16 March 2021, London: Extreme E, the brand new electric off-road racing series, is joining forces with Count Us In to launch the “Extreme E Count Us In Challenge” – which uses the power of sport, and the excitement of motor racing, to inspire fans to take practical steps on climate change.
The challenge calls on Extreme E’s fans to take steps to reduce their carbon footprint and, in doing so, urge governments, cities, and businesses to accelerate progress on climate action.
Alejandro Agag, Founder, and CEO of Extreme E said: “More people watch sport than science documentaries, and with 24% of global greenhouse gas emissions coming from transport, Extreme E believes it can use its powerful media platform to shine a spotlight on the issues we face, and the need to act now to help protect our futures.
“We are proud to be joining forces with Count Us In as, in addition to raising awareness of the climate crisis, we can now drive our fans, teams, drivers, and staff to take impactful action. All of course within a competitive campaign which matches our sporting ethos, and proves that all our actions no matter the scale, have a huge impact when combined.”
Most items we use in our daily lives – from food to household goods – have traveled by road to reach stores and our homes and this, along with passenger vehicles, are major sources of toxic air pollution, responsible for one in ten deaths globally. The Extreme E Count Us in Challenge will bring the voice of racing fans, drivers, teams, and sponsors to industry discussions and policymakers, highlighting the need to accelerate progress on clean transport. The campaign supports the UN’s Race to Zero initiative which, in the lead-up to COP26 this November in Glasgow, aims to bring together non-governmental stakeholders to advocate for accelerating the transition to a zero-carbon world.
The Extreme E teams include Lewis Hamilton’s X44, Jenson Button’s JBXE and Veloce Racing from the UK, Nico Rosberg’s Rosberg X Racing (RXR) and ABT CUPRA XE from Germany, ACCIONA | Sainz XE Team, Hispano Suiza Xite Energy Team from Spain and Chip Ganassi Racing and Andretti United from the USA – will encourage fans to take one or more of a variety of steps, and will compete overall for the most active and overall carbon footprint savings.
Steps range in impact from pledging to walk and cycle more, eating more plant-based food, to Extreme E’s ultimate goal of switching to an electric vehicle. All steps taken will be added upon each Extreme E team page and will be tracked on the Extreme E Count Us In Challenge leaderboard. The winning team will claim the overall Extreme E Sustainability Award at the end of the Season.
Nico Rosberg, Team RXR said: “Sport is an amazing platform to not only drive awareness but also inspire action in the fight against climate change – the single biggest threat to our planet today. Me and my team Rosberg X Racing are proud to be a part of the Extreme E Count Us In Challenge. I hope every fan can take a simple practical step to protect what they love from climate change”
Sara Price, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing, said: “Extreme E is really opening my eyes to the issues our planet is facing. There are so many possibilities to leading a less carbon-intensive lifestyle like living minimally and avoiding excess waste. The Extreme E Count Us In Challenge is a fantastic opportunity for our fans to take action too – this will not only help the planet but also help my team, Chip Ganassi Racing, top the sustainability leaderboard.”
Extreme E will race across the world’s most remote environments to demonstrate the performance and benefits of electric vehicles and clean technology, whilst highlighting the impact that climate change is already having on these ecosystems, such as melting ice caps, deforestation, desertification, retreating mountain glaciers, plastic pollution, and rising sea levels.
Christiana Figueres – co-founder of Global Optimism, and the former UN Climate Chief who oversaw the Paris Agreement’s adoption – is backing Count Us In, convening a group of influential figures across sport, entertainment, civil society, and science to highlight the importance of individual action. She commented: “Tailpipe pollution is literally choking us to death and that is a problem we are both victims and causes of, but we can change the status quo. The transportation revolution is at a tipping point, with technology in place to end the need for polluting vehicles. I applaud Extreme E, the drivers and motorsport heroes who are using their influence to ensure a groundswell of support for policies and practices that bring forward the low carbon future.”
Nigel Topping, UK High-Level Champion for Climate Action COP26, who is leading the Race to Zero, said: “I’m delighted to see the launch of the Extreme E Count Us In Challenge. To curb emissions as quickly as possible, we need a combination of action from businesses and governments and the support of society-at-large to help create a net-zero world. Citizens all over the world taking impactful steps – such as talking to their leaders and friends, and reducing their own carbon footprint – is a fundamental part of demonstrating to companies and governments that our whole society is in the Race to Zero Emissions.”
Extreme E’s first race is set to take place in AlUla, Saudi Arabia (3-4 April), before heading to Lac Rose, Senegal (29-30 May), Kangerlussuaq, Greenland (28-29 August), Para, Brazil (23-24 October) and Argentine Patagonia (11-12 December).
