Forever Green participated in the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) that is being held in Glasgow (United Kingdom). The sustainability platform launched by Real Betis Balompié was one of the panellists in the Green Event Tools organised by the Secretary of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) and the UN Environment Programme alongside with the Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (GORD).

During the event, a new web tool was introduced. It is a complement to help in the planification of more sustainable events, evaluate their sustainability and carbon footprint, and has been developed by the UNFCCC, UN Environment, the ICAO and GORD. In this sense, Forever Green could explain how Real Betis Balompié are working so their activities, including sporting events, have the lowest possible impact on the environment. The Club also presented the results of their Carbon Footprint Report of the last three seasons. An achievement that places the Green and White Club at the top level in commitment and coherence in the fight against climate change.

Real Betis Balompié committed in 2019 to join the Climate Neutral Now of UN Climate Change. An adhesion that made it become the first LaLiga football club to join this initiative. Two and half years later, Real Betis, through Forever Green, explained at COP 26 how they are measuring, reducing and compensating their greenhouse gas emissions.

The person in charge of presenting Forever Green in the Climate Conference was Rafael Muela, general manager of the Real Betis Balompié Foundation and spokesperson of the sustainability platform. In the previous edition, in November of 2019, Ramón Alarcón presented the first steps that the Green and White Club was taking to become the most sustainable club in the planet.

In the Climate Conference, Rafael Muela was accompanied by Niclas Svenningsen, Ina Parvanova and Miguel Naranjo, of the UNFCCC Secretary, Hillary Green and Isabella Marras, of UN Climate Change. From GORD, Dr Youser Al Horr, Kishor Rajhansa, Amit Thusu and Wei Deng will also took part in the session.

Forever Green

Forever Green is a sustainability platform that uses the power of sport to protect the planet and be a loudspeaker for those companies that want to show the world what they are doing to protect the environment. The members of this initiative are committed to work in order to achieve the zero-emission challenge, join efforts to promote the preservation of the environment and kickstart measures to regenerate natural spaces affected by climate change. Among the projects already made we can find electric and electronic waste recycling campaigns; promoting sustainable transport among employees and fans; the creation of a specific volunteer body for Forever Green; the cleaning of natural spaces; and the participation in events such as Climathon, the adhesion to The Climate Pledge and to the United Nations initiative 'Climate Neutral Now'. Important sporting institutions such as the Spanish National Futsal league (LNFS) and the Mexican top-division basketball team Abejas de León have joined Forever Green.