The Vermont Green FC Environmental Justice Mission

Environmental justice is a social movement that fights for the equal distribution of environmental benefits and burdens in our society. It is also a lens that allows us to understand how human rights, equality, and environmental stewardship are interconnected. Through this lens, it is clear that efforts to address environmental crises – like climate change – will be most effective only if they are rooted in social justice.

Vermont Green Football Club believes soccer can be a powerful catalyst for a more environmentally sustainable and socially just world. We’re on a mission to build a soccer club that reflects these values and embeds environmental justice into its competitive strategy, operational processes, and culture. We’re building a club that prioritizes the environment in all business decisions impacting our local and global communities.

Why are we doing this? We love soccer and we see an opportunity to support the development of the beautiful game in Vermont by providing access to the highest level of men’s soccer in the state. We also recognize that the climate crisis is real, and upon us, and each of us can be an active participant in driving change. We are building a highly competitive club that Vermonters will be proud to call their own. Our club goals, and the continued education for our staff, players, and supporters are intended to show an effective path to a brighter future. We hope to influence change in our community, in the world of soccer, and beyond.

To succeed in our mission, we are setting five goals that will guide our work over the course of our first year and beyond:

 

Net Zero

We will become a net zero club following the standards set forth in the Science Based Targets (SBTi) initiative. This process requires several stages:

  • Identify all sources of club emissions and develop internal infrastructure for tracking and reporting;
  • Track emissions throughout the first season;
  • Report baseline emissions and net zero targets to SBTi for approval; and,
  • Once approved, track and report on progress against targets to SBTi through environmental justice lens.

 

Fight Systemic Racism in Soccer

We will stand up to systemic racism in soccer and beyond. This process requires several stages:

  • We are following the guidance of the Anti Racism Soccer Club (ARSC) coalition and their 10 point plan to conduct local stakeholder outreach that will inform a customized plan based on local needs and priorities.
  • Submit the plan to the ARSC for review and approval.
  • Track progress and report to ARSC who will monitor progress against goals.
  • We want to hear from our community. If you’d like to learn more or participate, please reach out.

 

Giving

We are a 1% for the Planet member. 1% for the Planet is a Burlington-based non-profit whose global members commit to donating 1% of their annual sales to non-profits working on behalf of the environment. We’re proud to join this Burlington-based organization to incorporate philanthropy into our mission.

Other organizations the club supports include: VPIRG, VNRC, Somali Bantu Community Association of Vermont, Pride Center of Vermont, and the National Network of Abortion Funds.

 

Purpose Driven Merchandise

We are sourcing merchandise that satisfies the highest standards of environmental stewardship and social responsibility. Many of our products are produced with recycled materials and promote upcycling, which allows us to avoid introducing new materials into the supply chain. We are building a merchandise program that will allow our supporters to participate in the circular economy. We are working with our apparel partners to explore the intersection of apparel, environmental stewardship, and social justice in pursuit of sustainable innovation.

 

Education and Awareness

We are committed to using our platform to educate ourselves and our supporters on how we can influence change through the lens of environmental justice. We believe this approach provides our best chance at reversing the climate crisis, while simultaneously addressing major social justice challenges, including systemic racism. We’re committed to providing a platform for all voices to be heard.

Take a look at our 2023 Environmental Justice Mission Report.

If our mission resonates with you, we’re strong believers in “the more the merrier” and we hope you’ll join us on this journey of learning and growing together. If you have any ideas, or just want to say hey, please drop us a note at club@vermontgreenfc.com! We look forward to hearing from you.

Stay Green!