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To learn more about Extreme E, visit – www.Extreme-E.com
ENDS
For more information on Extreme E, please contact:
Extreme E-Communications:
Julia Fry, Head of Communications
E: media@extreme-e.com / +44 7778 108754
Carla Corbet, MPA Creative
E: carla.corbet@mpacreative.com / +44 7944 077440
Bettina Eichhammer, MPA Creative (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Middle East)
E: bettina.eichhammer@mpacreative.com / +49 175 4169693
Diego Bustos, BE Mass Media (Latin America -including Brazil-, US Hispanics, Spain, Portugal)
E: diego.bustos@bemassmedia.com / +569-8829-9138 or +1-660-847-4645
Please visit the Extreme E media centre to access images, videos and press releases: https://www.extreme-e.com/en/mediacentre
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Extreme E:
Extreme E is a radical new racing series, which will see electric SUVs competing in extreme environments around the world which have already been damaged or affected by climate and environmental issues. The five-race global voyage highlights the impact of climate change and human interference in some of the world’s most remote locations and promotes the adoption of electric vehicles in the quest for a lower-carbon future for the planet.
To minimize local impact, Extreme E races will not be open to spectators, with fans instead invited to follow the action through live TV broadcasts, and on social media.
St. Helena, a former passenger-cargo ship, has undergone a multi-million Euro refit to minimize emissions and transform her into Extreme E’s operations hub. The ship will be used to transport the championship’s freight and infrastructure, including vehicles, to the nearest port, minimizing Extreme E’s footprint, as well as being used to facilitate scientific research through its on-board laboratory.
Extreme E is also pioneering hydrogen fuel cell technology which will enable its race fleet to be charged using zero-emission energy. This innovative solution from AFC Energy uses water and the sun to generate hydrogen power. Not only will this process emit no greenhouse emissions, but its only by-product will also be water, which will be utilized elsewhere on-site.
Season 1 Calendar:
Desert X Prix: AlUla, Saudi Arabia
3-4 April 2021
Ocean X Prix: Lac Rose, Senegal
29-30 May 2021
Arctic X Prix: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland
28-29 August 2021
Amazon X Prix: Pará, Brazil
23-24 October 2021
Glacier X Prix: Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
11-12 December 2021
About Count Us In:
Count Us In is a community of people and organizations taking practical steps to protect what they love from climate change before it is too late. Count Us In’s mission over the next decade is to inspire 1 billion people to significantly reduce their carbon pollution and challenge leaders to act boldly to deliver global systems change. It brings together sport, business, faith, youth, and civil society to protect what you love, make changes that matter, do good for you too, and add up to something bigger. Learn more at count-us-in.org.
Extreme E sponsors:
About Continental Tires: Founding Partner and Official Tyre Partner
Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent, and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic, and transportation. Continental generated preliminary sales of €37.7 billion in 2020 and currently employs more than 235,000 people in 58 countries and markets. In 2021, the company celebrates its 150th anniversary.
The Tires business area has 24 production and development locations worldwide. Continental is one of the leading tire manufacturers with more than 56,000 employees and posted preliminary sales of €10.2 billion in 2020 in this business area. Continental ranks among the technology leaders in tire production and offers a broad product range for passenger cars, commercial and special-purpose vehicles as well as two-wheelers. Through continuous investment in research and development, Continental makes a major contribution to safe, cost-effective, and ecologically efficient mobility. The portfolio of the Tires business area includes services for the tire trade and fleet applications, as well as digital management systems for tires.
About CBMM: Founding Supplier
CBMM is the world-leading supplier of niobium products and technology. Headquartered in Brazil, with offices and subsidiaries in China, Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United States. CBMM offers technical innovation to customers around the globe through a team of over 2,000 highly trained, dedicated professionals providing cutting-edge niobium products and technology to over 400 clients in around 40 countries.
About LuisaViaRoma:
Defined by the Financial Times as “A haven for directional fashion,” LUISAVIAROMA.COM is the top online luxury fashion destination with 5,000,000 visitors per month and worldwide shipping. With each new season, the website presents the collections of more than 600 established designers and young emerging talents.
About Neat Burger: Official Plant-based Partner
Neat Burger is the first of its kind – the planet-friendly, plant-based, full-flavored game-changer the world has been waiting for. The world’s first plant-based sustainable burger chain, Neat Burger offers a menu that appeals to not only those who follow plant-based diets but anyone, meat-eaters included, who wants to eat delicious meat-free dishes that are more sustainable, healthier, and ethical. The brand is backed by seven-time FIA Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton, in collaboration with hospitality organization The Cream Group and investors, as well as UNICEF Ambassador and early backer of Beyond Meat Tommaso Chiabra.
Neat Burger opened its first site in September 2019, just off Regent Street in London, and its second and third dine-in outlets at Camden Market and Soho in 2020. Plans for global expansion across Europe, the US, and the Middle East are already in place for 2021 and beyond.
Founding Partner and Official Tyre Partner:
Founding Supplier:
Official Fashion Partner:
Official Plant-based Partner:
