ENGIE partnership guarantees carbon neutralization for the Rio Open
The Rio Open, the biggest tennis event in South America and ATP’s only one in Brazil, will be CO2 emissions neutral for the first time, thanks to a carbon credits donation from ENGIE and other steps taken by the event’s organizers. The partnership will offset close to 1,080 tons of greenhouse gases, corresponding to the planting of 6,600 trees per year.
The carbon credits are generated by the Jirau Hydroelectric Power Plant, a Specific Purpose Entity whose shareholders include ENGIE (40%), Eletrobras Eletrosul (20%), Eletrobras Chesf (20%) and Mizha Participações S.A. (20%).
Rio Open’s emissions have been estimated for all of the event’s phases, from setup to dismantling, including athlete and staff transportation and the additional power consumption of the Jockey Club Brasileiro during the tournament, which will be held February 25-23 in Rio de Janeiro. At the end of the event, an emissions inventory will be taken to arrive at the effecting amount of CO2 to offset.
The unprecedented partnership between ENGIE and the Rio Open contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), according to CEO Maurício Bähr. “ENGIE’s global strategy includes leading the energy transition towards a low-carbon economy. The Rio Open partnership aligns with this and is very relevant, both for the event’s size and impact, and for the SDG visibility it creates,” he emphasized.
The project is part of Rio Open Green, a green initiatives plan drawn by the tournament that also includes efficient waste management, with reduction, recycling and reuse.
ABOUT ENGIE
ENGIE is a global reference in low-carbon energy and services. With its 97,000 employees, its customers, partners and stakeholders, the Group is committed to accelerate the transition towards a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally-friendly solutions. Inspired by its purpose (“raison d’être”), ENGIE reconciles economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on its key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to its customers. Turnover in 2022: 82.6 billion Euros.
In Brazil, ENGIE, leader in 100% renewable power generation in the country, operates in generation, commercialization and transmission of electric power, gas transport and energy solutions. The Company
has in the country an installed capacity of 12,5 GW, originated from renewable sources and with low GHG emissions, such as hydro, solar and biomass power plants, and windfarms.
With the acquisition of Transportadora Associada de Gás – TAG, ENGIE now also owns the largest natural gas transportation network in the country, at 4,500 km and transecting 10 states and 191 cities.
The Group has a complete portfolio of integrated solutions focused on reducing costs and improving the infrastructure for companies and cities, such as energy efficiency, public lighting, energy monitoring and management.
With 2,800 employees, ENGIE’s turnover in Brazil in 2023 was of R$ 11.7 billion. ENGIE trades on the B3 through its energy generation and trading company, ENGIE Brasil Energia, under the ticker EGIE3. In addition to being a B3 Novo Mercado component, the Company is one of the very few companies that have been listed in the Business Sustainability Index since its creation in 2005. In 2021, ENGIE Brasil Energia was included in the Carbon-Efficient Index (ICO2), made up of IBrX 100 companies that are most transparent in terms of GHG emissions reporting and how they are preparing for a low-carbon economy.
The company also received in May 2024 the certification Great Place to Work, a recognition which validates the continuous commitment of the company to create a positive and inclusive work environment for all.
The Group is listed on the Paris and Brussels stock exchanges (ENGI) and is represented in the main financial indices (CAC 40, Euronext 100, FTSE Euro 100, MSCI Europe) and non-financial indices (DJSI World, Euronext Vigeo Eiris – Europe 120/France 20, MSCI EMU ESG screened, MSCI EUROPE ESG Universal Select, Stoxx Europe 600 ESG-X).