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International Table Tennis Federation launches sustainability and equality action plans

August 24 2023 - News Release News Editorial

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Group has revealed its Sustainability (Planet) Action Plan 2025 and Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (GEDI) Action Plan 2025.

International Table Tennis Federation launches sustainability and equality action plans

Last year, the ITTF Group became a signatory of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Sport for Climate Action. With this commitment, ITTF pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.

The Planet Action Plan 2025 will provide a strategic roadmap across four areas, including governance, culture and identity; tackling direct impacts through measurement, reporting and solutions; addressing indirect impacts through measurement, reporting and setting new standards; and education and community engagement. 

Key goals also include taking steps to lead by example when it comes to measuring footprint, and establishing a strong foundation for sustainability; guiding member organisations and stakeholders towards new standards, events, equipment and partners; and building a sustainable culture.

Elsewhere, the ITTF’s GEDI Action Plan 2025 will aim to bridge the gap across gender equality, diversity and inclusion. The goals will encompass all aspects of the sport of table tennis, such as administration, coaching, refereeing and player development. 

ITTF’s plan has taken inspiration from the UN Guidelines for Gender-Responsive Sports Organisations, and will see the organisation commit to undertaking efforts to promote women’s leadership; preventing and responding to violence against women and girls in sports; closing the gap by investing in women’s sport; promoting equal participation and bias-free representation within the media; undertaking efforts to support equal opportunities; and monitoring and public reporting on progress annually. 

The GEDI Action Plan 2025’s goals also include ensuring comprehensive safeguarding measures for all athletes; increasing women’s presence in leadership and increasing girls’ participation in table tennis programmes; amplifying visibility of female role models; and fostering transparency and accountability.

Image: Jelena Ardila Vetrovec on Unsplash

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