“Climate change is an existential threat to the future of our sports,” The International League T20 outfit the Desert Vipers Head of Strategy Matthew Bailey said staunchly as he sat down to talk about his vision of sustainability and pioneering initiatives in cricket to work towards meeting the target of 50 percent emission reduction by 2030.

The Desert Vipers became Dubai’s first signatory to the United Nations Sports for Climate Action (UNS4CA), and the first Asian cricket franchise to sign up for S4CA Targets 50% emissions reduction by 2030 Net Zero by 2040.

Bailey exclusively spoke to this correspondent on why the cricket teams must get on board with the steps to reduce their carbon footprint. The Desert Vipers issued their second Plastic Impact Report on January 13. It is the second report as the second season was played last year.

Pakistani players who are a part of the sustainability movement with Desert Vipers include Fakhar Zaman, Azam Khan, and Muhammad Amir, who are on the squad that will play the 2025 season with five other teams in the league.

Desert Vipers became the first franchise to sign the United Nations Sports Climate Action Frame Work in 2023.

They have been committed to transparency when it comes to carbon footprint through publishing reports. They are making sure that the kits that are used by the players and fans are made of recycled material that is not only comfortable to play in but also environmentally responsible as around 87 percent of clothes end up in landfill.

Mostly, 60 percent of those clothes have polyester in them. Sports kits are usually made of polyester.

In the exclusive conversation, Bailey added that he decided to not turn a blind eye to it.

“Actually this is a brand new business, and if we don’t integrate sustainability into our operations, I think that it is irresponsible and it is a moral imperative that we address this topic,” he added.

Meanwhile, according to the Desert Vipers Plastic Impact Report: The total plastic footprint of Desert Vipers for Season 2 of DP World ILT20 was 7,262 kg (or 7.26 tonnes). Virgin plastic accounted for 98% of this, with 2% of it coming from recycled plastic. Of the recycled plastic, 35% was from kits, with 65% from Food & Drink. The footprint per fan was 0.17 kg per fan who watched in person, and 0.08 g per fan reached.

Meanwhile, on the field, the Desert Vipers’ second annual Sustainability Match will take place on Saturday 18 January against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the Dubai International Stadium, with a spotlight on the environment., according to their press release.

The Vipers players and support staff will again don a special green kit while inviting all those attending the game to show their support to the planet and to the team’s commitment to sustainability by wearing green as well.

Playing apparel, and specifically the desire to make its manufacture as environmentally friendly as possible, has been a key area of concentration for this season according to the Vipers’ Sustainability Lead, Ben Hardy-Jones.

“Last year water was the big focus, this year it’s all about kit,” he said. “We are delighted to have partnered with PalmFit to make our kit the most sustainable that it can be at this point in top-tier cricket.

“Our kit is made from fully recycled materials this year. So that reduces our carbon footprint by around 50 percent.

“We are always looking to support local organisations and businesses and having that local aspect is important. And crucially that also reduces our footprints from travel of kit by about eight percent. And overall, in this area, we have roughly a 60 percent, reduction in our carbon footprints.

“Also, this year none of our kit is delivered in what is usually the case, single-use plastic packaging. It is all delivered loosely so that saves thousands of different packaging items from being used across the year and has a huge cumulative positive impact as well.”

The colouring of the kit is also environmentally friendly as it has been done using water-based dyes, reducing the use of harmful chemicals in the process, Hardy-Jones added.