The PGA European Tour have announced their commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, becoming the first professional golf tour to make the step.

The organisation that operates to DP World Tour through Europe has made it’s commitment by becoming a signatory to the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework.

The Sports for Climate Action Framework was created by the UN to tackle five key principles, those being:

• Undertaking systematic efforts to promote greater environmental sustainability
• Reducing overall Climate impact
• Educating for climate action
• Promoting sustainable and responsible consumption
• Advocation for climate action through communication

Included in the Framework is the ‘Race to Zero’ pledge, which commits all signatories to reduce direct emissions to 50% by 2030, and then to 0% by 2040.

Working towards the goals of the Framework will become a key focus of the organisations own environmental strategy, Golf for Good.

Commenting on the commitment, European Tour Group chief executive officer, Keith Pelley, said: “The group’s DP World Tour is a global brand with millions of followers, so we have a clear responsibility and opportunity to use our platforms the right way.”

“Our net zero commitment shows that through golf for good we are serious about environmental responsibility and the role we can play.

“Our staff and leadership, under the guidance of our head of sustainability, are determined to ensure we fully meet all our pledges, and we appreciate the support of our expert partners and advisers in helping us do so,” he said.

UN Sports for Climate Action Lead, Lindita Xhaferi Salihu, added: “It is no small or easy undertaking, but to safeguard the future of sport, we must all join hands and efforts to win the race against climate change.”

“We look forward to working with the Tour alongside other signatories to set the pace for climate action and achieve the ambitious goals we have set for the Sports for Climate Action,” she said.

Plans to reach their goals are already underway, spanning areas of their operation including governance,  tournaments, venues, media, technology, communications and partnerships, with sustainability performance indicators and carbon emissions being tracked across the organisation.

The European Golf Tour joins Tennis Australia as signatory of the Framework, with Australian sports organisation making the commitment in 2019.