Squash community ramps up environmental sustainability commitment on World Environment Day

This World Environment Day, World Squash is highlighting the increasing visibility of sustainability at some of squash’s biggest events.

World Squash is a signatory to the Sports for Nature framework and the Sports for Climate Action framework, underlining the global squash community’s commitment to tackle environmental sustainability issues facing our sport, and to contribute to global environmental priorities.

Since the beginning of the year, World Squash’s new sustainability guidelines for hosts of its world championships have been in effect, ensuring that environmental considerations are fully integrated into the planning and delivery of events around the world.

The first championships to implement the new framework are the World Squash Junior Championships in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, next month, followed by the World Squash Masters Championships in Perth, Australia, beginning in August.

The enhanced focus on sustainability reflects this year’s World Environment Day theme, “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future”, and demonstrates how the global squash community is translating environmental commitments into practical action.

One of the most significant initiatives will take place at the World Squash Masters Championships in Perth, where players and spectators are being encouraged to support the conservation of endangered Australian black cockatoos. Delivered in partnership with Squash Australia, the programme marks the first time the squash community has been invited to actively support endangered species conservation during a World Squash championship event.

The championships’ conservation partner is the Karaakin Black Cockatoo Conservation Centre, Western Australia’s primary rescue, rehabilitation and release facility for black cockatoos. The centre cares for three species threatened by habitat loss, predator attacks, vehicle collisions and illegal shooting: the critically endangered Baudin’s Black Cockatoo, the endangered Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo and the vulnerable Forest Red-tail Black Cockatoo. Both the Baudin’s and Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

Through initiatives promoted on the World Masters website, members of the squash community can support the centre in several ways. These include making a donation, adopting a rescued cockatoo, visiting the centre to learn more about its work, or purchasing items from its online shop.

Defending Women’s Over 60 World Masters champion Sue Hillier, who hails from Perth, recently visited the centre and drew parallels between the rehabilitation of injured birds and the preparation required for elite competition.

“Visiting the Karaakin Black Cockatoo Centre was fantastic, with our guide’s explanation and then seeing the rescued and rehabilitated birds gradually strengthening their wings before being released into the wild to join a new flock,” said Hillier.

“Preparing for the World Masters Squash feels much the same: building strength, endurance and confidence through training, reconnecting with old friends, meeting new flocks on court and staying composed while the spectators outside the glass can sometimes sound like a flock of cockatoos. I recommend a visit to this conservation centre.”

Sam Clarke, Education Officer and Tour Coordinator at the Karaakin Black Cockatoo Conservation Centre, welcomed the partnership and the opportunity to raise awareness among the international squash community.

“To keep our centre going, as we rehabilitate threatened black cockatoo species and release them back into the wild, we depend on public support,” Clarke said.

“We appreciate the World Squash Masters organisers for getting behind us and helping to raise awareness of these iconic Australian birds and the threats to their survival.

“Getting the birds fit and keeping them active is paramount to their successful reintroduction to the wild. Without rebuilding their fitness, the cockatoos don’t have the ability to escape their predators or find water.”

To help please see our Sustainability page.