at the time of writing it has ended 150 members from all over the world.

Norwegian football is now united around one ambition and one common strategy of sustainability that applies both above and below. The aim is to achieve behavior change and sustainable practice in football. This is the starting point when the Football Association of Norway, Top Soccer Norway, Top Women’s Soccer, player organization NISO and media partners TV 2 will work together on a pilot project.

– The Toppserien and Eliteserien clubs have taken the lead in setting clear goals and actions in their commitment to sustainability. The measures now being rolled out by top-tier clubs through Football for Goal can be an inspiration for local football, but also for global football, said president of football Lise Klaveness.

Pilot on Eliteserien and Toppserien

When “Football for goal” is now launched on Toppserien and Eliteserien, the goal is twofold:

1. Football must operate more sustainably
2. Football will increase public familiarity and awareness of the UN’s sustainability goals.

– It is very positive that we have created a project that we can raise together. We know that there is enormous power in football as a driver of positive change, and it was through football for this purpose that it was put into a system. Several Norwegian clubs are already well advanced in many relevant areas, and this project will facilitate a more targeted and concerted effort in both leagues, said Leif Øverland, head of Norwegian Top Football

– We are proud that Norwegian top-flight football has been selected as a pilot for this project. There are already many good examples of action related to UN sustainability goals at Toppserien and Eliteserien, and now we can ensure knowledge sharing across the leagues. So far, the club has been very positive about the initiative and is motivated to make a difference, says Topfotball Kvinner chairman, Hege Jørgensen:

Together, soccer has listed seven areas of focus:

Climate and environment

1. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from club operations
2. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from events

Social sustainability

3. inclusion
4. Equality
5. Health

Driving

6. Responsible governance in football
7. External collaborations and partnerships

All clubs must have competence in Transparency Act, and have management in accordance with this. Sustainability work at the club is set up with a view to targeted management, information sharing and reporting. National networks are being built together with partners and public authorities.

Norwegian-led international foundation

Norwegian football also, at the request of the UN, took the initiative for the international foundation “Football for goals”. The foundation’s goal is to submit proposals to the UN on how football can be included in the work to achieve the 17 sustainability goals, to make the UN’s 17 sustainability goals visible in international football and to contribute to changes towards more sustainable behavior inside and outside. football. The foundation is led by Sven Mollekleiv, and president of football Lise Klaveness is a board member on behalf of Norwegian football.

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