The FC Bayern Munich wants to play a pioneering role in climate protection. Therefore, the German Rekordmeister joined The Bavarian Climate Alliance this Wednesday. The goal of the initiative is to aid the Bavarian state government to reduce greenhouse emissions to less than two tonnes per person until 2050. The Bavarian Climate Alliance consists of 33 partners from environmental and community organisations, churches, youth schemes, education, economy, and science.
“We can only be successful in climate protection if we convince as many people as possible to join in. We have to inspire emotions for climate protection, just like in football,” declared Bavarian environment minister Ulrike Scharf. With 260,000 members and a huge fan base FC Bayern is the ideal partner to “give climate protection a face,” thus “reaching many people and motivating them to support climate protection,” added Scharf.
The FC Bayern has already taken a “first, important step” in terms of climate protection, according to FC Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. The façade of the Allianz Arena was equipped with a new lighting system in cooperation with FCB partner Philips last summer. “We save up to 60 percent in energy compared to the normal lighting with the new LED system, put into service in August 2015,” declared Jürgen Muth, Allianz-Arena CEO.
“The Bavarian Climate Alliance has set up a laudable initiative,” commented Rummenigge. “We all have to make sure that environmental and climate protection is observed in the future. We have a social responsibility and FC Bayern can set a good example.” For this reason, Bayern “gladly accepted” Scharf's request to join the Bavarian Climate Alliance as a partner. FCB are the 33rd member of the organisation.
Since 2006 the Allianz Arena has been certified with the highest European environmental label, EMAS. But this is “only the beginning,” stressed Muth. Further steps like the use of renewable energy and the reduction and separation of waste will be tackled too.
In other FC Bayern Munich news, Franck Ribéry is making progress and is feeling “very, very good”, he said: “of course I'm not back at 100 per cent, but I work hard every day.” Like Franck Ribéry, Sebastian Rode is making progress in his recovery from injury. The 25-year-old had the ball at his feet again for the first time on Friday morning. Rode has been sidelined for more than six weeks now.
