NYRR Team for Climate Surpassing Fundraising Goal—raises nearly $800,000
Carbon Footprint of 2024 TCS New York City Marathon Completely Offset
New York, December 2, 2024— Nonprofit New York Road Runners today announced that its inaugural NYRR Team for Climate officially surpassed its $600,000 fundraising goal, raising nearly $800,000*. In a historic first for the TCS New York City Marathon, the funds raised offset the entire carbon footprint of the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon (based on measurement of the 2023 race) which became the world’s largest marathon ever with 55,642 athletes, Sunday, November 3.
NYRR Team for Climate is a new entry method for NYRR’s three marquee races—the TCS New York City Marathon, United Airlines NYC Half, and RBC Brooklyn Half—in which runners will raise funds to help offset NYRR’s carbon emissions, including runner travel to the three races. Nearly 250 runners participated in the inaugural NYRR Team for Climate fundraising event during the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon.
“We are so proud that Team for Climate’s success exceeded our fundraising goals,” said Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO, New York Road Runners. “Offsetting the carbon footprint of the TCS New York City Marathon for the first time helps us get closer to our goal of achieving Net Zero by 2040 while building healthier communities and taking care of the planet in the process.”
The TCS New York City Marathon is the first major marathon to have a race entry method tied to its sustainability efforts, with NYRR Team for Climate runners being offered a sustainable start tent powered by electric generators and with sustainable catering and reusable branded singlets with climate stripes to raise awareness about climate change. Runners also took the most sustainable transportation option—the Staten Island Ferry—to the start line, used reusable checked bags, and participated in a plogging event during race week.
“Cheering for Team for Climate and plogging as a warm-up to the marathon marries my two favorite activities: exercise and caring for our planet. Often people say individual change doesn’t matter and honestly, it doesn’t. But all of us are much greater than our individual actions,” said Ginger Zee, Chief Climate Correspondent, ABC News and NYRR Team for Climate Ambassador. “We can bring a commitment to reducing consumption and keeping air and water clean to every aspect of our lives. Running and the community of marathons is a perfect place to make societal change and invest in sustainable practices that make a huge difference.”
“It is important for runners to make adaptations within their own lives to be more environmentally conscious, but we tend to take action when we see sources of inspiration, of hope, of other examples where positive change is making a difference. The amount raised by the NYRR Team For Climate runners is the most beautiful example of what happens when individuals work together for a common cause,” said Tina Muir, environmental advocate and former elite marathoner. “This is the starting point for NYRR Team For Climate and it has already blazed a path for other races all over the world to learn from and make their own. I can’t wait to see where we can go with this in the years to come.”
New York Road Runners has partnered with Anew Climate, a global climate solutions leader, to use funds raised to purchase carbon credits for two New York State-based improved forest management projects including the Hartwood Forestry Project, and the Eagle Mountain Forestry Project.
New York Road Runners acknowledges offsetting alone will not tackle climate change and can only be credible while also avoiding, reducing, and substituting emissions. New York Road Runners follows the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Code of Practice by purchasing carbon offsets only while:
Measuring our greenhouse gas emissions inventory
Working toward our Net Zero by 2040 goal
Fulfilling our reduction efforts: Transitioning to electric vehicles and generators at our events and Energy Star appliances at our facilities
Throughout the year, New York Road Runners works in parallel with vendors and city agency partners to be eco-friendly and divert waste, aiming to leave New York City’s streets and parks cleaner than they were found. New York Road Runners encourages all runners to practice sustainable behaviors year-round at its races, including bringing their own clear reusable bags, taking public transportation when possible, utilizing reusable water bottles, air drying their clothing, donating their old shoes, and disposing of gel wrappers following their runs.
*Final amount of funds raised under review until December 3, 2024.
About New York Road Runners (NYRR)
A New York City-based nonprofit, New York Road Runners’ vision is to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running – serving nearly a half a million New Yorkers annually through its races, free community events, youth running initiatives, and school-based programs across the five boroughs. During its nearly 70 years, New York Road Runners has grown from a local running club to the world’s premier community running organization, producing more than 60 adult and youth races each year, including the TCS New York City Marathon. Held the first Sunday each November, the TCS New York City Marathon features more than 50,000 runners—from the world’s best professional athletes to a vast range of runners across experience levels, ages, genders, abilities, and backgrounds. To learn more, visit www.nyrr.org.
