Equine organisations are rallying the industry to play a leading role in addressing the climate crisis and shaping a better future, with the launch of the first nationwide equine carbon calculator today (7 March). The calculator has been developed to empower equine businesses and horse owners to better understand their environmental impact and take meaningful steps to mitigate it.
The free-to-use tool – accessible here – also identifies opportunities for businesses to minimise their energy costs and maximise their potential to regenerate the countryside. The tool has been created by equine environmental sustainability specialists White Griffin and the Farm Carbon Toolkit, in partnership with Derby College Group, Hartpury University and Sparsholt Group.
While carbon footprint tools are prevalent in the agricultural sector and play a pivotal role in government carbon reduction targets, no such tools have been available at scale for equine premises until now.
“The equine community holds a deep connection to the natural world, so we have a unique opportunity to safeguard it for future generations,” said , Ruth Dancer, Director of White Griffin. “By implementing the equine carbon calculator, we can better understand our emissions and find innovative ways to reduce them, saving money and paving the way for a better future.”
The launch of the carbon calculator marks the beginning of a campaign to educate and inspire the equine industry on environmental sustainability. This initiative will be complemented by resources set to launch in autumn, offering support to stakeholders across the horse racing and equestrian sectors.
“After years of supporting agricultural farms with reducing their environmental impact through a clear and easy-to-use tool, we know how important measuring to monitor is,” said Farm Carbon Toolkit project lead Lizzy Parker. “Our calculator allows equine businesses to properly understand their carbon footprint and make the necessary changes to reduce their emissions.”
