Sailors for the Sea Partners with the Newport Energy & Environment Commission - Sailors for the Sea

Sailors for the Sea Partners with the Newport Energy & Environment Commission

Press Release

To help make Newport a sustainable event destination. On April 30, Environmental Lobby Day Organizers of Standards to Receive Commendation. April 30 is Environmental Lobby Day – organizers of standards to receive commendation

 

Newport, Rhode Island – April 29, 2013 – Sailors for the Sea, the only ocean conservation nonprofit focused on the sailing and boating community, announced its partnership with the Newport Energy & Environment Commission (NEEC) to help make Newport, Rhode Island a sustainable event destination.

The NEEC, along with the City of Newport and many other partners in the community are working together to help the wide variety of events – music festivals and concerts, conferences and meetings, etc. – that take place in Newport operate in a sustainable manner.

“Event organizers are in a wonderful and unique position to demonstrate and provide their guests with opportunities for environmentally, socially, and economically conscious decisions,” said Lauren Carson, member, Newport Energy & Environment Commission. “Our goal is help organizers create earth-friendly and socially responsible events that leave all involved with positive impressions about their actions in supporting efforts geared to limiting detrimental environmental impacts.”

At 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30, 2013 – Environmental Lobby Day – Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed (D – District 13, Jamestown, Newport) will introduce the resolution to commend the NEEC and its partners in the creation of the sustainability event protocols. The senate will officially commend the NEEC, Sailors for the Sea, and the partners who worked to create the standards.

With help from Sailors for the Sea, the NEEC developed its recently published comprehensive checklist and plan that provides guidelines for organizing and hosting an environmentally and sustainable event. Event organizers are encouraged to take advantage of the NEEC’s assistance and growing local resources available that makes joining the effort toward creating an even healthier, and happier Newport an easy effort. The commission’s plan also recommends all events at sea use the Sailors for the Sea Clean Regattas program, which is a third-party certification program that helps regattas, yacht clubs, and sailing programs voluntarily achieve higher environmental standards.

“Sailors for the Sea, located in Newport, the home of sailing in America, works closely with numerous partners here in the Ocean State to ensure that our ocean conservation programs assist in keeping the waters of our great state clean and healthy,” said Dan Pingaro, executive director and CEO, Sailors for the Sea. “Our Clean Regattas program that features 19 Best Management Practices to protect the ocean was an instrumental model for the sustainable events protocols. We are honored to have been part of the NEEC in developing these standards and appreciate the recognition from the Rhode Island State Senate.”

The sustainable resource list is available online, along with an example of an environmental policy statement and green team strategy, and a list of sustainable protocols that can serve as a checklist and inspiration that guides decisions. The commission’s efforts include a resource list of sustainable products and services that help organizers determine such factors as:

  • Which location allows for reduced emissions
  • Ways for people to easily bike or walk to events
  • Contracting with sustainably minded local food companies
  • Choosing what kind of dinnerware (reusable, compostable, or recyclable) to use at the event
  • How to arrange for recycling bins or compost collections

To learn more about how to make an event sustainable, contact Kristin Littlefield, the Newport Clean City Coordinator at (401) 845-5642.

About Sailors for the Sea
Founded in 2004, Sailors for the Sea is a nonprofit organization that educates and empowers the boating community to protect and restore our oceans and local waters. For more information or to participate in any of the Sailors for the Sea programs, or to support the organization, visit www.sailorsforthesea.org.